The White Rose Of The Cherokees.

of my dark ancl half-starved childhood—of my murdered wife and captive daughter —and almost cursed the God Avho gave me being . But Okafenka could not persuade me my daughter Avas not still a captive among the red men . I determined to go myself among all the tribes—to suffer any and eA'erything , if need be , to rescue my child . I accordingly purchased a mule , and set out upon my travels . " I Avent among the Nez Perces , the Blackfeet , the CI-OAVS , the Avickas , the

Koiways , and , indeed , no tribes in the vast western AA'ilds escaped my vigilant eye . Sometimes I Avas near being roasted alive by them—sometimes I went for days Avithout food , and often I oAved my escape from clangers to Okafenka , Avho , although he constantly affirmed that the little white squaAV could not be found , still kept on in my tracks , and Avould not desert me . Ei ght years Avere spent in this fruitless search . M y daughterif she still livedhad been ten years a captive . She must have groAA'n

, , to Avoman ' s stature , and become inured to habits of Indian life . She had from her earliest childhood been AA'ith them a great deal ; ancl I feared she would prefer her Indian home—perhaps her Indian husband and children—to her own race , even should it be my good fortune to discover her .

" It AA'as toAvards night-fall , when one day , a hundred miles above Council Bluff , I turned my jaded animal into a footpath , Avhich I supposed led to an Indian A'illage . As I Avent foi-Avard , hoAvever , I saw , rising before me , Avhat I instantly recognized as the home of a Christian missionary . It Avas a small frame house , enclosed ancl painted . The AvindoAvs Avere sashed and glazed , ancl hung AA'ith curtains of Avhite cotton . The yard AA'as cleanly SAvept , and the trees Avere trimmed up as they are often found around a southern dwelling . In one corner of the yard stood the school-room ; it

Avas . an humble dwelling . While I AA'as looking at it , out came pouring a flock of Indian children of all ages and sizes . Soon the missionary himself appeared . He Avas a middle-aged man , with a mild beneA'olent countenance . He stopped upon the doorstep AA'hen he saAv me approaching the house . It did not often happen that a ivhite man , I imagine , claimed his hospitality . " ' Can I spend the ni ght here ? ' I asked . ' I am fatigued with travelling , and do not feel that I can go further . '

" ' Certainly , ' he replied , and as he spoke , he stepped fonvard and took the saddlebags from my head . We entered the little cottage . A slender , delicate , ancl flaxenheaded woman stepped forward to AA'elcome me . She AA'as introduced by the missionary as his AA'ife . She looked to me young enough to be his daughter ; but there was a happy smile upon her lips and a bright light in her eye as she Avelcomed her husband and his guest . " The room Avas pretty enough to be a fairy ' s bower . A square iece of brilliant

p carpet coA'ered the centre of the floor . A table , Avith a rosewood Avriting desk and Avork-basket , stood in one corner ; a few vigorous green plants AA'ere giwving on a stand by one of the AvindoAvs ; a tumbler with some Avhite violets in it lent a fragrance to the apartment ; a small harp stood in another corner ; books and work scattered here ancl there .

" There AA'as something about the missionary ' s girlish bride that made me think of Susy Cameron . True , one Avas the child of poverty and ignorance , the other AA'as a creature of elegance and refinement ; but the cast of features Avas the same . The voice sounded in my ear like a voice long hushed in the silence of the grave . I could not keep my eyes off the woman . She AA'as about the age of my child . Was she my lost Lucy ? No—it could not be ! A girl AA'ho had been raised among the Indians

would not knoAV 1 IOAV to SBAV , read , cultivate flowers , ancl play upon the harp . I AV » S turning away AA'ith a si gh from the contemplation of her face , Avhen the missionary's eye met mine . '" My wife , ' he said , ' is very young and fair . She has been called the " White Rose of the Cherokeees . " Do you think the epithet was misapplied ? ' " I uttered a scream , and jumped to my feet . 'My long lost daughter , ' I cried , ' my long lost daughter I Come and embrace your father !' " Our mutual transport Avas great , you may rest assured .