Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1891-12-24
THE ONEIDA COUNTESS.
True Story Of a Frenchnan's Life
with the Indians.

In the year of the French revolution
1892, young man of good birth, fine
education and good address, who was
glad to escape from Paris with his life,
came to this country. He was tall and
handsome, with the manners of an
aristocrat Finding nothing to do (for
the physical labor of the docks was so
much better done by the negroes that
he could not stand the competition) he
finally gave up in despair; and while
ne had money for the few implements
needed, started for the Oneida county,
where he cut few saplings and built
himself a shelter from the weather.
He endeavored to support himself by
fishing, shooting and trapping, but had
made little progress, when he was
stricken down with fever His end
seemed coming. He was alone and
helpless, and, commencing himself to
the care of Heaven, he lay down to die.
On the other side of the wood near
which he had built his hut, but hidden
entirely from his view, there lay an
Indian village. One afternoon, an In
dian girl, named Nanita, out berrying,
espied the hut of the stranger, and
naturally peered into it. Hearing no
noise, and seeing no one, she finally
entered and found a handsome man
lying prone, very pale and apparently
| dead Her womln's heart was touched
with pity She saw, too, that, though
lnsensible, the mau was still alive.
The young girl paused not to think
of his color. Her feet feet took her
back to her wigwam, whence she re-
turned with milk, rum and a blanket.
With the latter she covered him, and,
pouring a little rum down his throat,
she pillowed his head upon her lap
and sat still and watched him. Pres
emily he opened his fine eyes and gave
ner dim, wandering, wondering look.
But he was faint He saw, however,
IN the large, lustrous, black, deep-set
eyes of the squaw legibly written:
Thou shalt not die forsaken, stranger. 4"
She signified to him as well as she
could that he mast sleep now, and that
she would return after awhile and see
him
In couple of hours the Indian girl
returned to her patient with food and
medicines for the night She found
him still very feeble, but much better;
she made him eat and gave him to
understand by eye and pantomime
that he must sleep, and she would see
him as early as possible the next morn
ing.
In the morning the Indian girl told
4Ia AZ
first the squaw was suspicious, but she
went with her daughter to see the
stranger. when her heart warmed to
the young paleface; and, with true
womanly feeling, she busted herself
about the sick man. The women re-
moved him to their own wigwam for
better nursing.
Three weeks good nursing brought
nlm round, and he was man again in
all but strength The patient endur.
ance of the count, with his quiet
graceful manners, won the little COM
munity. and all found a pang in their
hearts at the mention of his depar-
ture.
The old warrior, one morning, said:
Stranger, the time has come when
you should no longer be stranger.
You have name in your own country.
What Is it?"
Arthur De Lille, they call me in my
own country"
Then, Arthur De Lille" said the
chief, stay with our people another
noon Hunt with us, fish with US, go
to our council fires, smoke with US, then
20 back to your own country Or, if
you like the red mans life and will
east your lot with US. we will adopt you
nto our tribe. You shall be my son;
YOU shall be hunter and a warrior
Adopt our custom and our costumes,
aud we will give you wife from our
tribe"
Nanita explained what he did not I'M
ierstand to De Lille, who, turning to
the chief. said
1t is well said 1t shall be So" and
,ffered his hand
They smoked a pipe together, and
the understanding was complete.
Arthur De Lille rapidly grew from
convalescence to robust health He
walked. wrestled and ran with the
young braves. his great height being
IF much advantage to him His educa-
Ion IN the school OF the athletes and
fencing and shooting in Paris now
became of great service to him With
returning health he developed great
physical power; the Indians were
proud of him. he was their equal in
most sports, their superior in many
things
AS the time approached for his de-
..lsion. De Lille went to the old war
nor and said.
De Lille wants to go into retreat |
Tor three days to consider his decision |
lie wants to be alone, to consider the |
future, to consult the Great Spirit
DE Lille speaks wisely II shall be |
o No one shall speak to thee, to ask |
Gything of thee for three days"
Il was so ordered he took his gun
and went 10 tn top of a mountain, |
and there considered his situation. He |
the civilized savages of |
France, destroying everything that was
good Then he turned to the peaceful
civilization of the savages going on
around him and thought of what he
should lose, nay, had lost, in France;
then Of the life of toll and labor before
him; then of its freedom-the joyous,