The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1846-05-02

But now. with the wine cup in his hand he
turned from vpe c"mrade 10 auuther, utteriny
some forced jest, or looking towards the doorway.
crowded by officers and ladies'. he galy invited
them tn share in this remarkable aruument
Which the aost beautiful women in the
world ? it
AS he spoke, the hour struck
Twelve O'Clock was there and with a foor-
step. and then a bold Indian form came uruinp
through the crowd uf ladies' ,hroaging wonder
doorway.
Silently, his arms folded IN his war blanket,
look of stolcsm un his dusky brow the Indian
advanced along the ronm, and stuud The head.
OF the table. There was no lady wRh HIM
Where is the fair girl She W hu is To be the,
bride morrow? Perhaps The Indian has left
her IN the next ronn or IN one of The other halls
"t The old mansnp. ar perba ps--bui the thought
is i''oIsh one--sle has refused Ia obey her low
er's request-reiused 10 10 meet hIln
There was something awful in the deep silence
that reigned through the room as the solitary
Indian stood there, at the head of The table paz
Ing silently in the lovers face.
Where is she q at las, casped the Refnues.
She has not refused To come : Tell mp-has
any accident befallen her by The way? I know
the forest is dark. and the wild path most diai-
cult--iell me where is The lady for whom sen.
you into The rebel lines I?
For moment. the strange horror of thai
lovers face was before him. the Indian was silent,
Then as his answer seemed trembling IN his Inns.
the ladies in yonder donr way, the officers frnm
the ball ronm, and tie party round the table,
formed group arnund the two central figures
The Indian standing at The head of the table his
arms folded In his war blanket-that Young off
Ger, half rising from his seat, his lips parted. his
face ashy his cenched hands resting on the dark
mahogany of the table,
The Indian answered first by an actiun Them
by werd.
First the action: Slowly drawing his RIGHT
hand from his war blanket he held it in the light.
hat right hand clurcheJ with blood stained fin.
gers bleeding scalp, and long and glossy locks
of beautiful dark hair
Then came the word Young warrior sent
The rrduan tur the scalp of the palefaced squaw
Here it ISL
Ies--ihe rude savage had mistaken his mes
sage Instead of Bringing the bride 10 her luver's.
arms. he had gone on his way, determined 10 bring
the scalp of the victim To the grasp of her male
face enemy.
Not groan disturbed the silence Of that
dreadful MUnent. Lnuk there The luver rises.
presses that lung hair--so black, su slussy So,
6eantIinl--to his heart, and ihen-as though a
huge weight, falling his brain had crashed
him. fell with one dead sound ON the hard
floor
He lay ihere-siitf. and pale. and cold his
clenched right hand still clntching the bloody scalp
and the lung dark hair falling in glossy lresses
over the floor
This was the bridal evet
Now tell me, my friends, you who have heard
some silly and ignorant pretenJer pilifully com.
plain OF The desIItuion' of Legend, Poetry Ro-
nance, which characteristics our National History
Tell me. did gov read tradition of Eng
land. or France. or Italy. or Spain, or any land
under the Heavens, that might in point Of awful
tragedy. compare with The simple History of
David Jones and John MCrea For 1t is but a
scene from this narrative. with which YOU. have
all been familiar from childhood that have given
You.
When the bridegroom, flung there 90 the floor.
with the bloody scalp and long dark tresses in his
hands arose again to the terrible Consciousness of
liie-those words irembled from his Inns in faint
and husky whisper -
do ywi remember bow, half an hour aao-I
stood thereby The table-sileOt and pale. horror
strlcken--while YOU all'slarIedup round me, ask
ing me what horrid sight saw? Then. oh then.
beheld the horfjd scene--thai home wonder BY
the Hudson river moun,inp to Heaven in the
smoke and flames 4! The red forms of Indians o., -
ing to and fro, amid fame and smoke-iomahawk
and torch in hand There. AMID dead bodies and
smoking enlbers. beheld her form, my brie-fud
whom had sent the messenger kneelinp plead
ing Tor mercy, even as, the lomahawk crashed
into her brain,"
As The honld picture again came % FER his mind
he sank senseless again. siH clutchng that ter
rIble memorial--lhe bloody seal Up and long black
hair!
That was an awful Bridal eve
James Watson Webb and Horace Greey have
been aTectiJnate)y poking each other in the ribs
during the past week Il must aHord the two
branches Of the Wbig party all sorts of satisfac.
ton To see ibe breach which divides them, widen
and deepen every day, because Of the PERSONAL
jealOusies and rivalres Of Webb and Greedy.
A young lad that had been out on a hunting
excursion, and killed rabbit, which he was carry,
ing hume, was NET by gentleman accosred him
thus:
What have you there, my ll,le fellow %
rabbit, SIR was the reply.
"a rabbit! and what you going 10 do with
a rabbit pray ?''
Fat il sir.'
Eat it pughr ! would as soon eat sat.''
said the gentleman.
Very likely, sir, J" said the boy, for they say
IT'S all in use"
Avoid an angry man for a while. and his passion
will cool bni avoid malicious man forever, for
malice never dies.