The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-05-28


Revolutionary fame, having served
throughout that war with distinction.
He moved from Virginia and settled in
the Sauratown mountain section soon
after peace was declared and devoted
himself to farming. His only child,
Helen, then sixteen years of age, was
his sole companion. Her mother
died when she was a mere tot and
she had lived with an aunt until
her father moved. She wasNvery kind
and affectionate to her father during
the few years they spent together and
the old man felt that he was finish
ing the life that was SO happily be-
gun with her mother. Helen was SO
much like her mother, he would say
to visitors.
The Sauratown mountains were in
habited by the Sauratown Indians,
who We're ruled by an old chief named
Saura, a man of a warlike nature
and hater of the white people, all
of whom he considered foes of the
Indians. He did not openly manifest
this hatred, but his warriors were con-
stantly committing depredations upon
the white settlers in the way of car
ryinS off their stock and provisions
and demolishing growing crops. Small
bands were occasionally seen plumber
ing through the country, which were
often led by the old chief himself
When the Colonel moved there he
felt the need of greater protection
for himself and daughter than was
afforded by the ordinary log cabin
of the settler of that day, and built
q stone house, the remains of which
can be seen standing at the present
time. In this he felt secure from any
attack that might be made by the
Indians. Occasionally small bands of
old Saura's warriors would visit the
colonePS home, on peace missions they
would declare, but he always Thought
it was for other purposes since he
had offended them soon after settling
in their country.
Frank Morton and his mother also
came from Virginia and settled in
that section a few months later. Frank
knew the colonel by reputation and
called at his home by the way of ac-
cident on several occasions TO make
his acquaintance, but having met his
daughter Helen, he felt there was
an irresistible inclination to visit the
hospitable home of the colonel more
than ever.
The Colonel received him kindly
from the first and offered him every
aid and advice it was possible for him
to give a young man just beginning
life as settler in a new country sur
rounded by a hostile tribe of Indians
and soon learned to admire his
staunchness of spirit and integrity oil
character and to regard him as q
true and trusty friend.
Frank came and went about as he
pleased at the Colonels home, and
was soon paying great attention tic
Helen. They often climbed the rug
ged mountain sides and. together they
often drank the cool water from the
crystal. bubbling springs as they
leaped from their rocky homes. To-
gether, they admired and plucked the
gorgeous wild flowers that grew in
prOfusion along by the noisy rivulets
and many a moily-cotton-ta did they
start from its hiding place to GO
scampering off in search of a more
secure one. and while thus wander
ing, day by day, they wove a love
net that would hold them in its
meshes throughout their lives.
On the day Just one year before
Helen disappeared the Colonel watch
ed the young lovers as they strolled
off i'm the same path she went when
last seen, and on that same day they
plighted their troth to each other.
Sitting on the top of a large boulder
at the foot of Pilots Knob. the high
est peak of the Sauratown noun
tains, while the birds were making
their sweetest music the squirrels
brown leaves falling at their feet
tenderly covering mother earth. these
young people vowed to love each
other forever.
''Helen, dear. let me put this tiny
ring upon your finger as a token OF
my fidelity and love. SO that you may
always have something to remind
yourself of me-" said Frank.
mo need of that, Frank" she re-
turned hn1
can think of you without being re-
minded by a ring, but 1 prize it great
~ as coming from you on this occa-
sion. the happiest of our lives"
They sat for a long while, talking
of future plans and happiness, I'M
til the lowering sun warned them ii
was time they should return. Just
before reaching her home Frank inn
pressed a kiss upon Helen's fair cheek
that burned for many day after
ward.
They found the Colonel sitting
where they had left him, busiIy en-
gagged in making some maps of the
surrounding country, and so much alb
sorbed in his work that he did not
notice his daughters excitement and
confusion. Frank babe them good
bye. mounted his horse and galloped
off in the direction of his home.
Helen was SO overjoyed with her
engagement that she could not keep
it. and told her father all about the
affair that night. All how she and
Frank had learned to love each other
and of her promise to be his bride
What" exclaimed her father.
you going to marry Frank Morton.
and ne nothing but a young noun
taineer. He has no means to sunport
you and have tried to raise YOU
But father" put IN Helen. che is
nice young man and l know that he
will take good care of me and, be-
sides, love him.
Take good care of you repeated
her father. 81 suppose he will the
best he can, but that will be poorly
done. And you love him. 1 wonder
if you really know whom YOU love-
1t was my desire you should marry
we'll little girl, and l tell you right
here you must not marry Frank Nor
ton" The Colonel had thrown aside
the book he was reading and was
pacing the floor and seemed greatly
troubled. You must not marry Frank
Norton" he resumed "and you must
tell him that hereafter he must stay
away from here
Helen was overcome aft thiS ont