Bloomington herald. [volume] (Bloomington, I. T. [Iowa]) 1840-1849, 1843-10-20

ID. AS Sne peallng thunder succeeds the
streaking flash and impresses its effects
upon the soul, so entered this singing dis.
appointment into the wounded heart Of the
neglected man. In an instant he saw thro'
the whole matter. He forbore to express
his displeasure, and retired in sullen Sc
lence. His former friend had become sole
Possessor of the affections of her he had
secretly though ardenlly loved. A dead
ly and iireconcilable hatred etiled in the
breast Of Ossahinta. No sooner was the
fact revealed to him that he was rejected,
than his resolution was fixed. The world
was not wide enough for Mantinoah and
Ossahinta. and he speedily resolved to
sacrifice his early friend at the shrine of
his vengeance.
Not long afterwards these two rivals
met in secluded plain, and Ossahinta
thus acccosted Mantinoah. You and l
have for long time loved each other, our
friendship was sincere. l trusted it would
always remain SO. Oft in times Of diff
Guilty when danger was nea: have we eff
fec,ually assisted each other. And in sea-
sons Of peril, when despair seemed hover
ing over our destinies, it has been our
mutual good fortune to afford his friend
relief. Our cares and trials, our perplex-
tiles and difficulties, our blessings and
evils have been borne with the kindest fee
llngs towards each other; we have been
linked together in the unbroken chain of
friendship. But the time of our separation
has come. Our joys and friendship must
have an end. Hereafter we are enemies !:
you have supplanted me by taking an nn-
due advantage of me in my absence. You
have sought to win the fair Kahyansa.-
You have succeeded too well hereafter
remain on earth only to be miserable. l
cannot bear 10 see so rich treasure in the
possession Of another. The pale moon
has often been faithful witness to our
attachment, and the stars cannot plumber
our mutual acts of friendship. Much
regret it. but they must all have an end !;
ere the rising sun shall gid the tops Of the
trees, in yonder hill forest, the soul Of
Man,inoah will be winging its way to the
Of the Great Spirit who gave it.
Know this, you must die-prepare 10 meet
No4r end:
The high souled Mantinoah disdained
an explanation. He listened to the voice
Of the chafed Ossahinta with the mos. sto.
ical Indifference, in the proud conscious
ness of rectitude. As Ossahinta finished
speaking, he suddenly drew from his Cir
die FURNISHED tomahawk, at the same
time his blanket dropped from off his
shoulders. With high extended arm and
a piercing yell to give it power and mo-
ton quick as thought, the tried steel was
ready for its work. A glittering sunbeam
flashed across the dreadful weapon as it
was about TO descend upon the head Of
Mantinoah. But the practised eye of his
was not closed to his doings,
for while the polished instrument Of death
was poised ready to give the fatal blow,
the trusty blade Of Mantinoah pierced the
heart of Osahinta, and he fell powerless to
the ground. Mantinoah retired to his
cabin in mournful silence and brooded over
his unlocked for calamity with the most
poignant sorrow. The body of Osahinta
was found, and dark suspicion rested on
Mantinoah as guilty murderer. He de-
MED not the charge, nor did he seek to
palIia,e insinuations. His lofty pride and
naughty bearing forbade him say,-I did
it in self defence, lest the people Of his
nation should suppose he said it to save
his life. He boldly determined to meet the
consequences let them be what they
would. The first suspicious were in the
minds of his countrymen confirmed.
B By the unwritten though acknowledged
laws of the savage, the nearest Of kin to
s;ss slain is the avenger Of his blood. In
this capacity was the brother of Ossahinta
called upon forthwith to avenge the blood
of his brother. But in consideration of
the long established friendship which had
been so firmly cemen.ed, and was now
so fatally and unhappily terminated, and
the interference Of friends, temporary
suspension of the sentence was granted as
a boon from the brother of Ossahinta. -
The day. the hour, the place, and manner
ofhis execution were agreed upon. Man.
tinoah was to retire from the nation till
the full time should expire, and then re-
turn. All of which, on his part. he
,avowed faithfully to perform. Man.inoah
left his native village. Before his final
departure he repaired to the cabin Of the
agi.ated Kahyansa TO take Of her last
farewell. Of his doom and destiny she
had been informed. He rendered her a
formal release from her former vows.-
She rejected the proposal. with kind but
decided negative. The full tear glistened
10 her eye yet it moistened not her cheek.
but returned unshed to the fount from
whence it came. a s