The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-05-04
PRINCESS LATOKA.


M6fsnAu county, IN lac HOf - Va Assss~
sippi. contains pretty little town called
Holly Springs. In eden times-in the
glorious days before the war-it was often
styled the Athens Of the South. To-day,
though dear little place, where wealth
Of flowers bloom, and the fay-famcd mag
noisa trees lift aloft their stately blossoms
Of snowy whiteness and tropical odors. II
IS not what il wss in the storied days OF
the s'0id South"
Like many another place in the valley OF
the great Father OF Waters" this has
history peculiarly its own. The woof and
warp Of tradition lend . charm to even
very commonplace localities. and ever since
the time when the red man owned and
loved this vast region. there have been ie-
gends and wonderful sotFies connected with
its fields and forests.
And this Is the one which tho stately old
trees that stand guard along the broad
walks OF Holly Springs whisper under their
breath to each other during the ionD moon-
lit nights when mocking birds sing and
give voice 10 the shadowy spaces.
A long time ago there lived where the
town now stands great Indian chieftain.
He had his wigwam here. and hunted
through all the forests for the graceful
deer and hinge bear that abounded. 1t
was pretty wigwam the old chieftain had.
all painted and ornamented with curious
devices drawn in red and blue paint by the
hand OF the young princess. who. as she
grew taller and taller, was like a comely
plant-so the old father ssid-or like the
graceful young crepe myrtle trees that
stood about their home.
The days few by and the young princess
was child no longer. but q rarely beauti-
full maiden. Her hair was dusky, Ike the
blue black smoke that cnrled above the
wigwam. and il swept about her like the
clouds when storm Is gathering. bat the
large, luminous eyes that rivaled IL in color
were soft ~ the young rose. and fuil OF a
light which seemed to attract like q mag
net all upon whom they rested. Her lips
were like the flush on the flame bush for
color and brightness. and her soft. glisten-
ing skin was as the chestnut when il Is
sipc and ready for bursting.
Very, very beautiful was the young Prin-
cess Latoka, stu she knew IL not. Yet
day came whom. going with her father TO
the stream few miles distant. she gssed
more and more upon the face that looked
back from Its waters. and wondered upon
the change that she saw there.
Then time came when, as she wan
dered under the grand trees. new pathos
seemed TO thrill Ia the notes OF the mock
ing birds that called to each other and
made much ado in the swaying branches.
Even the scent Of the flowers seemed
changed in manner, to possess some new
essence. but she knew not what II meant
nor realized that q sense Of loneliness had
come into her life. that she longed for
companionship. and finding IL not. felt as
never before the all-pervading loveliness OF
nature. and discovered with IL a mystical
kinship through the song Of the birds. and
through the exquisite perfume OF the
flowers.
Now anon. the young braves who came
10 her fathers wigwam. who had been
wont 10 come since FIRST she could remem-
Der. was the matehless Tnllahoma, brave
In light, skilled in chase, enviesi by all his
brothers. sdored by all the maidens. She
could not look back upon time that Tulla-
homa was not known 10 her.
Now he, the fiery, the wilifui Tnilahoma.
loved the maiden with all the power Of his
untamed heart. aud only a vow 10 the old
ohieftsin had kept him from telling her so
many moons ago.
NO no, Tao GU tilaN s&tus sue ~ hlt
hiossom--bul half.hiown dover; leave
her with me In peace for yettwelve moons.
When they have waned. II she will. thou
mayest take her 20 thine own wigwsm that
she may be thy wife,
So Tallahoma dared not tell in words his
love Ia the princess, but oftentimes she
found his coal black eyes resting upon her
in so strange a manner that perforcc she
would rise and leave his presence, woald
20 out TO hold commune with the birds,
with the flowers, or 10 watch the far-ot
azure that was like unto some distant,
ever changing lake Of rest
she wondered. and could not explain,
that in these days she felt afraid OF the
yeaag chief. Something made her tren-
be under his gass; something held her
hack when che would have had speech
with him; something drew her eyes away
when she would have lifted them 10 bis
face.
And row there came one day another
young brave with q band of brothers 70
hant in the rich forests about isA,okss
home her father gave consent and they
followed the game for many weeks ere
time Tor departure was arrived
hat the young chief Psala. tagl and SUP
rse Of limb, strong and graceful as the
giant msgaogiss. sots Of speech as the wind
when Il kisses their snowy blossoms. he
found other game in tho forest, in the Wig.
VAN where dwels LstokA
Tie came. and bis eyes, dark ard lanain-
Gus as her own, rested upoa her face, then
fell before sss beauty: be isssed them once
again; her lips parted and she xoala have
spoken. bat something diviasa
what--arresse3 speech, tAev both were
SILENT. but each locked ss the other for the
spAes Of moment. then Psoss tarnea
from the wtgwsm ard wrat away BY hiEa.
self into the forsst
DAYS passed. ard coming and going he
saw the maiden. ant great love aad a
naasssrsgl. grew up In his hearE
Now. one nishtsall, waen the vouus
moon had iasi lifted her crwseeat aud sigtsss
Il down toward the llstls path that led 20
the home Of isssaka, Psola drew near sA<
place and snadealy sas tie mad ssxnssj~r
beneath great tree. be ccnlss sct krsas
t~swesa the nssAs and hex dasky tr~z.ss
noe discern where Der ros~s hanged vita
the shadows, ths light Was So nnr.rsxln
but through FlGt between TIE clsas.s he
sAs silver shaft of radiance, and ursfgsrxt
10 shs heavens was Der fxce. and al N.
FAery q tals i.Ehs resssa er1a her eonnEs-
nAasre.
Ia soss tones she cosnmEnsa with her
osa sout, and IKE r<phyr. frssA troxa szs.
sIsss ssisss we're her snasmar~si words.
saSsa. the rsoas. the nosse. woasa No.
rs ar0a her EsvvrsSs, bat ssseasiy araw.nx