Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1828-07-04

accompanied by the sound OF receding
voices. When she recovered. she found
herself alone with Louis, her little boy,
then about six years old. The child had
wandered there, after the traders had
departed, and having in vain tried to
waken his mother he had laid himself
down at her side, and slept on his bow
and arrows From that hour Tahmiroo
was changed.-Her quiet, submissive
air gave place to stern and lofty man
ner; and she, who had always been so
gentle, became as bitter and implacable
as the most blood thirsty of her tribe. In
little Louis all the strong feelings of her
soul were centered; but even and un-
wonted fierceness. Her only care SEEM
ed to be, to make him like his grand
father; and to instil deadly hatred Of
white men; and the bog learned his les
sons well. lie was the veriest Ii tile
savage that ever let fly an arrow. To
his mother alone ne yielded any thing
like submissions; and the Sioux were
proud to hail the naughty child as their
future chieftain.
Such was the aspect Of things on the
shores of the Mississippi, when Flori-
mond de Rance came among them, after
an absence Of three years. He was in
duccd to make this visit, partly from a
lingering curiosity to see his boy, and
partly from the hopes of obtaining more
land from the yielding Tahmiroo. He
affected much contrition for his past con-
duct, and promised to return with Vic
Victoire, before the year expir-
ed. Tahmiroo met him with the most
chilling indifference, and listened to him
with vacant look, as if she heard him
not. 1t was only when he spoke to her
boy, that he could arouse her from this
apparent icthargy. On this subject she
was all suspicion.-She had sort of un-
defined dread that he too would be car
ried away from her; and she watched
over him like she wolf when her young
is in danger.
Her fears were not unfounded; for
Florimoud de Rance did intend by dem
onstrations of fondness, ana glowing de-
scriptions of Quebec. to kindle in the
mind of his son a desire to accompany
him.
Tahmiroo thought the hatred of white
men, which she had so carefully instilled,
would prove a sufficient shield; but many
weeks had not elapsed, before she saw
that LOUIS was fast yielding himself up TO
the fascinating power, which had enthrall-
ed her own youthful spirit. With this
discovery came horrible thoughts Of VEN
geancc; and more than once, she had
nearly nerved Ecr soul to murder the faith
er of her son; but she could not. Some
thing in his features still reminded her of
the devoted young Frenchman who had
carried her quiver through the woods,
and kissed the moccasin he stopped to
lace, and she could not kill him.
The last cutting blow was soon given
to the heart of the Indian Wife. Young
Louis, full Of boyish curiosity, expressed
a wish togo with his father, though he, at
the sa me time. promised aspeedy return.
He had always been a stubborn boy; and
she felt now as if her worn out spirit
would vaInly tend against his wilful-
ness. With that sort ofresigned stupor,
which often indicates approaching insan-
ity, she yielded to his request, exacting,
however, promise that he would sail a
few miles down the Mississippi with her,
the day before his departure.
The day arrived. Florimond de Rance
was at distance on business. Tahmi-
roo deckcd herself in the garments and
Jewels she had worn on the day of her
marriage, and selected the gaudiest wam-
pun belts for the little Louis.
sWhy do you put these on!' said the
boy.
"Because Tahmiroo will no more see
her son in the land of the Sioux said she,
mournfuIly, 'and when her father meets
her in the Spirit Land, he will know the
beads he gave her,
She took the wondering boy by the
hand and led him to the river side,
There lay the canoe her father had given
her when she left him for the 'wigwam
Of the stranger 1t was faded and bruis.
ed now, and SO were all her hopes. She
looked back on the hut, where she had
spent her briefterm Of welded happiness
and its pcacefulness seemed mockery
of her misery. And was she-the lone
the wretched, the desperate and deserted
one-was she the "Startled Fawn" oil
the Sioux, for whom contending chiefs
had asked in vainl The remembrance
Of all her love and all her wrongs came
up before her memory, and death seemed
more pleasant to her than the gay dance
she once loved so well. But then her
eye rested on her boy-and, p God! with
what an agony Of love! T. was the last
vehement struggle Of soul all formed
for tenderness we will 90 to the Spirii