The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1890-04-26
THE PRINCESS LATOKA.


sissippi. contains a pretty little town
called Holly Springs. In olden times
in the glorious days before the war-it
was often styled the Athens OF the South.
To-day, though dear little place, where
a wealth of flowers bloom and the far
famed magnolia trees lift aloft their
stately blossoms Of snowy whiteness and
tropical odors, 1t is not what it was in
the storied DAYS Of the "Old 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 legends and wonderful
stories connected with its fields and for
ests.
And this is the one which the stately
old trees that stand guard along the
broad walks of Holly Springs whisper
under their breath to each other during
the long moonlit nights when mocking
birds sing and give voice to the shadowy
spaces.
A long time ago there lived where the
town now stands a great Indian chief.
tain. He had his wigwam here and
hunted through all the forests for the
graceful deer.and huge bear that abound
ed. 1t was pretty wigwam the old
chieftain had, all painted and ornament
ed 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 comely plant-so the
old father sailor like the graceful
young crepe myrtle trees that stood about
their home.
The days few by and the young prin-
cess was child no longer, but rarely
beautiful maiden. Her hair was dusky,
like the blue black smoke that curled
above the wigwam, and it swept about
her like the clouds when storm is gath
ering, but the large, luminous eyes that
rivaled it in color were soft as the young
rose, and full of light which seemed to
attract like magnet all upon whom
they rested. Her lips were like the flush
on the flame bush for color and bright
ness, and her soft glistening skin was as
the chestnut when it is ripe and ready
| for bursting.
Very, very beautiful was the young
Princess Latoka, still she knew it not.
| Yet a day came when, going with her
father to the stream few miles distant,
she gazed more and more upon the face
| that looked back from It's waters, and
wondered upon the change that she saw
| there.
Then a time came when, as she wan
dered under the grand trees, a new pathos
seemed to thrill In 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 a manner, to possess some
new essence, but she knew not what II
meant nor realized that sense Of lonen
ness had come into her life, that she
longed for companionship, and finding il
not felt, as never before, the all pervad
ing loveliness of nature, and discovered
with 1t mystical kinship through the
song of the birds, and through the ex
Quisite fragrance of the flowers.
Now among the young braves whC
came to her fathers wigwam, who haC
been wont to come since first she coulC
remember, was the matchless TIllahoma
brave in fight, skilled in chase, enyied b.
all his brothers, adored by all the maid
ems. She could not look back upon
time that Tullahoma was not known b
her.
Now he, the fiery, the willful Tulla
homa, loved the maiden with all tn
power Of his untamed heart, and only
VOW to the old chieftain had kept hin
from telling her so many moons ago.
"No, no." the old man saidj 'she is bu
q blossom-but half blown fiowerj leav
her with me In peace for yet twelv
moons. When they have waned, II sh
will, thou mayest take cher to thin
+ own wigwam that she may be thy wife.
n SO TIlllahomA dared not tell In word
his love to the princess, but OftentimS
she found his coal black eyes restin
upon her in so strange q manner thI
: perforce she would rise and leave hi
presence, would 60 out to hold commur
with the birds, with the flowers, or
watch the far of azure that was iii
= unto some distant, ever changing lake {
rest.
She wondered, aud could not explain
le that in these days she felt afraid OF Il
d, young chief. Something made her tren
?" BILE under his gaze; something held h
back when she would have had speed
- with HIM something drew her ey
n away when she would have lifted the
= to his face.
And now there came one day anoth
young brave with band Of brothers
I, hunt in the rich forests about LatokS
home; her father gave consent and thu
OF followed the game for many weeks .
at time for departure was arrived.
he But the young chief Paola, tall al
nd supple Of limb, strong and graceful
/ the giant magnolias, soft Of speech
. the wind when It kisses their SNOW
blossoms, he found other game in {
forest, in the wigwam where dwelt l.
toka.
Der He came, and his eyes, dark and
inc minous as her own, rested upon her faS
est then fell before its beauty; he lift
them once again; her lips parted al
. she would have spoken, but something
neither divined what-arTested speec
n they both were silent, but each look
at the other for the space Of a momel
then Paolo turned from the wigwRm a
. went away by himself into the forest.
lho Days passed, and coming and going
ana
the saw the maiden, and great love anS
a-yi nasterful, grew up in his heart.
. " Now, one nightfall, when the you
Y moon had Just lifted her crescent q
, tilted it down toward the little path Il
Jed to the home Of Latoka, Paola dr.
near the place and suddenly saw
maid standing beneath a great tree
,or could not kno~ between the night :
, her dusky tresses, nor discern where
two robes mingled with the shadows,
MN light was so uncertaini but throug
The rift between the branches came sil
cine shaft of radiance, and upliftsdato
llne heavens WAS her face, and an the 81
9ud II ~. lis.l,f ,,....i mo-, 49, co,nt-nsr