Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1902-07-16
ROMANCE OF nth CENTURY.
New Light ON the story OF Hon. JohI
Smith and His Marriage to
Miss POcahOntas.

HlOuS OduSnI0r OF OOl. 1OWHdGdu.
writes w. d. Nesbit, in the Baltimore |
American.
This happened along in the first part |
of the seventeenth century, before the |
street cars began running to Pow.
natan.
In fact, it has been stated that Poca-
hontas was the first fare that was
ever collected on that line, but you
know how it is about distance lending
enchantment to the view, and maybe
Pocahontas was not so fair after all.
1t happened that Mr.. Smith was out
doing few deeds that would serve tc
snliven the pages of the ten-cent nov
els when some of Col. Powhatan's
braves gathered him in.
He was ta ken before Col. Powhatan.
who coldly asked him what he was do.
ing over in that ward.
Smith came back with some saucy
retort or other, and the upshot was
that he was confined in the calaboose.
Powhatan merrily said to him that
1t was well that his captors were not
cannibals or they would make Indiar
meal of him.
fage, so to speak, and has no place in
Q real-for-sure historical novel.
1t so CHANGED that while Smith was
confined in prison Miss Pocahontas
came around one day to see if there
were any murderers or horse thieves
to whom she might carry flowers or
jelly.
Unfortunately, they were just out
of murderers and horse thieves that
morning, and she had to content her
self with listening to the long, sad
story of Smiths past life. For hours
be held her spellbound with his stir
ring recital of ihings he had seen and
| done.
Little Pocahontas began to think he
| was almost as interesting as muir.
| derer could we'll be, and naturally she
was rather perturbed when a great
| big Indian came in and said that Smith
was wanted a the captains office. He
went on to say that it was the inten-
ton of Powhatan to have Smith
turned over to the ministrations Of
the court executioner.
In those days there was no fun in be-
ing executed.
The papers did not send two or
three reporters around to find out
what the condemned man had eaten
for breakfast and to write sad and
thrilling things about his last words.
Nor were there any extras issued to
tell the waiting public about the exc
cutinn.
No, indeed. They simply took the
person who formed the center of at
traction for the time being to con-
venient spot, and the court execution
er applied a club to his head until his
thought had all leaked out and his
Imagination collided with his appetite
Then the executioner cashed his
voucher and the festivities were al
end.
Consequently little Pocahontas was
tremulous with suppressed excitement
when they put Mr.. Smith on the block
and parted his hair in the middle to
give the executioner fair sight at his
think-center. Col. Powhatan was
standing in a good spot to view the
proceedings. Had kodaks been invent
ed he would have had his hand inside
| MS coat, OUT dS 1T was. lie Simply lei
his hands hang atthe end of his arms
Just as the executioner was about tc
drive Smiths eyebrows into his vest
pockets Pocahontas made a wild rush
from the parquet seats and threw her
self across the manly form of Smith
Pocahontas was cornfed bud of so
ciety, too, and would have made &
penny-in-the-slot weighing machine
look like whirligig. The feelings Of
Smith may readily be imagined. Sh.
ruined the curl of his hair anc
smashed his ruf1ed collar beyond re
demption. Smith tried to speak-h,
wanted to urge her to shift little, fol-
she was grinding his collar button int
the ticklish spot at the top of tn,
breast bone, but she exclaimed:
Say not word, my hero!"
Having no breath left with which t,
say the word, Smith refrained from
speech.
Turning to her stern old father
Pocahontas begged him to spare thu
poor man.
Powhatan nodded assent and the ex
| .cutioner went sadly away. Smitl
rose to his feet and took Pocahonta
5 by the hand, advancing to the cente
of the stage to respond to the curtain
, call.
: There are many other stories told o
Mr.. Smith. He told most of them him