The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1914-02-03
WACRlTA FROM Big RIVER
BY E. EcKMAN.
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Drearily the hours passed, and tn,
noise Of the storm was only broker
by the occasional
bowls of preda- q
tory beasts.
1t was after w
midnight when &
Mrs. H o ldness hNS
heard the door ~ IN
shake as though -
some hi ng ad - ~
fallen against it. CFqsNNySA
Opening 1t quick HrE&3Ek0
ly she found her SWaAI5N
son John upon his &AJA 1AMb
knees, reaching XiYSzYkEN lN
for the latch; and St ~ NllNl
in his arms, half eWNEN ~ WVAl
held and half VVEt4I kEWl
dragged, was the QcI IA IN
form of young p III "a III
Indian girl. b kNNt AIN
BY a strong ef- h NEE " III
tort to his a' f sssfss asd MN751NJjVH
drew the girl into WIVNUhNhINHNi
the middle of the SSeIAND YkkU
room. Then he %&E e
sank utterly ex- E%#ESAa Is
hausted upon the SN<
floor.
'I'li-be all right in minute, moth
err" he gasped. "I'm-tired out, that's
all. 1t was awful. I-never expected
to see home-again.'
His mother bent over him, but he
motioned her away. Look after the
girl first" he expostulated; 'she needs
it more than l. | found her on the
trail She was lost, and had fallen in
the snow"
why didn't you leave herr" piped
shrill voice from overhead John
looked up quickly. His little sister
Peggy's eyes were staring at him
through the trap door.
ooh, l couldn't do that, Peggy" he
said, rebukingly. 81 never thought OF
such thing"
I'D "a left her." declared the child
stoutly. "Injuns killed Uncle Tom and
stole our doggie. l wouldn't have
nothing to do with EN-"
Mrs. HOLINESS had been chatting the
girls hands, and now rose.
"Shes coming to-" in answer to
Johns inquiring look. "I'll give her
something hot to drink, and then put
her to bed. 1 think she'll be all right
in a few days"
1t was late the next morning before
John akowe. When he went down the
ladder he found the Indian girl sit
ting by the fire. Instead of being the
dark, angular featured Indian girl he
expected, she was fair and beautiful,
with blue eyes and golden hair.
me waiting to see you'll" she said.
gravely Want to tank you for last
night. Not many do like you, only
great warriors. Me Wachita, from big
river country. Panther Leap my ia
Their"
Mrs. HOLINESS started, and invol-
UNFAIRLY shrank away.
Panther Leap kill, burn, Destroy
she said, coldly Hate paleface. Me,
Wachita, only daughter. What you do
now? Better left in snow" to John.
Mrs. HOLINESS hesitation was but
you are not an Indian?" she said.
gently. your skin is winter than
my own girls"
But Wachita threw out her hands in
quick dissent
me Indian" she declared, proudly;
"all Indian. Panther Leap find me
when baby, take care of me, good to
me all the time; now me Indian"
Placing her hand kindly upon the
girls shoulder, Mrs. HOLINESS gently
forced her back to her chair.
you are sick and tired" she said,
soothingly. You mustn't think of
leaving here for a week or two. You
won't be able. And you amt to blame
for what your father does"
What you do when me get well?"
why, send you home, of course"
You don't suppose we'd
harm you on account of somebody
else, do your"
me not know" she said, simply
me never see much of paleface."
Three weeks later Wachita suddenly
announced her intention of returning
home.
Then shall go with you" declared
John. "You are not strong enough to
go alone"
mo, no." she demonstrated, hastily;
you must not go. Me not want you
to go. Me plenty strong. You pale
face, me Indian. We two hate each
other. fight, burn, kill, destroy. No
good together"
"All talk, Wachita," he declared
You're not an Indian-and if you
were it wouldn't matter; should come
for you just the same. I'm willing for
you to go and see Panther Leap, for
he's been good to you; but within a
month l shall come and ask him to let
me marry you. If he attempts to
kill me, all right, l shall try to de-
fend myself; but will come just the
same. l don't believe you hate"
But Wachita had darted away with
an imperious motion for him to stay
behind.
Ten days later he was trailing a
bear through thick underbrush when
be heard sudden rustic at his side,
and turned to see Wachita
me come back to be your squaw,
John" she said. ME fight hard, but
no use. When me sure, me tell Pan
Their Leap. He plenty mad; but he
been good to me all the time, be good
now. Two days mad, then he say it
will of Great Spirit, and he not war
IN paleface any more"