Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1888-01-12

L
a cazique's dar ghter; will not be a slav,
to the white people" she nuttered to her
self.
! Looking around and seeing many love
| ly flowers blooming not far off, she wen
to pick some of the brightest. Thess
she twined into her flowing hair and
again went to the water to look at her.
self. The lovely reflection brought q
smile to her lips. Alone with nature she
felt happy for moment.
! Hark! she hears footsteps approaching
The man who dares call hi.aself her mas.
! ter is rapidly coming towards the place
where she stands. Menona is transform.
ed; the smile vanishes, her heart is full of
passionate anger. Her pursuer draws
near. She turns to face him, eyes flash
ing, bosom heaving. Clinching her
small hands deaantly she demanded;
DO you come to whip me?n
He is close to her now and he smiles
answering her in low, soft tones when she
repeats her question: "Oh, no! l would
not hurt the pretty Menona, for I love
her!" at the same moment kissing her
smooth cheeks. 1t seems to burn her!
Turning as If stung by viper, she lifts
hSA manu- dbh SAailNcs utI lace.
He only laughs mocking laugh and
would fold her in his arms; but great
dread and loathing springs into the
heart of the maiden. One flash of
thought and she filings herself into the
liquid mirror that minute ago reflected
her lovely features.
Dark seaweeds mingle with the dead
flowers clinging to the long tresses that
those cold fingers will never again
wreathe with blossoms. Down in the
deep water, out OF sight, Menona has
fallen asleep, and she slumbers long.
By and by she awakes and the flowers
In her hair are not dead ones. But the
butterfly, escaped from the cbrysalis
does not at ones realize the change.
WHAT is it that strikes upon her quick
ening senses! Does she hear the wajling
of childY All! the baby, the helpless
little creature! she will 20 TO it, even
though she must again enter the home
of the cruel people who robbed her and
brought her to foreign shores.
Tbs baby was crying. Menona, moved
by tenderest pity, put her arms about it.
No one took any notice of her, nor did
they ask her to work. She thought it
strange. They did not speak to her or
offer ner food TO eat. That mattered
not, for she felt no pangs of hunger.
To and fro she fitted, free as the air,
while the days glided by leaving no wear
mess clinging to Memorials feet. She
loved the white baby now. When its pite-
GUS cries broke upon the stiffness of the
night she would lull it to sleep, singing
sweet melodies soft and low.
Then the color fled from the cheeks of
father and mother they were afraid, and
III awe struck whispers murmurod the
name of Meuona. She could not under
stand why they did not like to see her.
Had they not brought her thereY Many
a night she rocked the babe in her arms
and it was happy. But the young moth
er grew thin and pale, and the brave
soldiers hair was turning white, because
they saw Menona there. Though they
never spoke to her she always smiled at
them, and wondered what made them
look so wan,
by and by the baby began to droop.
Menona would fam have made it well,
but could only soothe it with her plaintive
lullaby. For few days the little life flick
cred, then went out. The frail blossom
closed its petals when the moon was shed
ding its siivery light upon the ripping
waters that had sheltered the Flower
Princess. She, with her finger tips, light
ty touched the huttering eyelids, the white
curtains of those tender blue flights"
forever shutting out the look of pain;
and the baby, smiling, huttered from its
coil of clay into Memorials arms.
The grief stricken parents wrung their
hands and moaned: "Menona has taken
eur childV but it was not so, had only re-
ceived it.
Soon the bereeved ones said that their
home was haunted they could live there
no longer. So the sad faced woman and
the man whose curly locks had become
as white as the driven snow, went far off
to seek another place of abode Then a
lovely being, clothed in light and happi.
ness, took Menona by the hand and led
her away, saying; Come with me. Thou
shalt learn thy mission here; TO minister
TO those bowed down with grief, to wipe
away their tears, whispering words of
comfort. They shall hear thee and their
hearts be lightened. Upward this work
will lead thee, and angels guide thee oD."
Alice u. lie Plongeon in Home journal.