Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1906-03-22

| Aoe hOt lue l/lSut tudC Is HOT
pleasant to OtterLifter than the bright
ness of day." returned the Indian.
The bold chief Of the Cherokees will
make me sad," said Starlight.
He would not willingly darken tn
rays OF JOY that should continual.
stream up from your heart, and bean
from your eyes," rejoined Otter-Lifter.
You have not noticed our sister; sh'
comes from our cousins, the Wyandots
She Is called White Cloud"
The daughters of the Wyandots ar,
comet v" returned Otter-Lifter, giving
Rosalthe a searching glance. "White
Cloud Is welcome; she looks like the sis
ter of Starlight"
"Otter-Lifter has sharp eyes" retort
ed Starlight coldly.
May no cloud larger than that ever
come between Otter Litter and Star
Light" replied the chief, pointing to
Rosalthe.
The Cherokee chief Is making love to
my cousin" exclaimed the Indian girl
with warmth.
Otter-Lifter turned away with smile
and the maidens passed on to the lodge
near the center Of the village. The lodge
was large one, divided into two COM
partments by buffalo skins suspended
from the top, and secured at the bottom
by sticks driven into the earth. In one
place skin was left to serve the pur-
pose OF door, and through which Star
Light conducted her captive.
This Is my 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 a 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, little more.
Its White-Cloud," said Starlight.
Rosalthe seated herself on a mat, and
examined Monon more particularly She
was younger than her sister, and bore
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 a 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 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
party of young braves, and to retaliate
on the settlers at Harrodsburg for the
loss Of one of their number.
"But has not Otter-Lfter 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 KosaIthe.
"That would be best, 1t seems to me;
but If it had been the will Of the Great
Spirit 1t would have been so; for his
power Is greater than MANS" answered
"The fate Of that unhappy young
woman makes me miserablev' exclaimed
our heroine. and lying down upon the
couch Of buffalo skins that had been
spread for her. she vainly 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,
md beheld Starlight beside her.
"If you would see the white captive.
rise and follow me-" said the Indian
girl.
Rosalthe lost no time In obeying: she
lrose and followed her from the lodge
while Monon remained sitting by the
ire. Without a word being uttered BY
'ither party, they approached the spot
where the unfortunate captive was wait
ng the execution of the sentence which
lad been pronounced upon her by her
Judges.
Two warriors lay extended upon the
round near the door Of the lodge, who .
ppeared to be sleeping soundly. Star
light paused, evidently somewhat sur
rised at what she beheld.
The Great Spirit favors u.s." she said e
q a low voice. Tho warriors are full
I frewater-they are drunken"
Starlight passed on, stepping lightly
vithin q few inches Of the unconscious {
vatchers. IL
Making . gesture for Rosalths to i'm a
ate her example, she glided into the .
,dgs. The prisoner was sitting near q
IRE, her hands and feet tight
: bound with thongs Of deer skin. She .
,oksd up with an exclamation Of aston b
hment The instant that Rosalths
aught . glimpse Of the sorrowful face
,at was turned toward her, she sprans
,rward and embraced the doomed maid o
a, exclaiming. Fanny Harrodr
The captive uttered no words Of rec 1,
gnition. but gassd at Rosalths In mute I,
,rprisA.
"Minno Monsdor' said Star-Lisht In
suppressed but energetic manner.
What are you doinRf II this n tima