The National tribune., 1892-04-07

tx iS--S1&< made the air redolent
60 with sweet perfume
The larks caroled mer-
70 70 - rily, the blue jays dart
ed with arrow-like swiftness in the shadow Of
The woods, the red squirrels peepcd saucily from
xheir secure perch on the huge limbs of the
trees and over all nature there prevailed an
Enchanting tranquility peculiar to the MID
continent plains in the primitive days OF The
Border.
The peaceful homesteaders of the fair region
were unsuspiciously sitting in the cool DOOR
wars of their rude but comfortable log cabins.
resting from the labor of the week in improy-
ing their newly -opened farms in the wilderness.
Some perhaps were gathered at nelghDor s,
fen miles distant, so remotely scattered were
The houses, TO hear an itineraDt preacher; Tor,
among the primitive, simple people living
there, the moral and religious element preaofh-
mated.
In the vicinity of other homes groups OF
children were plucking the blue and white
snemones. that studded the prairie everywhere,
or the purple verbena and wild rose in the ra-
vines and on the hillsides, their happy voices
hwaking the echoes of the charming pastoral
landscape as they played in gentle mirth, inno-
cent of any danger.
Suddenly, without moments warning, with
The rush OF a tornado, theNIndiaus, feather-he-
decked and paint bedaubed, uttering their
blood-curdling whoops. swept down into the
valley from the hills and out OF the canyons In
every direction, numbering and scsiplng lndls-
criminately. Old and young were alike butch
cred; even helpless babes, sleeping in their
cradles, pierced through and through with
cruel arrows, or their brains dashed out against
the door-posts.
a few escaped the vengeance OF the savages
by hiding in the tall grass and mat OF sedge
growing on the rivers edge from whence, late
st night under cover of darkness. they made
their perilous way to Fort Harker, on the
Smoky Hill p miles south of the Saline. where
Gen. Clusters famous troopers the 18th Cav,
were stationed.
Eight or nine miles from the mouth Of Spill
man Creek, up the Valley of the Saline, under
enc Of two large clumps of box-elders, then as
now known as the Twin Groves, q neat cabin
OF hewn logs nestled picturesquely In the midst
of their dense foliage. There lived Mr.. and
Mrs. Worral with their only child, Winona lin
the beautiful Chippewa language meaning first
born).
The little family had been pioneers in Wis
consin, from which State they bad emigrated in
the Fall of 1866, settling in the beautiful Val
ley of the Saline. their claim including the Sc.
questered and charming dual groves where
they commenced to open q new farm in the
wilderness of central Kansas.
Winona had already reached her sixteenth
year al the date of her advent in the new State.
She was rapidly growing into womanhood, bat
Etill thoroughly representative child Of the
prairie. Was free and IS graceful in all
her movements as the antelope, pure and inno-
cent in her thoughts a saint, though some
times perhaps little dislectic and provincial
In their expression.
Winona possessed face and figure remarka-
bic, the former for its quiet SORT Of beauty, the
latter for its litheness, symmetry, and an in
herent grace that any Eastern society lady
would have been vain of; but with this fair
girl every movement was perfectly natural.
She was as ignorant of anything that savored
of sTectation as she was Of the calculus; yet, If
she even stubbed her toe il was accomplished by
ruch an exposition of poetry of motion that it
seemed TO have been studied. To watch the
play Of her hands when performing any work,
whether cinching the saddle on her pony or the
more delicate Office of making tstting. was a
study. No queen could have moved her fingers
with more exquisite grace.
Her complexion was so light as 10 be nearly
pure, for she was blonde of the most pro-
nounced type and, with her wealth of golden
hair, which grandly reflected the sheen Of the
sun as does bright cloud at his going down,
she was considered a picture of beauty and
health, rarely found outside Of the country.
But it was not her singular beauty which
made Winona universal favorite in the new
settlement where among the class to which
abe belonged such possessions usually count for
little. 1t was the sweetness OF her disposition,
modesty IN its broad sense. sedate conduct,
neatness IN appearance, and her ever willing
ness 70 help or nurse suffering neighbor that
20 endeared her to the people Of the valley.
Winona was possessed too of q courage and
eoolness under circumstances Of danger that
the majority Of men might envy. 1t was en-
grated in her nature by the law of heredity,
for her parents from their childhood had been
on the frontier, and brought up to contend with
ali the sometimes fearful vicissitudes Of border
life
Yet there was nothing masculine In this
brave young girls manner. She rode horse
back as if she were part of the creature on which
abe sat, aud could hardly remember when she
had not owned pony. The one che now pos
ressed was dull brownish yellow, named Gin
ger, not because his coat resembled that spice
IN color so much az for reason of the spice that
was in his nature. Ginger was one of that
small breed peculiar to Texas purchased out of
y herd which had been driven from the Lone
Star State TO the village near where the Wor-
rails lived in Wisconsin. His powers of endur-
snce were phenomenal, as are nearly all Of his
species. On long journey, with only the wild
grass 70 subsist on, they soon completely wear
out" the pampered steed of the stable.
The relations between Ginger and his young
mistress were remarkable for the affection and
confidence each reposed in the other He was
now eight years old, just In the prime Of horse
hood, and Minona had owned him ever since
he was but two mere colt at the time her
father had bought him for her at her home on
the Mississippi.
Ninona had broken him all by herself but
had never used whip, spur, or severe curb der
ing her long and patient training. Conse-
queDtly Ginger responded cheerfully to her
every command promptly. His edscation had
been based upon gentleness and affection. Her
love for him was reciprocated in a manner
bordering upon human intelligence confirma-
tory Of the theory that kindness is more effect
i've in suboTdinatng the brute creation to our
will than the club or kindred harsh measures
Ginger. never confined by fence or Iariat.
To2med at will over the beautiful prairies sur
rounding Twin Groves. Yet day or night, in
sunshine or in storm, il Winona required his
services she had only TO go and call him, when,
II within the sound Of her voice, he would
come galiopng up to her neighing cbeeriy
When be arrived where she stood bride In
hand, waiting for him, he would affectonately
rub his nose on her arms or shoulders and sub
snissiyely follow her to the house. If he were
D long way of when she went TO seek him she
would Jump on his bare back and ride home.
de was always rewarded on these occasions
however, with lump of sugar or salt Of both
OF which be was very fond, aud in all the years
of their companionship neither girl nor pony
had ever deceived the other. His sugar or
tsltw never forgotten, nor had lie once failed