The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1846-04-30

tions of new faith, when strong excitement
possesses the mind, and he knew that the
crisis had nov come, when the truth could
no longer be withheld.
He entered the cabin. The little boy was
crying, and in the darkest corner of the apart
ment, Oniska sat with her head covered with
large shawl Sydney had given her when he
first won her love. She did not look up on
his entrance.
"Onsba, my sweet forest-fower, do you
love me2" She threw off the envelopine
shawl, and there was no other answer ne.
cessary than her eloquent face. The repulse
was forgotten. He was again her own Har,
ry.
"Onisla, you know love you, but | mus
90 away. Let my dear forest flower bloom
in her fathers hunting ground; when come
back we will make Our home here again
Will Oniska 60 to make summer among her
people at the Wachusett, when Harry is
awayw
"Oniska will go with her beloved. The
small vine cannot stand when the oak casts
it away. Oniska will go with Harry"
"But there is danger where am going
The thick clouds will darken the light Of
Oniska's eyes; let her make sunshine at the
Wachusett"
"There will be no light to Oniska where
her beloved is not. She is no timd girl oI
the pale faces, she fears nothing where he
dwells. Let her 90 with Harry. Is moi
Oniska his wife, and does not the wife al
ways go with the husband!"
Oniska, it cannot be. ! must 90 alone
and you must go to the country OF your peo
ple."
Onska rose to her feet. The glad ex
preston had faded, and with her large
melancholy eyes fixed upon his face, she
said
"Oniska sees how it is. The beautiful
pale flower has stolen the heart of my be-
loved, and he goes away from Onisha. But
she cannot love like the poor foresight
She will not be Oniska. Oniska is YOU
wife and she will not give you up to the pale
flower. Send her away-Oniska will moi
60"
Sydney grew impatient and somewhat
angry. He took her arm, and drew hel
sternly to the door, in order to make hel
moe fully comprehend his determination.
"Look you, Oniska, you must go. You
are not my wife, and have no claim on me
but that of love, and say you must go!"
She turned and confronted him with 9
glance as stern as his own. The injured al
ways has a moral right to stand proudly be-
fore the injurer, and all the pride of her race
gathered in her soul, and over-mas'ered it'
absorbing love. These brief words hae
blotted out the tenderness that bound her
and the Indian girl was no longer slave
Is not Oniska the arife of the white man?
she said haughtily, i" does his tongue speak
truth or falsehood?"
Sydney qualod beneath her searching
eyes. "You are not my wife, Oniska! |
speak truth now God forgive me that
ever deceived you!'
The quivering frame, that shook like a
willow in a storm, told how severe was the
struggle to conquer the self-command Of the
Indian girl, when the first appalling sense OF
her wrongs, and her desolation broke upon
her heart. She took her boy in her arms and
left the hut wthou, another word.
Sydney was a father, if not a husband, ant
with Characteristic selfshness wished tt
retain the boy. Rushing after her he shout
ed to her to stop. She had already gainet
the high bank on the shore of the Merrlmack
but she turned at his voice. "Give me the
child, Oniska. Leave him with me, he is
mine, and must stay with me-"
A look of wild, unulterabe anguish passed
over her face. She strained the boy to hel
bosom with grasp of frenzy. He shrleked
at her unwonted looks, and struggled to get
free. Sydney advanced to receive him, and
the terrified child held out his arms to him.
Oniska again strained him convulsively to
her breast, then hurled him over the bank
A sulen nplunge was heard, and the rushing
waters swept over the beautiful boy, and
hushed his cries forever.
Maniac. What have you done?"
screamed Sydney in the agony of the me-
ment.
The Iadian girl drew up her form to its
highest stature, and to the horror struck sgd
ney it seemed almost of a supernatural
height. She pointed her pale finger at him,
and her ashy lips 'rembled without giving
out sound. Then calm came over her,
and she spoke in low solemn tone. Long
after, did these worus ring through the soul
of Sydney, and they seemed the Madison of
the prophecies, those words of fame that
seated themselves on his memory!
"Fase white man, he is mine now Seek
him if you will in the waters. But look to
YOURSELF As there is Great Spirit who
rules in Justice, you must weep. They who
deceive shall suffer by deception Oniska
never deceived you, and you will see her no
more until she comes as an avenger."
She turned away down the steep bank,