Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1906-02-22
CHAPTER IV.-(Continued.i

warning gIanceS, Wnlcn never ldlleu u
terrify her. Immediately left the cabin
On the following morning Miss Aston
left the fort as she had been In the
habit of doing for some time taking the
preca ution, however. to have Ebony ac-
company her. She wished to test the
sincerity of lie Bands promises, and
give him another opportunity to make
further disclosures.
The step cost her. considerable self
denial, and it was not without many
misgivings that she walked toward her
favorite retreat She gave Ebony his
instructions as she proceeded.
'You may go yonder,' she said. point
ing to a hazel thcket, not far distant
land remain there until l am ready to
return, and be sure to come when l
call"
Dis child will be Oar afore soon"
returned Ebony.
Very well, do not forget your instruc-
tions'
Il neber fo'git; I'll be sure to disre-
member eberyt ing" said the negro, con-
fdently.
Miss Aston entered the glade and seat
ed herself upon the rivers bank. That she
felt somewhat nervous at first, and had
vague apprehensions of hearing the foot
steps of lie Bland, was quite natural,
but soon the dreamy murmurings of the
waters. the gentle signing of the winds
amid the trees, lulled her spirit into
tranquility and forgetfulness of danger
While occupied in this manner, soft
touch upon the arm changed the current
of her meditations and caused her to
rise to her feet quickly and turn an
alarmed look toward the intruder.
An Indian maiden in the summer of
womanhood, with figure queenly in pro
portions and bearing, stood before her.
Her features We're of marvellous regular
ity and beauty. but so proud and lofty
in their expression, that Rosalthe could
not repreSs an exclamation of admira-
ton. Her eyes, which were dark and
iustrous. were flashing with excitement.
Her style of dress was by no means con
ten mp,ible. but both picturesque and
graceful. being ornamented in its diff
ferent parts according to the arts of her
people.
The two maidens stood silent, the one
defiant and naughty. the other wonder
ing and alarmed. The steady gaze of
the Cherokee girl was imperious, angry,
yet courteous. and she moved not mus
Gle nor relaxed a tithe of her sternness.
while she studied every line of Rosal-
the's fair face. When she had subjected
our heroine to this ordeal, which made
her tremble, she spoke with impassioned
earnestness:
The daughter of the pale face is fair,
but she is weak; she has won that which
she cannot keep, and that which belongs
to another"
What do you mean?' exclaimed Ro
salthe. recoilng before the threatening
glances of the Indian maiden.
what do l mean?" cried the latter
energetcally. How dare the pale face
be so bold and look so innocent when l
know how black her heart is?'
Il am still dark-I understand you
not" said Rosalthe.
Let the just judge between us. A
white man came to the lodges of my peo-
PIE; his eyes rested upon the face of
Wassahauza IAN Indian term signifying
starlight). and it pleased him. The pale
skin said pleasant things. Starlight
listened. and her foolish heart was taken
captive by his smooth words; she spurn-
ed the love of Otter Litter, the noble
young chief. and all her eyelight shone
upon the deceitful child of Machinito."
The Indian girl paused and struggled
with her emotions.
Daughter of the white man, listen
while l speak of the wrongs of Wassa-
hauza. of the red race of the bold Chero-
kee The sun arose and set on her love,
and the moon smiled upon the happy
maiden But the heavens grew black
a storm was in the skies, the heart of tho
Shoiska (Smooth-Tongue) was bad and
full of lies. He went in to the big
wigwam of the pale faces and whisper
ed the same fair words to Wahbahnok
yyot (the WhiteCloud) that he had spok
en- to Starlight. The White-ClOud list
ened to the soft speeches of Smooth
Tongue, and her heart beat with the
same wild hopes that had filed the
Cherokee maiden with joy. They met
here on this spot, where the sun shines
warm and bright and the waters murmur
with a pleasant sound. Foolish trem-
bier, what do you say to this strange
taleT'
Starlight ceased and loot5d angrfy
at Rosalthe, whose cheeks were pale.
and whose whole form was agitated.
MY red sister is speaking of lie
Bland. the willy Frenchman. You are
deceived-you wrong me-" exclaimed Ro-
salthe. earnestly. THE White-Cloud
does not love this Smooth-Tongue: she
fears him. she shuns him. There is no
sweetness in his tones for the daughter
of the pale face. She has no eyelight
for the man whose heart is bad, and
whose speech is full Of guile"
zone pale face has filled my ears with
falsehoods. and I'll have no more: | be-
lieve they are all alike. No. no. your
fair words. and fair skin, and fair looks
cannot deceive me"' retorted Starlight.
Il will make solemn oath to what
saw. l will cali upon the sacred name
of the good Monedo.' cried Rosalthe.
with touching earnestness, laying her
hand upon the maiden's arm.
"Shoiska swore by the good Monedo.
and vet he was false-false as the evil
Machinito himself" replied Starlight.
What can l do. then, to convince
you? / despair of doing so," said Ro-
saithe, much moved.
The WhiteCloud must go with me-"
replied the Cherokee, sternly.
"Go with you? Oh, no, l cannotw
cried Rosalthe, more alarmed than ever.
.sYou can and must glide down the
waters and walk the wide forest with