Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1911-06-15

the evil Sperrit." as Captain Marvin
was wont 20 say when speaking of his,
eldest daughter. Now she couldn't
help comparing herself with Stella
Mcfarland, and i'm the comparison she
felt that II was She who suffered.
Why had she peer BORN with the
aspirations of a white woman if they
were not to be grati1ied? She almost
cursed the day when she entered the
little chool house on Snake river. How
h had enjoyed it all-that marvellous
awakening within her SOU of some
thing better thai a mere existence. 1t
was then she began to live. when her
ambition for culture and education had
~broadened her horizon, when she was
elevated from the sluggish condition of
tribal life INTO an intelligent child of
nature. This was the renascence OF
the G~od-given powers with which ev-
cry human was originally endowed.
She read a new meaning in the sunset
the Wild flower, the rough powders
that perched on the mountain side.
she round:
Tongues in trees, books in running brooks.
Sermons In the stones and good in every
thing.
All this the Indian girl pondered as
she wandered down the mountain path.
Then there flashed another vision to
her feverish ~fancy-that Of a wild. hag-
oNAN NV WIN htS WI Co, eAAlA
a voice that old in h Cherokee
tongue, While those same eyes flashed
fire. of a great grief, of Il life that the
white man had wrecked. The fair
chiefs daughter mourned the loss of
her stalwart brave, whose name was
honored in every tribe of his kinsnen.
Naught could harm him until the white
medicine man had stolen the heart of
the great chief. ThenEit was that the
bronzed young warrior, sickened and
poisoned by the herbs of the white
DEVIL" finally left her for the happy
hunting grounds.
Soon the crafty white man a Sc
cured from the chief the hand of his
weeping daughter n she had become
the wife of the murderous rival of
her dead brave. The p~assions:e wall
ing of the broken hearted woman came
to Mona now.
Mona, Mona, the white devil knows
why my tall brave died. He knows
and I hate him"-and h she would
burst into tears.
She had died a few minute later.
but the scene Of Mona's childhood days
was as vivid as though 1T were but
yesterday. That man was her father,
married and was counted the richest
man in the territory; SO rich, indeed,
that he thought nothing of-but she
did not like to think of that. She
who's veins were red with royal blood,
that Of the great Cherokee chief once
lord of all these prairies and noun
tains. She was the daughter of that
wicked man.
Now Dick had forgotten her, forgot
ten the words he spoke in such pas
sionate earnestness the night she was
leading Freda down the mountain. be-
cause her foot was sore from a cruel
stone lodged in her hoof. Dick had
removed the sharp pointed rock and
then had told Mona of the wound In his
heart, which she alone could heal. In
his manly way he allude to their
happy childhood spent together and his
passionate appeal revealed to herself
her w great love for him.
The moor was just under the edge
of a f1eecy cluod as Mona paused beside
the spring, wetting her hands. passed
them over her throbbing. fearless eyes.
There was d sound of approaching
voices. Like a startled deer she bound
| ed to the rock above and hid in the
shadow of a solitary tree.
Miss Stella, we are a little rough
in this country, but yer'll find US
mighty warm hearted like. Reckon
Their amt nothin' wrong bout my
tellin' yer it seems good ter hev a pert
thing like yer around"
so very kind to me. 1 shall come again
next summer. But you don't care
much, do you?" she asked mischiev-
ously.
The moon was still under the cloud.
The girl could See as she peered over
the summtt Of the rock. But their
heads seemed very close together and
the man was telling some story about
the spring. The ripping OF the water
into the stony basin raj the only sound
that broke the stiffness as he paused,
saw the dimly heard notes Of the fiddle
waited family through the trees. The
Indian girl leaped to her feet and threw
her waving hair from her eyes, which
seemed almost blind. A shot rang out
with a startling crack.
Dick started to his feet and glanced
instinctively toward the tall figure
transfixed to the spot above.
"Oh. Mr.. Dick. what do you 'spose
they're shooting at? I'm SO fright
ened!"
Dick did not reply, but as he looked
his hand. which had gripped a small
pistol, loosened and the weapon fell
log to h ground, while the girl.
clutching his arm, swooned with fear.
With a single leap the Indian girl
was by his side. Quickly she tore a
strip from her shawl and bound 1t
tightly where the lifeblood was spout
ing forth. Gradually he returned to
consciousness. md his eyes opened
upon the figure of the proud chiefs
daughter kneeling over him.
Mona, darling, wot made yer dc it??"
and there came a look into Dicks eyes
that brought another passionate kiss
upon his forehead. 1t was a, look OF
unutterable tenderness and reproach,
and Mona. in the midst OF her peni.
tnrf yyoovirO MO .ontfcRn1