The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1895-02-02


the morrow. Moccasined feet make
no sound. His name suddenly breathed
in nndertone startled him.
'It is Wahnonah," the voice went on.
Her speech was a mixture of Indian
and broken English.
Robert stopped and looked keenly at
the maiden before him. Though ap.
parently scarcely more than sixteen,
she was tall and shapely. Her rich
coloring, not too deeply tinged, glowed
in cheek and lips, while her eyes
seemed to have stolen some of the fas-
cination from those of her white sis
tiers. Her hair hung in long braids
and in her dress was blended the gar
ments of the races from which she was
come. Rich fur and wampum strings
made it picturesque. and formed fine
setting for her splendid, vigorous
beauty.
"Does the young paleface with his
followers go to the north on the NOR
row?" she asked. hoarsely.
"Wahnonah, you are Indian. Think
you l will answer this night with your
warwhoops all about us?''
II am Indian" Wahnonah replied,
taking a step nearer; ''but the white
blood within me is at war with the
savage part OF me. Why does Wah-
nonah betray her own?" she ended
fiercely.
Roberts heart beat faster. "What
would you say, Wahnonah?" he asked,
kindly.
1.-THE heart of Wahnonah beats for
revenge on many of tho palefaces-
but not on one," she went on, with a
soft information that gave a new idea
to Robert. ''She would not leave her
mothers forests II she could-no, not
even to please the one whose life she
would save. But, listen," she hurried
on, "they are coming to kill him, to
kill them all, to burn their homes.
Soon. She knows not when, and
might not tell if she could. Stay. Go
not away tonight, tomorrow. You
have a place of safety here"
This is nonsense" Robert an
swered. eying the girl keenly, and
also listening as he spoke. What do
you know"
81 have told you." Wahnonah almost
whispered, standing firm in her young
dignity. looking steadily into Roberts
eyes.
"You may be deceiving me-"
A spasm of pain passed over her
features. do palefaces, too, care
more for glory than for sweethearts?'
she gasped.
at is not for glory we go. 1t is for
their safety and ours"
''Stay. Seek your places of safety.
An enemy will follow your footsteps.
1t is you he seeks. And others will
come to burn your homes and whirl
your scalps in the war Dance" she
ended pleadingly.
How did you learn this?" Robert
demanded earnestly. Are you be-
traying me even now?"
Another look of pain flashed over the
girls face as she proudly stepped back.
Then drawing something from her
bosom she held it toward Robert.
"Place this piece of 'wsmpum on the
new home nearly done, and it shall be
saved. Wahnonah promises. her
mother was chieftain's daughter,
and the chieftain knows her work and
will grant what she asks"
Robert mechanically took the trink-
ct, half inclined to believe the girls
warning. Then he shook off the fear,
asking: "Who will follow me, Wah-
nonah?"
For n moment the girl did not reply.
She clasped her hands and looked
straight before her.
"Who is it?" Robert entreated.
"Osego. Tell of her who saves you,
and her life will be worth no more than
your own"
He whose wigwam you will keep
HE whose wigwam I'm commanded
to keep. But do not linger. Time is
Short" she urged. Hasten"
Robert silently gazed at the girl
Surprise made him speechless as he
readthe love in her eyes. In another
moment she was gone.
Robert mechanically stuffed the
piece of wampum into pocket, and
began pacing back and forth, trying to
decide the best course to pursue. He
could not believe Wahnonah was pur-
posely deceiving him. He had known
her several years, and his family and
himself had been kind to her. They
were sorry for the girl. The white
blood in her veins made life less agree
able and more difficult than to her
darker sisters. But until now he
never supposed she had any special
affection either for himself or the in.
habitants of the settlement.
II will go to Mr.. Wellman's." he de-
cided, after much thought 1T will
have the appearance of cowardice to
postpone our departure now, when none
believe any danger threatens us at
present"
Mr.. Wellman thought the girl was
overexcited, and still, with her keen
observation, might she not possibly be