Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-01-11

This is Lay fathers lodge" said the
Indian girl He is one of the chiefs.
and is called Gitshewa. or Strong-Voice.
because his shout is 50 terrible in battle.
Being noted man. his lodge is double.
as you see, and this part belongs to me
and Monon. Monon is my sister"
The person last mentioned was seated
on mat near the fire; and when Star
Light mentioned her name. she arose
and regarded Rosalthe with as much
curiosity as was in keeping with Indian
stocism, and possibly, a little more
lis White-Cloud," said Starlight
ROsalthe seated herself on a mat, and
examined Monon more particularly She
was younger than her sister. and bore
a striking resemblance to her. She was
fair, but her beauty was of a gentler
cast than Star-Light's; and our heroine
took courage from the fact, and hoped
she would be able to win her friendship.
The three maidens being seated before
the fire, did little else for time, than
to throw furtive glances at each other
Presently Starlight and her sister
began to converse in the Indian tongue,
and being somewhat familiar with the
language, ROsalthe soon perceived that
they were talking about a white captive
that one of their war parties of young
men had taken at Harrodsburg. This
riveted her attention, and she listened
with breathless interest to all that was
said. Her sympathies were more COM
pletely enlisted in the subject when she
heard the prisoner was a young girl
and already condemned to death
Rosalthe could control her feelings no
longer She asked why Otter Litter, be-
ing a humane chief, permitted such cru
elites, to which Starlight replied that
he had nothing to do with the matter,
the captive having been taken by a
party of young braves, and to retaliate
on the settlers at Harrodsburg for the
loss of one of their number.
But has not Otter-Lifter or your
father power to save the poor grip in
quired Rosalthe.
Starlight made no answer, but look
ed steadily at the fire.
did not the Great Spirit intend that
the pale and red faces should be perpet-
ually enemies?" asked Monon.
"No; it is His will that all men should
be brethren. and dwell together in friend
ship" replied RosaIthe.
THAT would be best, it seems to me;
but if it had been the will of the Great
Spirit it would have been so; for his
power is greater than MANS" answered
Monon.
THE fate of that unhappy young
woman makes me miserable" exclaimed
our heroine and lying down upon the
couch of buffalo skins that had been
spread for her. she vainlv endeavored to
rest. The imperfect slumbers that Wis
tied her at periods were disturbed by
dreamy vagaries. 1t was about mid
night when she felt a touch upon her
arm. She opened her eyes with a start,
and beheld Star Light beside her.
eff you would see the white captive.
arise and follow me-" said the Indian
girl
Rosalthe lost no time in obeying: she
arose and followed her from the lodge.
while MOnon remained sitting by the
fire. Without word being uttered by
either party, they approached the spot
where the unfortunate captive was wait
ing the execution of the sentence which
had been pronounced upon her by her
judges
Two warriors lay extended upon the
ground rcar thn door Of thp lodge. who
appeared 10 be sleeping soundly. Star
Light paused, evidently somewhat sur
prised at what she beheld.
1.-THE Great Spirit favors u.s." she said
IN a low voice. THE warriors are full
of frewater-they are drunken"
Starlight passed on, stepping lightly
within few inches of the unconscious
watchers.
Making a gesture for Rosalthe to i'm
itate her example, she glided into the
lodge. The prisoner was sitting near
smoIdering fire, her hands and feet tight
" bound with thongs of deer skin. She
looked up with an exclamation of aston
ishment The instant that Rosalthe
caught a glimpse of the sorrowful face
that was turned toward her, she sprang
forward and embraced the doomed maid
en-, exclaiming, Fanny Harold
The captive uttered no words of rec
ognition, but gazed at Rosalthe in mute
surprise.
"Minno Monedov said Starlight. in
a suppressed but energetic manner.
what are you doing? Is this a time
to embrace and weep? Come away,
White-Cloud; the Drooping-Lily does not
know you"
Starlight grasped Rosalthe by the
arm and drew her away from the cap
tive; with a knife she had severed the
thongs that bound her limbs, and bade
her stand up. This done, raising her
hand warningly, she stepped 10 the door
and looked a moment at the warriors
before it. Satisfied, evidently, with the
result of her examination, she returned,
and took Fanny Harrod by the hand,
and led her from the lodge.
The parties stood in the open air, and
beneath the light of an unclouded moon.
The face of Miss Harrod was deadly
pale: her limbs trembled with agitation,
and her heart beat fast with expectation
and fear. She turned her marble visage
toward Starlight, or threw wild and
wondering glances at Rosalthe.
The Cherokee girl paused but mo-
ment, and then moved away from the
SPOT, supporting the trembling form OF
Fanny Harrod. They had proceeded per
haps a dozen yards, when a majestic
figure darkened their path, and the face
of Otter-Lifter was looking calmly upon
them. Miss Harrod uttered a faint cry,
and fell fainting into the arms of Star