Marion progress., 1948-11-18

found maiden of exquisite beauty,
gave her the skin of the stag and
she prepared delicious venison
for me. She spoke kindly to me. Her
beauty was so transcendent that [
could not turn my eyes from her,
my heart leaped and fluttered in
my breast.
! Here the intensity of my feeling
awoke me, and | could sleep no
more. There was something within
me urging me away and forcing me
to depart. l arose before day, took
my bow and set off to the east alone.
I travelled for several days and at
length came upon ground that l had
seen in my dream. My vision realized
and "my lovely sunbeam here at
my side and the beautiful maiden
, I beheld in my dream"
"She is the daughter Of Lana
mouski, Chief Of the Mighty tride
of the Catawbas. He was absent in
the chase when I arrived at his wig
wan but he soon returned and we
smoked the pipe Of peace together.
I won the love of his daughter but
he was angry when he knew it say
ing his sunbeam would never marry
any but Catawba He bade me re-
turn to my people and visit him no
more. l vain | pleaded my skill in
the chase, in vain | told him / was
the son of chief as mighty as he.
He only replied, "The blood of a
Cherokee may not co-mingle with
that of the Catawbas. The Great
Spirit would be angry and would
punish both. Let US part in peace.
Take with you presents for yourself
and your father, roam your hunting
ground and leave mine to me-. F!
/ "Then it was that l came back
sad and sick at heart. Life was a
burden and l could not bear my
misery At last 1 determined to
possess my beautiful sunbeam Or
perish in the attempt. l selected the
two young braves who accompanied
me and told them my secret. We
went, Lonamouski was away, and
my sunbeam left all to follow me-"
A shade passed over the count
enance Of Kenocoonk as he asked,
"Will not Lanamouski seek his
daughter?"
"He will not know where to SEEK"
replied the son. eve avoided being
seen by any of his tribe" Then
drawing himself up proudly he con-
/ tinued, "But if he comes are not our
braves as strong as his, and our war
riors as many?"
eyes, and we must prepare to
give BATTLE" returned the old chief.
"But it will be some days before
he can arrive, and tomorrow then
must be a feast of the tribe, After
that we must assemble our warriors
and prepare to repel any attack. If
he comes not our precautions will
do no harm; and if he comes we
will be ready for him."
Kenocoonk issued ord er s-for
preparation of feast and assembling
of tribes. The place selected was
near the cone shaped hill that rises
above the precipice now called the
DEVILS Ball Alley.
The morrow came and all was JOY
and happiness; all the tribe busily
when the wild war-whoop of the
Catawbas broke upon their ears.
The Cherokees being thus taken by
surprise were panic stricken and
made but feeble resistance. The
conflict was short-many were killed
and the survivors fled in every di-
rection. One hundred and fifty
were driven to the brink of the preci-
pice and surrounded with escape cut
off.
Wabajanick had been wounded by
an arrow but he clasped his bride
in his arms and fled. When he came
to the brink of the precipice there
was no chance to esc pc. He
strained her convulsively to his
heart and said:
"Will you return to your father,
% bright and beautiful sunbeam!
Light of my life and joy of my
death! Or will you follow me?" AS
he spoke he pointed down the preci-
pice.
She looked fondly into his face,
clasped her arms around his neck
and her lips to his replied, 81 go
with YOU" One leap and locked in
each others arms they plunged into
the ravine below
Kenocoonk saw them take the IA
tai leap and hurried to the spot
where they had just quilted, gazed