The Green Forest tribune., 1908-10-23

writing his rewards, and was well eo has way down the Mississippi.
 The next morning notices were read at the Post of Arkansas offering re- ward for the capture of the slave .9ader who had in his possession a li,le Osage.
 Eager to get the reward and not less anxious to capture the slave trader, the watermen in light canoe set out at daybreak down the Missis- sippi in pursuit of the man and the child
 But they were hours behind the slave trader, who, suspecting the ac- tion of the watermen and fearing lest he might in someway loose the three hundred dollars he had put into the l little Osage, was making flying trip down the river bending every energy to get across the Louisiana line. The watermen, however, had twice the power and made fast time, eager ly scanning the river exposure fer the speck of a boat ahead, their in- 1 tercst growing to feverish excitement as they neared the state line.
 When within q short distance of the Louisiana line they discovered the tip end of a canoe showing between some branches near. the shore.
 Examination showed the boat to be buried, it's only exposed end presum- ably protected by the overhanging foliage Further examination gave evidence that the canoe was that of Mccall.
 At no great distance from the boat, on the edge of cane-brake they dis covered a settlers cabin to which they made their way. Here they discovered the little Osage.
 While they were talking to the woman they found in the cabin, step was heard and for a passing second the figure of a man was seen at the door.
 Recognizing Mccall, the watermen sprang up and gave chase, but the slave trader disappeared in the cane brake and having no desire to enter this, the watermen took the child and returned 10 the Post where she was taken in charge by Governor Miller.
 The watermen received tfseir reward and went their way For a time the brilliant young governor kept the child. Then among visitors to the governors home came a Mr. Finney, teacher in newly-formed Mission school at Dwight, a point about half way between the Post of Arkansas and the Fort of Smith, on the Ar kansas River, To this teacher the governor gave the little Indian until such time as she should be claimed. Weeks, months and years passed but nobody claimed little Cry-in-the- l Grass. She learned easily and grew with the passing years into a sweet. | faced young woman who herself taught little Indian children. After she had been some time in the Mis- sion her name was changed to Maria in honor of q lady who helped educate her
 But she never knew her parents. The warrior who had fallen in the de file of the Ozarks under the tomahawk of the enraged Cherokee had long since heen forgotten and his child in after years became the wife of a white man, and if She ever saw the brave Blackcoat she did not recog- nize in him her kind captor nor he in her his little Osage captive
 The Mission at Dwight has crum- bled to dust, forgotten by many Yet the story of the little Osage is yet
 told in memory of vanquished
 race whose people warred over : the hunting ground and spoil or the chase, even as their pale B faced successors war over the 1o11o nd hn f it.+, ;rr1,t