Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1849-06-07

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81 " u''uSs herself with her victim before she
destroyed her; and she had hardly yet made up
her mind as to the way which she would take to
inform the family of Sacred Wind of the secret
she had found out.
bu' she could not resist the temptation of
whispering to Sacred Wind her knowledge of
the true reason why she would not marry the
Bear. This was the first blow, and it struck to
Inc hean; 1t made wound which was long kept
open : the watehfnl eye Of jealousy.
a # She had, FsR fgge Void MT s Aa The
still smOking-not she she would have trem.
bled with rage, that Dahcotah maiden, and her
grandchild, should be guilty of the enormous
crine Of loving,a cousin. An eruption of vesu.
Was would have given but faint idea of her
fury.
Most fortunately for herself, the venerable
old medicine woman died few days after. Had
she lived to know of the fatal passion of her
granddaughter, she would have longed to seize
the thunderbOlts of Jupiter (f she had been a.
ware of their existence, tohurl at the offenders;
or like Niobe, have wept herself to stone.
Indeed the cause of her death Ehowed that
she could not bear contradiction.
There was war party formed to attack the
Chippewas, and the Eagle that Screams as she
Flies flor that was the name Of Sacred Winds
grandmother wanted to go along.
She wished to mutilate the bodies after they
were scalped Yes, though near ninety years
old, she would go through all the fatigues of a
march of three hundred miles, and think it moth
ing, if she could be repaid by tearing the heart
from one Chippewa child.
There were, however, two old squaws who
had applied first, and the Screaming Eagle was
rejected.
There were no bounds to her passion. She
attempted to hang herself and was cut down -
She made the village resound with her lamenta-
tons she called upon all the spirits of the
lakes, rivers, and prairieS to torment the wal
party; nothing would pacify her. Two days
after the war party left, the Eagle that Screams
as she Flies, expired, in fit of rage
when the war party returned, the Shield
was the observed of all observers; he had taker
two scalps.
Sacred Wind sighed to think he was he
cousin. How could she help loving the warrio
who had returned the bravest in the battle ?
'The Swan saw that she loved in vain. Sh
knew that she loved the Shield moro in absence
whv ,,en hope that he would forget Sacre
| ~ +te-A------.s No more
When she saw lin enter the village. he
heart beat fast with emotion she pressed he
hand upon it, but could not still its tumult III
has come she said to herself, but will his ey
seek mine will he tell me that the time ha
been long since he saw the woman he loved ?
She follows his footsteps-she watches hi
every glance, as he meets his relations. Alas
for the Swan, the wounded bird feels not SO &C
utely the arrow that pierces, as she that look G
recognition between the cousins
But the unhappy girl was loused from sens
Of her griefs, to recollection Of her wrongs
With all the impetuosity of loving heart, sh
thought she had right to the affections of tn
Shield. AS the water reflected her features, s
should his heart give back the devoted love c
hers.
But while she lived, she was determined t
bring sorrow upon her rival she would not sin
in dying That very evening did she repeat t
the family of Sacred Wind the conversation
she had overheard, adding that the love of tn
cousins was the cause of Sacred Winds reiui
ing to marry.
Time would fail me to tell of the consequer
suferings of Sacred Wind. She was scolde
and watched, shamed, and even beaten. TIL
medicine men threatened her with all their pow
ers; no punishment was severe enough for tn
Dahcotah who would thus transgress the law
Of their nation.
The Shield was proof against the machine
tons Of his enemies-for he was a medicin
man-Ond could counterfeit all the spells tina
were exerted against him. Sacred Wind bore a
in patience but the sight Of the Bear She ha
been bought and sold, over and over again; an
the fear of her killing herself was the only res
son why her friends did not force her to maj
Try.
'One evening she was missing, and the erie
OF her mother broke upon the silence of night
canoes were flying ocross the water; friend
were wandering in the woods-all seeking tn
body Of the girl.
But she was not to be found in the river,
in the woods. Sacred Wind was not dead, sh
was only married.
She was safe in the next village, telling Il
Shield how well she loved him, and how cordial
she hated the Bear; and although she trouble
when she spoke Of the medicine men, her hu
hand only laughed at her fears, telling her, III
now that she was his wife, she need fear not
Ing.
But where was the Swan? Her frien,
were assisting in the search of Sacred Wind
The father had forgotten his child the brot
er his sister. And the mother, who would ha'
hrst missed her, had gone long ago to the lar
Of spirits.
The Swan had known of the flight Of d
lOven-shc watched them as their canoe passt
away, until it become speck in the distance
and in another moment the waters closed Ov
her.
Thus were strangely blended marriage al
death. The Swan feared not to take her oW
life. Sacred Wind, with apObler courage,
more devoted love, broke through the customs
her nation, laid aside the superstitlons of Ii
tribe, and has thus identified her course with Il
name Of her native village"
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Strew flowers upon the bier Of the bloomlE
IL kaaA gNuEyn n