The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1908-11-24


"Farther, the Evil Spirit called the
maiden by name-Starlight." Some
thing like a sob broke the prophet $
voice. for even he loved the beauteou>
maiden. Rainbow stepped forward
::nd caught his bow more firmly.
':Srarlight is my own, she shall not
be a sacrifice. -
Then. my brave. the Evil Spirit
Will come and lead the pale faces
against our wigwamS, they will scat
ter the noble Indian east and west.
our chieftains will fall beneath their
blows. and our maidens will be taken
captive. -
A terrible silence ensued. Star
light sank upon the deerskin at her
grandfather feet, look Of intense
pleading in the great, fawn-hke eyes.
"My child, thou must sacrifice thy
self for thy people and thy home" "
With tears streaming down his fur
rowed cheeks War Eagle pronounced
the sentence. No cry escaped the lips
of the young victim, but through her
mind dashed a thousand sweet posi-
bilities Of the future, a thousand
memories Of the past.
Mad with grief, Rainbow strobe
from the cleaning freight, out into
the darkness until he stood beside the
great cataract, only a few hundred
yards distant. Slowly the moon rose
above the horizon. gliding with silver
glory the great mass Of water which
swept over the precipice, laughing
like child as it springs to its play.
The white mist rose high in the air,
falling gently upon the Indians few
cred brow. He needed not the beau
ty around him, for over those very
falls light canoe would tomorrow
bear his Starlight to her doom.
The notes Of a whippoorwill
sounded upon the night air. Twas
the call Of the bird most feared by
the tribe. but mournfullv Rainbow
answered with the same call; it was
a secret signal between himself and
Harold Grantham the young man
whom he had often met IN the quiet
night hours, to talk Of the' great
world, never to betray his people. The
Indians gratitude to the young Eng
lishman knew no bounds, especially
when he thought Of the hour when
the jaws of a huge bear had almost
closed upon the neck Of the young
brave. Slowly he followed the sound
and soon stood beside very strange
looking figure, which half crouched
in the shadow.
"Rainbow, do not be frightened,
I have tonight disguised myself as
the Evil Spirit, for good purpose. 7"
He stepped into the moonlight, and
Rainbow felt wild desire to flee, 50
terrible was the apparition. The fl
cure was clad in black, from head to
foot. On his head were horns, one
side Of his face was copper color,
the other blood-red.
"Come, Rainbow, smile, tell me l
look like a very Evil Spirit. What
man, you are sad, I knew it by your
response to my signal. Tell me all. y
Sinking upon boulder the Indian
poured out his sorrow, in low whis-
per.
"Rainbow, this outrage shall not be
committed. We will save Starlight,
and her Young eoverness, YOU ncvel
before told me there was captive
maiden amid your people. Come
closer and listen to my plans and you
must carry them through.'
The Indians still sat mournfully
beside the fire, not a word was being
uttered when Rainbow madly dashed
is!tn their midst. CARRYING silver cup
in one hand. a huge brown jug IN tie
other.
II have not only heard, but have
seen the Evil Spirit, I was walking
heS iue the river when I heard whip
pporwill call, then another answered,
and 10, terrible object appeared be-
fore me; it was the Evil Spirit. He
bade me say to thee, 0 Great War
Eagle, that tonight he would visit
Your wiewam. We must all remain
here until he comes. He gave me this
nectar. brewed OH the Happy Hunt
ing Grounds. 5ade me say to each OF
YOU chiefrains and braves that you
mast drink Of it before he comes, on
failing that a terrible calamity would