The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1906-02-02

Then, just as he stooped to receive
the answer from her trembling lips,
she caught the glimpse of tall form
moving in a scrub-oak thicket close
by. Fearing 1t to be an enemy, she
, pointed to foot path and babe her
lover hasten, but not until he had her
promise to meet him at this place on
tho following evening.
AS the young man was fastening
home he encountered Tecumah, and
from the malicious CLEAN in his eve
he surmised that he was suspected.
Stopping at the wigwam of Amas-
kohegan, Tecumah found him "smok-
ing his pipe Of peace" and his daugh-
ter preparing his viands as carefully
as though no danger threatened the
life Of her lover. The two men talked
long and low, and from the furtive
glances cast in her direction, she knew
that she was watched, and IL she
would win her hero, she must bide her
time.
When next the evening shadows
gathered about the wigwam, and Am
askohegan wrapped his blanket around
him and lay down to dreams upon his
bed Of moss and pine straw, Minneha-
ha stole noiselessly out of the door
and ran down the path which led to
the bluff.
In an instant she was folded in a
pair OF strong arms, as she breathless-
ly whispered: "Only one moment must
I linger. for I am watched, and If
they find us here they will take your
life."
Brave girl" he whispered in re-
turn. "and you will leave this beauti-
full place with so much that is dear
to you that you may go with me to a
strange land?"
Then as she trustingly placed her
hand in his and answered, AYE, aye,
forever!" he knew~she was not deceiv-
ing him.
A plot was then made that she
should meet him at this place on the
next Saturday, when the men would
be lettering in the village; he would
have canoe in readiness. in which
they would row across the lake to
where he had horses in waiting, when
they would ride in haste to the near
est minister and be married, leaving
Immediately for their Northern home.
Promptly at the time set on Satur-
day she reached the bluff.
1T was past the hour Of trysting,
Yet she fingered for him still"
And was soon rewarded by seeing him
rowing toward her. But bark! the
sound of clashing hoofs! nearer they
come, nearer, until the frightened girl
leaped from the bluff into the waters
below. Her lover, losing not a mo-
ment clasped her in his arms and
swan with her to the other shore,
pausing only one moment, as he whis-
pered Think once more, my darl-
ing. of your sacrifice; are you willing
to make it," Then, like Minnehaha of
old. she
Seemed more lovely as she stood
there
While she said, and blushed to say
ii,
Il viii follow you, my husband"
Onward came the pursuers but they
were too late. and after futile at
tempt to capture them
THE ancient arrow maker
Turned again unto his labor,
Sat down by his sunny doorway
Murmuring to himself and saving;
Thus it is our daughters leave US,
Those we love and those who love
us,
Just when they have learned to help
us
When we are old and lean upon
them"
Twenty-Five years flew swiftly by,
when one bright day in mid-winter a
| handsome couple stepped from the
dusty coach onto the platform of
| small station on the shores of Lake
! Amaskohegan. Time had dealt so
gently with them that almost any old
friend would have recognized them as
the hero and heroine of our story.
Great changes had taken place in
the once familiar place where now
nothing remained to remind one of
the Indian race but a few she'll mounds
and here and there an arrowhead. A
rich English Lord with many strings
of bright-colored beads had bought
the lake and its surroundings from
it's owners. and on its shores enter
prising people had homesteaded. erect
| ing colonial homes with the cabins of
Uncle Joe" and old aunt Diana"
among the tropical palmettos in the
rear.
Onward came the pair until they
reached the bluff where they had
plighted their troth. and as they
paused the man barred his head and