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

Written For The Herald and News.

the vast forests echoed TO the light
football of the red man, when over
the great river his birch canoe "lidcd
like Il phantom. Twas on Il balmy
morning in June, that the stiffness Of
the waters was broken by an oar pro-
PEELED by young and girlish hand.
Starlight, the granddaughter of the
ruling chieftain, War Eagle, with her
English governess, taken captive by
the Indians, four years before, were
out upon the blue waters Of Niagara,
below the great falls. Starlight was
the daughter Of an Englishman who
had long since crossed to the Happy
Hunting Grounds, followed by his
fond Indian wife, leaving little Star
light TO the care Of her devoted grand
father. Rightly she had been called;
her trcsscs, "black as the raven 5
wing" had not the straightness of
the Indians locks, but fell in heavy
ringlcts upon a clear olive brow and
over Il slender, rounded figure. Her
lips were red as those Of any Eng
lish beauty, but her eyes were hcl
great charm, deeply brown, express
sivc, shaded by long, curling lashes.
bright as the evening star.
"Dorothy Leigh, you know / would
not marry a white man. The hum.
mingbird should not mate with the
lark. My father loved my mother, but
l know there were moments when he
longcd For companion who could un-
!derstand him more thoroughly than
could my beautiful Indian mother.
lie never complained, but child as
was, | could feel wild unrest about
him when he would take me in his
arms and walk for miles beside these
waters, sometimes in silence. some
times telling me Of England and the
English life. [ shall marry one Of
my own tribe; but my noble Rainbow
has been taught English by you and
myself so thoroughly that we can live
out our lives in the English way, my
Rainbow is superior to any white
man [ ever saw, except my father" !"
The girls low, musical voice grew
sad as she spoke of the father she had
so dearly loved.
'"You are right, Starlight. it is all
right to 'hitch your wagon to a STAR
but sometimes the gearing breaks and
the poor wagon falls to destruction.
When will you and Rainbow go to
yonr own wigwam?"
"Next month we will slip away
quietly to the white friend who two
years ago saved Rainbow's life, as
You know. by shooting that awful
bear; he will bring with him a real
minister, and we will be married in
the white folks way'
Something like tear glistcned in
the blue eyes Of the tall, fair girl
over whose sunny head bare twenty
one summers had passed. She was
dreaming of that other June, fom
Years ago, when her lover had placed
the betrothal ring upon her finger,
ere he sailed for England. He
would return the following June and
claim his bridc-alas. the red mau
claimed his captive months before
the wedding day. Now, only long
years of captivity stretched before
the girl. safely protected by the lit
tie queen Of the tribe, Starlight
'Twas evening. in front Of Wa.
Eagles wigwam sat Starlight, Dor
nj b, No al ,b 81
braves, quietly talking Of the latest
bear hunts, telling stories of the huge
snakes which had been seen of late.
ctc. Rainbow entered and stood neal
Starlight. his tail, broad -shoudcrcl
form seeming to tower above all the
company. his fine face expressive of
deep feeling and intellect A little
thrill of JOY sent the blood tinglne
more joyously through Starlight 5
veins. Hc was all her own and he was
magnificent. There was the sound Of
hurrying. stcalthy steps. and a dozen
braves emerged from The shadows Of
the night.
go Great War Eagle. 7 have a mes
sage for thee: | sat alone by the
whirlpool and the Evil Spirit spoke
to me in a whisper that no other NOR
tai ronld hear: ne badc me say 10
thee that the Evil Spirit is very an
CRY, and unless there is sacrifice
given to him tomorrow the pale face
will take away our land and drive
the red man far toward the setting