The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1911-12-15

Silver Springs was written by Miss
Katharine Bagley of Duval High
School, Jacksonville, and won the
gold medal awarded by the Colonial
Danes Of America:
The Legend of Silver Springs
In the long ages ago there dwelt
in the region of Silver Springs two
neighboring tribes of the Vitachuco
Indians, the Ocalas and the Kanapa-
has. In the dense and fertile forests
ntar the springs lay the village of the
Ocalas, while not far distant on the
winding, dazzling river dwelt the
rtibe of Kanapaha. But though dwell
ing so close together, there was war
and hatred between these tribes. IN
deed, one may well wonder at the fe-
rocity of these noble Indians, for no
blest of all the Florida Indians were
they, and il is not to be wondered
that none but the noblest should
dwell in a region so beautiful as Sill
yer Springs.
Onto its waters one soft, salubrious
evening in May came Oklawaha, son
of Oluskee, chief of the Kanapahas.
Oklawaha, the greatest pride of the
old chefs heart skilled in every pur-
suit of the warrior and having already
tasted of Casino, the black drink,
was indeed worthy of the devotion Of
his tribe. Tall and powerful was he,
with skin Of an olive hue and hair as
black as the ravens wing. In the
depths of his dark eyes lay a slumber-
ing CLEAN of ferocity, which needed
only to be aroused, and the firm
lines Of his mouth showed a charac-
ter strong and .unrelenting. Braided
into his trussed up hair was the scar
let feather of the fiamingo which pro-
claimed his rank, while the only
clothing which he wore was loin
cloth OF well tanned deer skin and
m0ccasins of the same. Suspended
over his breast were small dicks en-
graved gold and silver and his side
hung a culver of arrows.
This day on which he intent upon
his fishing. had drifted, unknown, into
the region OF his enemies, it seemed
that all nature had untitled in making
one perfect day. The sun sinking 20
rest behind the whispering pines,
east a golden glow DER the world.
The pebbles at the bottom of the
spring took the rainbow colors of the
sky above. and the huge, overhang-
ing trees pictured a forest below. So
pellucld were the waters that Ockla-
waha. IN his canoe. seemed suspended
Ga midair The whip-poor-wills dart
er here and there in the twilight,
swooping down DER the springs to
dip their winks in the water. and the
heron overhead few YEARLY home to
his nest.
Here. in this romantic setting.
Ocklawaha first saw the daughter of
snwannee. chief ofathe ocalas. Stand
Ing ~ the edge of the dusky forest
with the last rays of the sun throw
ing a golden halo about her. she seem
cd 70 him a creature of another world.
Her features were of the most deli
cate moldlng and her soft. black hair
hung freedom. reaching almost to her
knees. She was clothed i'm a skirt
and cloak woven of Spanish moss
which was 80 delicate in texture as
90 resemble six. This cloak was
drawn around the upper part of her
small. 1.-THE body and fastened over
one shoulder with a golden clasp.
Her neck and arms were bare except
Cor the necklaces and bracelets of
most exquisite pearls which encircled
them. and her tiny feet were encased
in deer skin moccasins. Her large
dark eyes gazed straight into those
~ Ocklawaha and he with dripping
car. half raised. gazed back with a
new and tender light in his eyes.
"Hltanachi beautifully" he muir
INJURED. "who art thou?"
"Wlnonah." she answered, in a low.
sweet Voice. And the nodding pines
whispered softly "winonah. Whom
AZ"
Good bye" said she and again the
whispering pines echoed. good bye"
~0cod bye. Winonah." he answer
~ softly, and springing into his can
&C.. he padded away into the even
ing. and the yes OF the little Indian
maiden followed him tiil he disappear
sd IN the gathering darkness.
but this was not goodbye. for ocE-
lawaha drawn by that overwhelming
power. love. padded secretly every
evening 60 the spot Of their first meet
lng and there he always found Winon.
~. easing with wistful eyes from
beneath the towering oak. Fiercely
DID be struggie 10 overcome that
saaaf. hui. alas. he himself was over