Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1896-03-26
.THE LEGEND OF INDIAN WE'LL.

ebrated in song and story, was deeply
in love with one of her fathers brav-
est warriors, the bold and handsome
Featherfoot. Her tender feelings
we're fully reciprocated, bat there
was an impossible bar to their hap.
piness, for Firewater had promised
TO bestow her hand upon the aged
dealer In dry and wet goods in Der
by, in whose establishment he had
run up a considerable bill for pocket
handkercheifs and bottled necessaries.
The maiden's brother, Blackeye, q
1.-THE young fellow year younger
than herself, but about her size, was
also interested in this sordid union,
for be was compelled to ask for cred
id occasionally on his own account.
The lovers, therefore, could enjoy
none but stolen interviews, and these
had to be managed with the greatest
secrecy.
On the afternoon of a warm day
in July-the 18th Of July, 1912
Featherfoot had an errand at neigh
boring lodge, for his own flask was,
as usual, empty; and the path lead
past the great chiefs wigwam. There,
in front of the door, her back resting
against an empty demijohn, her soft
brown eyes bathed in tears, sat the
beautiful Bleachlocks. darning her
cruel fathers stockings At sight
of the girl in this graceful but melan
choly attitude, and encouraged, per-
haps by wink that she bestowed up
on him as he passed, Featherfoot
felt he could no longer stand the aw-
full suspense that, in connection with
black pipe was wearing him almost
TO a shadow. In an instant his reso-
luton was taken; and, without paus-
ing in his stately tread, he bent his
manly form till his face was close to
her ear and hoarsely whispered:
Meet me tonight on the brink of
the Indian Well, at nine. sharp
AT nine l will meet thee, ny own
true love, was the maiden's whisper
ed answer; and in the twinkling OF
an eye the brave warrior had disap-
peared in the forest.
But alas! for this lovely maid and
her gallant suitor. Bleachlock's broth
er, Blackeye, lay doing in the shade
behind the great chiefs wigwam, and
even the light steps of Featherfoot
awoke him. Instantly on the alert
he heard the whispered appointment
4 guess not,' he muttere1 to him
self, and rolled over and went to s!eer
again,
The dark shadows of a moonless
July night had settled upon the Con-
necticut forest, when Blackeye stole
softly into the east wing of the great
chiefs wigwam which was occupied
by his sister and stealthily carried
away the valuable eagles feather
cloak in which Bleachlocks invariably
arrayed herself when she had an af-
fair of this kind en- hand. When safe
iu open air again he rubbed the palm
of his right hand softly against the
bark on the southeast side of a juni-
per tree, and unerring instinct told
him that the hour was exactly half
past eight.
Just right! he said TO himself; and
putting Bleachloek's sailor hat on his
head and throwing her feather cloak
over his shoulders, his own mother
might easily have mistaken him for
his sister. Nine is the hour, but the
sneaklng Featherfoot will he impa-
tient and will be there early, shall
meet him at 9:45.'
Fifteen minutes later the per6dious
Blackeye, In the disguise of his lovely
sister, sat on the rocky edge of tie
Indian well, wrapped in the strong
arms of Featherfoot.
Idol of my heart the warrior was
spying, guiding star of my existence,
swear once again thou wilt be mine.
Swear by the sun, by the pale moor,
by the twinklng stars, that this very
night-why dost thou start, my beloy-
ed?'
''Tis naught, the supposed Bleach
locks replied, tbs but flea Them
dogs bring 'em. But hark'
"A light footstep was family
heard; twig snapped not SIX feet
away.
Hist the warrior exclaimed. I'VE
are discovered!'
The words were scarcely out of
his mouth before there was rush as
of hurricane, and the fierce Fire
water stood foaming before them.
With one sweep OF his mighty arm
he tore the supposed B!eachlocks
from her lovers grasp, and in a sec
ond he was belaborlng her over the
head and shoulders and every ex
posed portion of her beautiful frame
with stout hickory switch.
"You would, would you?' the en-
ragged chieftan painted in purest
Shawnee. How often have l forbid
you to leave the wigwarm after
dark? Home with you, jade, till
with this good stick 1 paint your
brown skin with stripes like unto a
tigress. Away, sayP A fresh and
furious cut fell upon the feathered
cloak with every word till the chief
had said his say, when he seized the
maiden Tor rather the boy) by the
nape of the neck and hurried her into
the gloom of the forest, gently aiding
her progress with applications of the