Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1890-11-20
! THE LEGEND Of MIIlI WELL,


powerful chief named Firewater, cele-
brated In song and story, was deeply In
love with one Of her fathers bravest
warriors, the bold and handsome
Featherfoot. Her tender feelings were
fully reciproeated, but there was an i'm
passable bar to their happiness, for
Firewater had promised TO bestow her
hand upon an aged dealer In dry and
wet goods in Derby, In whose establish
ment he had run up considerable bill
for pocket handkercheifs and bottled
necessaries. The maiden's brother,
Blackeye, 1.-THE young fellow a year
younger than herself, but about her
size, was also interested In this sordid
union, for he was compelled to ask for
credit occasionally on his own account.
The lovers, therefore, could enjoy none
but stolen interviews, and these had to
be managed with the greatest secrecy.
ION the afternoon Of q warm day in
July-the 18th of July, 1642-Feather-
foot had an errand at q neighboring
lodge, for his own flask was, as usual,
empty; and the path led past the great
chiefs wigwam There, In front Of the
door, her back resting against an emp
" demljohn, her soft brown eyes bath
ed In tears, sat the beautiful Bleach
locks, darning her cruel fathers stock
ings. Atsight of the girl In this grace
full but melancholy attitude, and en-
couraged, perhaps by wink that she
bestowed upon him as he passed. Fea-
therfoot felt he could no longer stand
the awful suspense that, in connection
with q black pipe was wearing him al
most to o shadow. In an instant his
resolution was taken; and, without
pausing In his stately tread, he bent
his manly form till his face was close
to her ear and hoarsely whispered:
meet me tonight on the brink of
the Indian Well, at nine, sharp
"'At nine will meet thee, my own
true love- was the maiden's whispered
answer; and in the twinkling of an eye
the brave warrior had disappeared in
the forest.
"But alas! for this lovely maid and
her gallant suitor Bleachlock's broth
er, Blackeye lay doing in the shade be-
hind the great chiefs wigwam, and
even the light steps of Featherfoot
awoke him. Instantly on the alert, he
heard the whispered appointment.
4 guess not, he muttered to him
self, and rolled over and went to sleep
again.
q THE dark shadows of a moonIess
July night had settled upon the Con-
necticut forest. when Blackeye stole
softly into the east wing of the great
chiefs wigwam, which was occupied
by his sister and stealthily carried away
the valuable eagles feather cloak in
which Bleachlocks invariably arrayed
herself when she had an affair of this
kind on hand. When safe in open air
again he rubbed the palm of his right
hand softly against the bark on the
southeast side of juniper tree, and un-
erring instinct told him that the hour
was exactly half-past eight.
I" "fJust rightv he said to himself; and
putting Bleechlock's sailor hat on his
head and throwing her feather cloak
over his shoulders, his own mother
might easily have mistaken him for
his sister. 'Nineis the hour. but the
sneaking Featherfoot will be impatient
and will be there early. / shall meet
him at 8.45.'
"Fifteen minutes later the perfidious
Blackeye, in the guise of his lovely sis
ter, sat on the rocky edge of the Indian
we'll, wrapped in the strong arms oi
Featherfoot.
idol of my heart the warrior was
saving, guiding star of my existence
swear once again thou wilt be mine
gwear by the sun, by the pale moon, by
the twinkling stars, that this very
night-why dost thou start, my below
ed?'
"s'Tis naught,' the supposed Bleach
locks replied; tits but a flea. Them
dogs bring 'em. But harkv
"sA light footstep was faintiy heard;
atwig snapped not six feet away.
tHistI' the warrior exclaimed. sWe
are discovered!'
"The words were scarcely out of his
mouth before there was rush as of q
hurricane, and the fierce Firewater
stood foanaing before them. With one
sweep of his mighty arm he tore the
supposed Bleachlocks from her lovers
grasp, and in q second he was belabor.
ing her over the head and shoulders
end every exposed portion of her beau
tiful frame with stout hickory switch
"sYou would, would you? the en-
ragged chieftan painted in purest shaw
nee. How often have I forbid you tC
leave the wigwam after dark? Home
with you, jade, till with this good stick
paint your brown skin with stripes
like unto tigress. Away, Isay,p A
fresh and furious cut fell upon the fea'
thered cloak with every word till the
chief had said his say, when he seized
the maiden Tor rather the boy) by the
nape of the neck and hurried her into
the gloom of the forest, gently aiding
her progress with applications of the
toe Of his moccasin.
tsFeatherfoot stood like one who
was paralyzed. Lift hand against
his chief he dare not, and to see his
true love thus torn away was worse
than death. Her cries grew faint in
the distance and he was about in de-
spair to cast himself headlong in the
bottomless well-indeed, had Joined
his hands above his head with that in
tention-when sweet, familiar voice
from the rocks above cried:
u'One moment, +. f., (this was ar
affectionate name Bleachlocks some.
times gave him I will be with you in
a second. And before he could fine
words to reply the real Bleachlocks haG
sprung nimbly down the face of tht
precipice, and the lovers were claspec
in each others arms.
MY souls delight the fond lover
gasped, My sweet flower of the beech
nut woods, how did you escape2'
6 'Escape! she answered with Q
silvery, rippling laugh. Did you think