Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-12-26
BRIDE OF THE MIGHTY
GA.fE-WAS

d
into which the elearest and swif,esi Of
mountain streams poured their pure
/ waters.
Ga.ye-was could assume the form Of
fish or OF mortal. according 10 his
desire; and he could also make himself
Invisible. He had control Of the noun.
tain streams. and he spent his days
floating upon the bosom OF the lake or
diving beneath its surface. for his
home WAS in Is farthest depths.
But, although Ga-ye.was could trav.
81 upon the land in the form of NOR
tai he had no companions and he was
often lonely.
Now IN the Indian country near TO
the beautiful lake in which dwell, Ga.
ye-was there was lovely Indian maid
en- who came one day to wander by
the side OF the lake. As she stood look.
Ing over the clear water her eyes fill.
Cd with tears. which dropped and min.
sled with the waters OF the lake. And
surely she had cause for sorrow. Her
father wanted her to wed an Old In
dian OF the tribe, one who had much
wealth If furs and rare feathers, but
who was too old to hunt or TO 20 to
war or to take part in the activities OF
the tribe. And the maiden was trou.
bled. She did not love the old man,
and she was sad and sorrowful at
heart.
AS she stood beside the lake II seem
ed 10 her that the waves which came
ripping 10 her feet bore strong,
sweet song, one that soOthed ana com.
Sorted her. And she stopped sobbing,
that she might the better hear the
music of the waves. She did not know
II was Ga-ye-was, singing his power
song to enchant her, for he had seen
and loved her as she walked beside
the lake
The maiden returned home, but the
song Of the lake kept sounding in her
ears, and she spurned the old man
with his offer of furs.
A few days later she again visited
the lake AID again she heard the pow.
er song of Ga-ye-was. though she
knew not what It was. nor why the
music charmed her.
As she turned to walk back 10 the
Indian village she saw strange OBJ.
ject in her path. She stopped to ex.
anime It, and saw that two fish had
been bound together. They were the
most beautiful fish that she had ever
beheld, for they shone like mother OF
pearl, and about them was wound a
circle of silver brooches, most wonder
fully made.
Quickly she unwound the brooches
and fastened them upon her dress.
Then, as she was hungry, she prepared
fire and was about to cook the fish
upon 1t when she heard footsteps
Looking up she beheld her father
Hardly knowing why she did 1t, she
caught up a piece of the fish and ate
1t, and offered some to her father.
but the Indians keen eye had dis
covered the silver brooches upon the
dress Of his daughter, and he was
afraid.
Some evil spirit has sent you these,
my daughter" he said, and hastily he
tore them from her dress and tossed
them far into the lake.
Eat not of the fish, ne command
ed but it was toa late.
The maiden begged to have the beau.
tiful brooches back. mo, MOI" cried
her father. AN eyn spirit seeks to be-
witch YOU And he hurried back to
the lodge taking his daughter with
him.
But aye-was was honorable, and
he dearly loved the maiden. 1t was
he who had prepared the wondrous
brooches It was he who had thrown
the glistening fish in her pathway. He
knew that when she had once tasted
Of the fish she would be drawn back
to the lake by an irresistible power,
and then he would WOO and win her.
For several days the maiden re-
manned In the lodge of her father. All
her movements were watched, for her
father loved her and sought only to
protect her from harm. But she thirst.
ed for taste Of the waters of the lake,
the clear water which came from the
mountain streams, and no other water
could Quench her thirst.
So one night she stole away, when
no one saw, and she ran to the clear
lake. and STOPPING down, she drank
Of its water.
Ga-ye-was was watching, aud aNsunl
ing the form Of young warrior, he
stepped upon the shore and told her
OF his love,
The maiden was startled and afraid,
but Ga-ye-was Quieted her fears. He
told her of his power and he sang to
her softly the song of the lake which
she had already learned to love. And
at length she consented to become his
bride.
Then Ga-ye-was carried her to tho
middle Of the lake, far down into its
deepest depths, where he had his
home. and he gave her wondrous
brooches and all the beautiful gifts
that maiden loves. And the maiden
returned the love Of Gaye-was.
Not many hours after the maiden