Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1892-07-01
THE ONEIDA COUNTESS.
ROMANTIC STORY OF a YOUNG
INDIAN GIRL.
..Thou stt.lt Not bic Forsalsen. Stranger"
she said-A ,Trenor count VINO
Became Powerful Chief
of the Oneidas.

He endeavored to support him elf
by fishing. shooting and trapping, but
had made little progress when he was
stricken down with the fever His
end seemed coming. He was alone
and helpless and commanding him
self 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 Indian girl named
Nanita out gathering berries espied
the hut OF the stranger and naturally
peered in. Hearing no moi O and
seeing no one. she finally entered and
beheld handsome man lying prone
very pale and apparently dead. Her
woman's heart was touched with pity.
She saw. too, that though insensible,
the man was still alive.
The young girl paused not 10 think
OF his color. Her fleet feet took her
back to her wigwam whence she re.
turned with the milk rum aud II
blanket With the latter she covered
him, and pouring little rum down
his throat she pillowed his head upon
her lap. and sat still and watched
him. Presently he opened his fine
eyes and gave her a dim. wandering
wondering look But he was faint
He saw. however in the larga
lustrous. black deep-set eyes of tue
squaw legibly writtan. Thou shalt
not die forsaken. stranger.
The Indian girl told her mother
about the stranger AT first the
squaw was suspicious but she went
with her daughter tc see the stranger.
when her heart warmed to the young
pale face and with true womanly
feeling she busted herself about the
sick man. The women removed him
to their own wigwam for better nurs-
ing.
Three weeks good nursing brought
him around. and he was man again
in all but strength. The patient en-
durance 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 depart.
ure.
The old warrior. Nanita's father one
morning said: Stranger the time has
come when you should no longer be a
stranger. You have a name ip your
own country; what is it?"
Arthur Ge Lille they call me in my
own country"
Then. Arthur de Lille, said the
chief stay with our people another
moon. Hunt with us fish with us, go
to our council fires, smoke with us
then go back to your own country.
Or. If you like the red mans life. and
will cast your lot with us we will
adopt you in our tribe. You shall be
my son; you shall be a hunter and II
WARRIOR Adopt our customs and our
costumes and we will give you "a wife
from our tribe"
Nanita explained what he did not
understand to De Lille. who. turning
to the chief said: 1t is we'll said; il
shall be so. and offered his hand.
They smoked pipe together and
the understanding was complete.
As the time approached for his de.
cision De Lille went to the old warrior
and said: DE Lille wants to go into
retreat for three days to consider his
decision. He wants to be alone to
consider the future. to consult with
the Great Spirit"
de Lille speaks wisely. 1t shall be
so. No one shall speak to thee, to
ask anything of thee for three days. -.
1t was so ordered lie took his gun
and went to the top of a mountain,
and there considered his situation.
He reviewed mentally the civilized
savages OF France. destroying every
thing that was good. Then he turned
to the peaceful civilization of the saw
ages going on around him. and
thought OF what he should lose nay,
of toll and labor before him; then OF
its freedom-the joyous. wild life of
the Indian.
Then he laid down to rest and
think For three days he continued
the meditations that were to fix a.life.
and at length rose from the ground
rejoicing in psalm OF praise Il
thank Thee. Father for this revela-
ton of Thy will"
The mind thus made up is fixed for
ever and it was so with De Lille. He
now soughtthe accomplishment Of his
purpose with avidity. On his way
home he spoke to every one he met;
and meeting the old warrior. he said
Il am an Indian; embrace me,
Welcome my SON." And the
chief embraced him.
De Lille said that he was ready for
whatever ceremonies were necessary.
'Pll settle it at the council OF the
braves tonight" was the reply.
You promised me wife" said De
Lille. Give me Nanita? One moon
from my adoption into the tribe III
take her."
My SON we must see what she
says TO that; but | will not object. :"
They entered the wigwam, carrying
sunshine into IT, De Lille stood up
to Nanita and said. ',Nanita am an
Indian. Help me to be good one. {"
Her bright eyes danced in ecstasy.
as she threw herself on his bosom and
wept there He looked round and
Al. 4 4