Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1846-04-03

offering some forced Jest, or looking towards
the door way, crowded by officers and ladies
he gaily invited them TO share in this remark
able argument w hicI were the most beau
iiiul women in the world
As he SPOKE, the hour struck.
Twelve O'Clock was there, and with it
loo,slrp, and then u bold Indian form came
urging through the crowd Of ladies' tI,rongng
Wonder door way.
Silently, hls arms folded on his war-blank-
ct, look of calm sloicism on his dnsky brow,
the Indian advanced along the room, and
stood at the head Of the table. There was no
LADY, with him
Where is the fair gitl7 She who is to be
the Bride Tomorrow : Perhaps the Indian
has left her in the next room, or in one of the
other halls Of the old mansion, or perhaps
bat the though, is foolish one---shc las re-
fused to obey her lovers qucst-reluscd to
como to meet him
There was something awful in the deep
| silence that reigned through the room, as the
solitary Indian stood there, al the head of the
table, gazing silently in the lovers face.
IIh.rc is she p al last gasped the Reiu-
GOO. She has not refused TO come! Tell
mr--has any accident briallrn her by the
way | know the forest is dark, and the
wild path most diflicult--lcl me where is
the lady for whom sent you into the Rebel
lincs!'
F'r moment, as the strange horror of
that lovers face was before him, the Indian
was silent. Then, as his answer seemed
trembling on his lips, the ladies in vonder
Ionr- way, the officers from the ballroom,
md the party round the table, formed group
around the two central G.ures--thc dian
Sallrng at the head of the table, his arms
folded in his war; lan>et--ihat young officer
half rising from his scat, his lips parted, his
face ashy, his clrnchcd hands resting on the
dark mahogany table.
The Indian answered first by an action,
aud then by "A word.
Fms, the action; Slowly drawing his right
hand from the war blanket, he held it in the
lisht. That right hand clntched with blood
stained fingers, a bleeding scalp, and long and
lossv locks of beautiful dark hair
Then came the word Young warrior
sent the rcd man for the scalp of the pale.
faced squaw! Here it is y
Ics--thc rude savage had mistaken hi:
, message! Instead Of bringing the bride tc
, her lovers arms, he had gone on bis way
determined to bring the sea of the victim tt
the grasp of her pne-faccd enemy.
, Not even a groan disturbed the deep 81
lrnce oftha, dreadful moment Look there
Tho lover rises, presses that long har--st
black. so glossy, SO beauiiful--to his heart
aud thnn-as though huge weight, faIIin:
on bis brain, had crushed him, fell with on,
, dead sound on the hard floor.
lie lay thcrc-still. and pale, and cold
i his clrnchpd right hand still clutching tn,
bloody scalp and the long dart, hair falling il
1 glossy trcss"s over the floor
!, This was the bridal eve!
: Now tell me, my friends, You who hav,
heard some silly and ignorant prctendcr pitt
r fully complain of the dcstilution of Legend
= Poetry, Romance, which characteristics on
; our National Ilslorv--,pll ne, did YOU eve
: read tradition of England, or France, o
= Italy, or Spain, or any land under the licav
h ems. that might. in point Of awful tragedy
u compare with the simple History of Daci
Jones and JaNc WCreu! For it is but
= scene fom This narrative, with which vo
g have all been familiar from chdhood, that
have given you.
h Wien the bridegroom, fang there on til
llor, with the bloody scalp and long dar
lrrssrS in his hands, arose again TO the terri
bic consciousness of lir--thcsc words rren,
: tIed from his lips, in IA faint and husky wins
per:
is DO YOU remember how, half an hour az
d y stood thereby the iablc--silcnt an
a pale, and horror s,rickcn-- while you all start
1 4 -. II