Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-04-07
u WIN0NA.
IA Nsw Version Of An Old Indian ,
Romance
wINONA.

ntght, lost and alone IN the FOREST
wilds, you can appreciate my feel
ing Of despair when | found myself
n weary, bewidered and storm-bon1d
n ii the great woods of Canada. ! had
\ spent the day in the pursuit of game
( and when night began to fall gave
up the chase with the purpose OF
going to the settlement An nour OF
~ hard trudging through the snow s'Ill
n found me among the whtcned trees
confused, lost.
M III only knew which way to 60,
! muttered to myself.
gazed up through the leafiess'
creaking branches Of the tall trees
to see If the stars had appeared but
the sky was overcast and not
A twinkling object met the anxious
gaze. Night had fully come; there
was no moon, but the darkness was
n not intense. | cast about me for
some spot which would afford shelter
from the bowling tempest, but only
the sturdy trees studded in the great,
< white blanket could be seen. was
weary and chilled to the bone, but
dared not stop. Hour after hour
slowly passed, and no halt had been
made.
IN At the very moment when | was
y discussing the possibility OF endnr-
ing the cold until dawn strange OBJ
Z ject doomed up before me. II was a
wigwam made of poles and closely
covered with bark. A single wigwam
buried, It proved, in the heart Of the
great Canada woods. A cloud of
smoke almost as white as the snow
Issued from the top. Never was NOR
tai more gratified. Going close to the
fur-closed doorway ] cried out
n Hello, there"
There was no response and | cried
out again. The skin moved and the
muzzle of rife appeared.
"A white hunter lost in the woods"
said, getting out Of the range of the
+ gun.
White hunter" was repeated, and
. face appeared.
White hunter come in"
A moment later I was out Of the
biting frost and out Of danger. !
found the only occupant Of the forest
lodge to be a very aged Indian His
face was wrinklcd, his form bent, and
the light covering Of hair upon his
head Ms white as the crystals that
danced in the winter wind outside.
The old man spoke English very
clearly, and seemed glad I had come.
He revived the fire, wrapped a
blanket of wolf skins about my
shoulders, and at once set about pre-
pairing some warm drink and food.
After thawing ont and partaking of
the red hermlt's food, we sat cross
/. legged like Turks and smoked our
pipes. The Indian was inclined TO be
retlcent at first, hut when he learned
II that ] was from the Upper Mississippi
ne became interested.
You have been up and down the
great river" he nterrogatcd.
Many tines" returned.
You have seen the great bluff on
me sunrise side Of Lake pepin, then"
Maiden RockY"
"Yes."
Time and again. II is n famous
rock. Every boat that passes up or
down the river contains people who
n gaze upon the great bluff and think
81 Winona, who killed herself for love
by leaping from It's crest to the stony
base below. All the pilots tell the
story over and over again of the
tragic end OF the pretty Indian girl"
The old man shook his head slowly.
Il have heard the story" he said
thoughtfully, "but none of the pale
faces have It right"
How do you know"
Il was there at the time, and do
know"
"Then is the tradition not true?"
THE brave girl did leap from the
high rock"
you must be very old"
Better than one hundred sum
mers,' he answered rubbing his thin
hand across his deeply furrowed
brow. II was u young brave then,
only a boy, but have forgotten
nothing"
you say the whites do not have the
story Of the girl correctly preserved,
20 will you tell II to me that may
know the truth Of the Lovers Leap?'
YES" the old Indian said am laid
aside his pipe
"Winona was the daughter of a
Dakota chief, and as bright and love-
IN as the fairest flower of the prairie.
Many OF the Dakota braves loved the
pretty little squaw. and so did one
pale face trader called Seco who had
trading post two rife shots below
\ the bluff. The trader offered the
chief much money and beads for
Winona, and the chief said the souaw
should go to the teepec of Seco and
be his,
' "Winona hated the trader, and low.
ed a young Chippewa brave named
Little Coon, and she said in her heart
II she could not go in peace with the
Chippewa she would go to her death
"Just at that time the Dakotas ant
Chippewas went to war, and il wa.
no longer safe for Little Coon /,
visit the home Of Winona. He coult
v not stay away from the pretty squaw
10 he went down the Pepin Lake in ,
canoe covered with tree top and b,
the shadows Of the night.
"Winona answered Little Coon'
call when he cried out like the It'll,
duck.
"0ne night she told her lover tina
the chief had sold her to the Prairi,
a Chicken or Seco, the trader, and tina
her father had said on the next nigh
i she must go to the teepee of the pal