The sun. (Jacksonville, Fla.) 1905-1908, 1906-01-27
Story Prize $2O Gold Story
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riZe OtOIy contest.
arms, as she brcathlessly whispered; "Only one mo-
ment must nger, for am watched and il they find
us here they will take your lifc'
'l'ravc girl, he whispered in return, "and you
will leave this beautiful place with so much that IL dear
to.you that you may go with me to strange land%'
Then rs she trnstingly placed her hand in his and
answered, Aye, aye forever" he knew she was not
dcceiving 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 nearest minister and
be- married, leaving Immediately for their Northern
home,
Promptly at the time set on Saturday she reached
the bluff.
ut 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 clashng ho0f! nearer
they come, nearer, until the frightened girl lcapcd
from the bulf into the waters below. Her lover,
losing not u moment, caspcd her in his arms and
swan with her to the other shore, pa,lsng only one
moment as he whispered, think once more, my
darling, Of your sacrifice; are you willing to make
ity' Then, like Minnehaha Of old she
Seemed more lovely as she stood there
While she said, and bushed to say it,
j will follow you my husband"
Onward came the pursuers but they were too
late, and after futile attempt to capture them
"'Thc ancient arrOw.makcr
Turned again unto his labor
Sat down by his sunny doorway
Murmuring to himself and saying:
Thus IL il our daughters leave u.s.
Those 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 u handsome couple stepped from
the dusty coacn onto the platform Of small station
on the shores OF Lake Amaskohcgan. Time had dealt
gently with them that almost any old friend
would have recognized them the hero and heroine
Of our story
Great changes had taken place in the once famil'
lar place where now nothing remained to remind one
Of the Indian race but few shell mounds, and here
and there an arrow. head. rich English Lord with
many strings Of bright beads had bought the
lake and its surroundings from its owners, and on
its shores enterprising people had homesteaded,
erecting colonial homes, with the cabins OF "Unce
Joe" and old Aunt Diana" among the tropical pal
mettOs in the
Onward came the pair until they reached the bluff
where they had plighted their troth, and rs they
paused the barred his head and bowed, AZ II the
place holy ground then, placing one arm alice
tonately around his companion, he said:
"Ah Minnie my dear wife, it seems but yester.
day that in this same spot you gave yourself into
my keeping and risked your life by that leap into
those deep waters, and blessed my life with q love
which has fingered like benedction ever since"
Then smiling archly she replied eyes, and |
would do again." while the echoes in the branches
Of the trees overhead seemed to say, "Do 30 again."
while all around
"The birds sang loud and sweety
Songs of happiness and hearts
Sang the buebird, the Owaissa,
Happy are you, Hiawatha,
Having such wife to love your
Sang the Opechce, the robin
Happy are you, Laughing Water,
Having such a noble husband"
Then tenderly taking her hand he drew her to
seat beneath the old oak tree, and with his knife
carved upon its trunk:
"A Point of Tryst Sacred to the Memory Of
Amaskohegan and His Bride"