Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1898-08-18

Then she arose and ran towards
the high hill. The trader was afraid
no would lose her, for she had told
that abe would rather die than be his
aquaw, and he ran after her, but IL
was like the turtle after the gazelle.
"Wlnona went with quick feet to
the top OF the bluff, and SecO cried
out like the wild cat, and the Dakota
chief and braves, who we're camped
up there heard him. They ran quick.
Winona saw them, and went TO the
very brink chanting the denth song,
She bowed herself TO the earth,
wrapped her blanket about her
breast, and with wild cry sprang
out into the dark air Of the night.
"The braves drew near the place
where the young squaw had stood,
and they heard the sound Of heavy
fall. They looked down into the
blaclness, but could zee nothing four
trees deep, but splash OF water was
heard, and they knew Winona was no
more They went with quick feet to
the Pepin Lake, but the moving water
had carried the dead squaw away
forever, they said, and they turned
sadly back TO their lodges"
And they never found the body of
the girl?" ] asked.
The white-haired old warrior shook
his head.
"They did not find the body be-
cause II was not left beneath the high
hill, and II never went down into tho
lake"
1.-THE lover carried II away" i sug-
gested, new thought entering my
head suddenly,
ut went away with Little Coon, but
he did not carry It. Winona was not
killed"
The idea wns ABSURD.
A human being could not descend,
'nder full power of grayitntion, hum
drcds OF feet, and amid broken rocks,
without causing instant death. The
red hermit OWNED my thoughts and
he snid
II have told YOU that the lovers
planned to deceive the Dnkotas, and
they did.
"WinonN secreted long, rawhide
rope under her shawl and dropped II
where her lover was secreted without
stopping to speak, as had been
planned.
when darkness came Little Coon
vent to the top of the bluff and mals-
Ing n moose on one end OF the long
rope, he laid the circle at the edge
of the rock. put the thong around o
projecting point OF stone, and lower
ed the end to the earth below, and
then went down to await the coming
Of Winona.
when he heard the death song
from the young squaw's lips, he
grnsped the rope firmly.
"Winona wound her shawl about
her breast and then put the moose
round her body under her arms, and
was ready for the leap.
"a wild cry rang out and Little
Coon, who was n very stout young
brave, held tightly and let the little
squaw down.
AT the same time he pushed with
his foot large, round stone from its
resting place, and II went splashing
into the waters of Lake Pepin. IA
soon as Winona touched the earth she
and her Chippewa lover ran to the
water where the canoe OF Little Coon
vas lying, and they padded away.
"he long rope was taken with them.
They swept quickly up the smooth
surface Of the pretty Pepin, and
when the light came they were hid
den in ticket where Little Coon had
left some food.
when the sun went down again
they hurried away from the big river
to the east, and when light came they
hid again, After long Journey they
came to another river, and when this
was crossed they were in Canada.
Here they lived with new names. and
became friends Of the whites, and no
one knew the truth. The Dakotns
knew Winona was dead. and the
Chippew0s thought Little Coon killed
at the hands Of the enemies. | have
heard the story many times"
And did they ever return to the
Mississippi?' asked
mo, they never went back to their
people, and their people never knew
they lived"
"Where did Winona dwell?"
"Thc pretty sQuw and Little Coon
lived eighty years together in this
grand forest. They led the free life
Of the red man, and but Il tie time
ago Winona died, leaving her old and
feeble companion alone, She died in
this very lodge, and is buried be-
meath the pines"
"Then you are the companion?"
Eyes, I am Little Coon, the Chippe-
wa"
Necessary Preliminaries.
when are You going to begin