The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1892-07-23


failed 70 explain why he 50 abrupt
ly left Tennessee. 4 short time
after ms arrival Jolly vontnred 10
ask him Of his wife and the object
Of his presence IN the nation, hut
he evs Il 4 an answer BY shifting
H. conversation To something else.
Tahlihina. as well as the rest Of his
acquantances here, as have AL
ready stated, had learned through
the newspapers of HOuston's posi-
ton as Governor Of Tennessee aud
Of his recent marriage, and, not
wlthstan'iing most of lis time was
Spenl in the chase with his Chero
kee friends, it is generally believed
that his visit TO the Cherokea Ma
tion was upon some kind of impnr-
tant business. But as the months
sped on without any >lgu Of Hons-
tons returning they beg 10 to think
differently, aud when Jolly again
asked him to explain matters he
did 50, telling him that he had de-
serted his wife, resigned his Gov
einor hip and never expected 10
return Houston always liked the
Chtrokees, ard he told jolly that
he intended TO spend the remainder
Of his life among them.
"Well, things rocket along for
awhile longer ami Houston and
jolly finally embarked iii he mer-
camille BUSINESS at the Falls. Tah-
lihina no longer stunned his com
piny, but on the contrary filled the
place Of an able assistant IN the
slora most of her time.
Sin the meanwhile, however,
Houston wrotn back TO his wife III
renness u, telling her thAt he had
] deserted her forever, and advised
her e. sue f1r a divorce. This She
lost no lime il doing, and, il +
said, was married to fellow she
loved on tile very day that the d.
,orce was granted. OF course il
suited Houston exactly, fir within
i month after he got the news he
ana Ianlihina We're happily mar
ried
81 never could understand why
4 II was that Houston selected the
secluded, out-of-the-way place Il hat
he dtl for home, unless it was on
account Of the picturesque scenery
and abundance Of game which sur.
rounded ID. AT any rate lie gave III
his business at Wrhhcrs Falls,
built arude lpg house way up there
~ the foot Of the hills. where he
and Tahlinlna lived for i year,
seemingly III the fullest enjoyment
| If health and happiness. Taey o.
ten visited the military post at
Fort Gibson and soon becam
Il t4voriles with the officers ana their
wives. They would always 90 horse.
back, each taking their rifle to use
| il case they encountered herd Of
deer or buffalo, both of which were
plentiful AT that time. Tahlihina
WIS Houslon's equal il the art OF
both riding and shooting, and Of
ten they would 20 hunting together,
she seldom failing to bag as much
game as he. Thus they lived u
Wild, sweet life for a year, aud
Houston more than once said dur
ing that time that he would not
exchange such IA life for the PFesi.
dency OF the United States or for
the wealth Of million iire.
1T was late 10 the fall. about a
I ~ n asstsi4f 1, a
Houston had to leave home a
couple Of days to attend TO some
business with the chief of the ma
ton. He kissed Tahlihina the
morning he left with his usual fond
ness, and thought she was never
il her life so beautiful and dear to
him. He finished up his business
with the chief and hurried back
home the next evening totind Tah-
lihina violently Ill aud her fair
Young face scorching with fever.
She lived but a day longer, and,
aeing delirous from the beginning
Of her brirf illness. she never r. C.
ognized Houston agiin or knew
tnat be cia.pei her in his arms and
wepl bitterly over her when she
died.
"rhat dark day. for the first time
% many years, the stern face oi
Sam Houston WIS stained with
te rs. On the m rrow, when tie
bright sun came up over the blue
ne ks to the east, it stole sally
through the widows Of the rdde
cabi !, whe the dead lay calm as
marble and the living IN silence,
and set crown If glory np01 lhr
peaceful brow of Sam ii mston's
Cherokee wifi. She was reveIently
laid t. rest there on the brink Of
the little stream, which has ever
since been called Tahlihina Creek
oy lhe natives. Houston left with
IN a year for Texas, where sue
cessfal career awaited him, and
there now remain but faint traces
VI bis once happy home amcng
the Cherokees. The lonely grave
and its hist ry has been almost
forgotten except by the older in
habltahts. Some Of the more SUI
pc 5 itious Of these will tell you
That an calm midsummer NIGHTS