The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1906-01-27
THE POINT Of TRYST"
The Story BY Mrs. NJ. NJ. Little, Of
Ooala, Which Won First Prize in
the Sun Contest
Jacksonville sun. Jan. 27)

April was rapidly drawing TO close.
A few lingering sunbeams played at
hide and seeek among the shapely
sweetgums and danced merrily over
the sleepy waters Of Amaskohegan
lake. The air was redolent with per-
fume from the pure white chalices Of
magnolia blooms, while soft sea breez-
IS toyed with the long gray moss
which hung gracefully from the aro-
matte pines. under which stood Te-
cumah. a stalwart young Indian, and
Minnehaha, a beautiful maiden with
soft brown eyes and shining tresses.
Earnest and Iover-Iike were his ac-
cents, as in Longfellow's beautiful
legend
Looking at fair Laughing Water,
Sang he softly, sang in this wise:
Thou the wild flower of the forest!
Thou the wild bird of prairie!
Thou with eyes so soft and fawn-like!
Il thou only lookest at me
am happy, I am happy
as the lilies III the prairie.
Does not all the blood within me
Lean 10 meet thee, leap to meet thee,
AS the spring TO meet the sunshine
In the moon when nights are bright
est?
When thou smilest, my beloved.
Then my troubled heart is frightened
As in sunshine CLEANS the ripples
That the cold wind makes in rivers"
Yet his pleadings awakened no re-
sponsive chord in the heart of the fair
Minnehaha, for
''She was thinking of a hunter
From another tribe and country;
Young and tall and very handsome,
Who, one morning in the springtime,
Came to buy her fathers arrows;
Sat and rested in the wigwam,
fingered long about the doorway,
Looking backward as he departed"
Only a few short weeks ago had
young George Brownsloe, the son of a
British officer, come to the little In
dian village where Tall Chief Amas-
kohegan lived with his only daughter,
Minnehaha.
In a few of her rambles had the
maiden met him, returning to the wig
wan alone. fearing lest her father, in
a fit Of rage, would threaten the life
of the young hero who had fought so
bravely against him in the Seminole
war. And this is the reason why the
ardent young Tecumah begged in vain
for the hand of her who had long since
been promised to him by her naughty
father, the wealthiest Indian in all the
country.
Not only was Tecumah surprised
and disappointed at her cold refusal
of his offer. but he was angered as
well, and although he had never, per-
haps, read the old adage-
Faint heart never won fair lady"
yet he purposed in his heart to persist
in his devotions, and win her at any
cost.
Nature had lavished her gifts upon
Lake Amaskohegan (meaning moon
beamsD. Smiles fingered in each sill
yer ripplet ami kissed its pebbly shore
Upon its banks grew wild oranges in
great Drofusion, and here and there
amid great masses of fragrant spider
and umbrella lilies rested an Indian
canoe Upon its smooth beach the
lazy alligator basked in the Florida
sunshine. Myriads of fishes sported in
and out among the water lilies in
search OF prey.
But the point de resistance in all
this scenery was a high bluff on the
east shore Of the lake. upon which
grew a magnificent water oak. leaning
far out over the precipice and mirror
ing itself in the CLASSY waters below.
Here the tourist would always pause
and the artist gaze with admiring
eyes.
Here in the long days OF summer
and the sunshiny days Of winter, Min
nehaha loved to go. and It was here a
few days after our story begins that
she was aroused from fairy dream
land by the approach Of the young
man TO whom she had surrendered
the custody Of her heart. He was fair,
with a soldierly appearance. blue eyes,
noble forehead and a firm chin, with
a mouth which betokened great ear
nestness Of purpose. Quite a contrast
made he to the maiden at whose feet
he sat, describing his home in 1.-THE
Green Mountain State to which he
would soon return.
Il could not leave without seeing
you again. for you must know ere this
that I love you too dearly to leave
you here. for although peace is de-
clared. yet some Of the tribes are hos
tile. Leave them. Minnehaha, and 90