A Cherokee Romance.

Auckland Star, Volume XXII, Issue 103, 2 May 1891, Page 3 (Supplement)

A Cherokee Romance.

Tub following tale, told in the St. Louis ' Globe-Democret,' is an interesting new version of Mr Robert Buchanan's • White and Red Rose:— On a prominent eminence in the prairie overlooking the town of Tahlequah has been a solitary grave for sixteen years. It contained the remains of Mary Downing, the wife of a full-blooded Cherokee chief, Lewis Downing. At the time of her death the place was her home, and it was her dying request that she should be buried on bhe summit of the hill. Since then the property has passed into strange hands, and the gravo has been in the midst of a corn-field. The presenb owner, a genbleman from Georgia, hearing bhab she was a chief's wife, thought it was due to her to rest in a more sacred place. So her remains were exhumed and taken to the Tahlequah Cemetery. Her maiden name was Mary Ayer. She was born in Bethlehem (Pa.), was educated and accomplished, and a woman of wealth. She had romantic ideas, and her infabuabion for Indians was oxtreme. In 1865 Chief Lewis Downing was senb to Washington on business for the Cherokees. He Bpoke English quite well. Whilo ab Washington he had occasion to visit Bebhlehem, and accidenbally met Miss Ayer, who fell desperately in love with him. The chief lingered longer in Bethlehem than he had intended, nob being able to tear himself away from the charms of so fair a lady, and, ere his departure, had won her consent to be his bride and share his wigwam. Ib was agreed between the two thab she should follow him to the Territory, and be married ab the capital. She required six monbhs bo dispose of her properby and con verb her valuables'into cash.

Chief Downing returned to his nation, and with him ib proved ' oub of sight, oub of mind.' Tho ardour of his love soon cooled, and he wrote withdrawing his engagement. She, after reading his letter,' remarked thab ' it took two to make a contract and two to break ib,' and so wrote him. Before this letter had reached the chief he had married a dusky maiden of his own tribe. Miss Ayer, having got everything in readiness,, started for the Territory. According to the contract she arrived abTahlequah, and on hearing of his marriage, made up her mind to make her home among his people, devoting her life in their advancement. Years elapsed, and the chief's wife died. Miss Ayer being still single, he renewed his vows, and was again accepted. They were married, and went to the home she had built. The life she had long dreamed of was realised, bub nob long wasshe permibbed to fill his house wibh lighi>and love. On her deathbed she told the chief thab on tho third evening after her deabh Bhe would reburn to him at her home; but he, inheriting the superstition of his race, closed tbe house after the funeral and returned to his home, about thirty miles distant, on Grand River. It is said that on, the third night after her burial lights wore seen moving from window to window, and tho Indians believe to thif3 day that she re-appeared on that night.