True Democrat. (Paulding, Miss.) 1845-18??, 1846-04-01

out upon the western sky, cleaning in
deep starlight, stood Benedict Arnold
One hand. was laid upon his breast, which
throbbed in long deep gasps; the other
held two letters.
Read the SuperScription of those letters
by the light the stars: one is directed
to Gen. Washington, the other TO Sir Hen
| ry Clinton. One announces his acceptance
of the command of West Point, the other
offers to sell West Point to the British.
And now look at that massive face, qui-
Vering with revenge, pride and patriotism;
look at that dark eye, cleaning with the
horror OF lost soul Look at the barred
throat, with the veins swelling like chords!
That is the struggle between Arnold
the patriot, and Arnold the traitor.
And'there, far back in the room, halfhid-
den among silken curtains, silent and
thoughtful, sits lovely woman, her hands
clasped, her unbound hair showering
down over her shoulders; her large blue
eyes aring wilory upon the fire Well
may that bosom heave, that eye glare
for now the wife of Arnold is waiting for
the determination of her husbands fate
now the darkest shadow is passing over
the dial plate of his destiny.
While Arnold stands brooding there
while his wife sits trembIingIy by the
ire-without, i'll the ante-chamber, three
persons wait for him.
One is base browed man, clad in the
blue uniform of the ContinentalS. Turn
that uniform, and it is scarlet. That is a
British Spy. He is waiting to bear the
letter to Sir Henry Clinton. :.
That handsome cavalier, dressed in the
extreme of fashion, with embroidered coat,
red ,heeIed shoes and powdered hair, is a
nobleman of France the Ambassador of
the French King, the Chevalier de Lu.
zerne. He has come here to listen to the
offer of Arnold, who wishes to enter the
service of the French King.
The third-look A silent and moo
dy red man of the forest; an Indian.
Chief wrapped in his blanket, standing
there proud as king on his throne
He has come from the wildS of the for
est, in the far northwest, to hearken to
the answer of Arnold (the death eagle, as
the Indians call him. TO their proposition,
by which they agree to make him chiefof
their tribes.
Now look the door opens the three
enter; Arnold turns and beho Ids them.
Then occurs a hurried and terrible
scene.
While the wife Of Arnold sits trembling
by HE fire. he advances, and greets the
Cavalier de Lnzerne.
Look ye," he mutters, "your King can
have my sword, but mark am in debt,
the mob boots me in the streets, my cred-
tors are clamorous, must have money"
This bold tone of one used TO command,
little suits the polite Ambassador.
My king never buys soldiers he whis-
pers with a sheer, aud then bowling po-
litely, relires.
Sung TO the quick by this cool insult,
Arnold, turning his eyes away from the
British Spy, salutes the Indian Chief
My brothers arc willing to own the
Death Eagle as their chief exclaims the
Indian. Yet are they afraid that he yet
loves the pale faces too we'll
Try my love for the pale faces nut
tiers Arnold with look and a sheer that
makes even the red man start.
The chief resumes: My brothers who
are many-their numbers are as the leaves
of the forest-my brothers who sharpen
their hatchets, for the scalp of the pale
face; will ask the Death Eagle TO lead
them OH the towns of the pale faces; TO
burn, TO kill, till not single pale face is
left in the land.
TRY met was the hoarse response Of
Arnold, given with knit brows and clench-
cd hands.
Then shall the Death Eagle become
the chief of the red men'--said the Indian, |
but his pale faced sqaw there he must
leave her she can never dwell in the /
tents of the red men.
Then it was that Arnold, who had en-
brac,d with a CLEAN Of savage delight the
proposition 20 become the chief Of muir
derous tribe OF wild Indians, felt his heart
grow cold.
An how he loved that wifei
Arnold who in his mad revenge was
willing 10 sweep the towns Of the whites
with torch and knife, quailed with the
idea Of leaving behind that fair young
wife.
The Death Eagle cannot be your
Chief he said, as he turned from the In
dian. The red man went from the room
with a sheer on ms dark face, Tor the one
who could not sacnfce his wife-the
loved one Of his heau-to that revenge,
which was about 10 stamp bis hame with