The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1855-08-11


far-off hills, and he listened to the details of
hair breadth escapes until his mind was ill-
ed with exciting thoughts, and his heart
painted to be sharer in them, ....
"But father,' said Ka-am, "you have nev-
er yet todd me any thing of my mother, and
long to hear Of her.. Oh, how often my
fancy has labored t9paint her image to my
mind! When, in perusing either history or
romance, have found one described as
gentle, noble dame, have said to myself
this is like my mother"
Ka-am had now broached a subject which
Harmer would fain avoid, and yet he consid-
cred it his duty to tell the child OF his adop-
ton the real story of his parentage. The
balf-breed had. no knowledge of the fact
that he was the child of an Indian mother,
and yet he thought it strange that distine-
tions had been made between himself and
cthers3 but tie native pride, of his superior
nature, never for moment attributed it to
any inferority OF station assigned to him by
the world. He walked among his. compan-
ions with O consciousness that in anything
pertaining to manhood, he was their equal, if
not superior. 1t was the dread Of breaking
down this proud feeling which the trapper
shrunk from. He knew the distinction the
world made between races, and although
society on the frontier was less obseryant of
these divisions, yet, even there it existed
besides, in the eye of the law, Ka.am was
itlegitimate, and although, if the facts and
circumstances were fully known, it would
l neither stain him or shame his mothers
memory, yet it would be difficult to unravel
the. mystery sof his birth in every corner
where malice or slander could whisper the
opprobrious epithet fixed upon him by the
statute. Knowing this, and fearing that a
knowledge of the facts would arouse the
dark currents of his nature, perhaps plunge
him in irrevocable despondency or itretriey-
able ruin. Harmer had avoided the subject,
but now Ka-am would take no denial.
"Whar's the use of wantin' to know what
aint pleasant!' Harmer said to him; sit
amt goin' to help things--your ur' yur, and
that ar sufficient. A long und heart tearin'
account Of what's past aint pleasant dish,
boy, SO don't taste it,"
"Ah, but you know, father" said Ia am,
81 have your promise."
ayes, but promise to do what amt par
ticklarly pleasant ought to be broken" an
swered Harry; Sbut sence you will hev me
begin this cussed ugly yarn, I'll jiSt tell you
the fust, and reckon thar you'll want me
to stop-it is this, Ka AMI amt your father"
The announcements of this fact fell with
astounding effect upon Ka-am's ear--he
feeled under it as if stricken by blow; but
Instead Of being content to know no ftirthsr
who and what he was, he plead and be-
sought the old trapper until the history was
obtained. AS the dread recital fell from his
adopted fathers lips, the iron Of despair en-
tered into his soul-al the gay dreams of
chivalry in which he had revelled, the
bright plans he had sketched for the future,
gilded as they were by laudable ambition,
withered and perished, and passed away, as
he listened to the exciting story of his child
hood. 1t swept over his heart like the tor
nado of the forest, uprooting every lofty as
piration that raised itself heavenward. Like
some fair ship struck by the tempest and
reft Of everything, he yielded his heart to
the stormy billows of passion, and wept long
and bitterly, nor were they tears that reliev-
ed; they were rather flood which formed
about him a pool of bitterness, within which
his spirit laved itself in anguish
The fountains of his heart now dried up,
and moody melancholy seemed to settle
upon him. He stunned the society of those
who were rejoicing. Raised in civilized So
ciety, and instructed by education inits dis
tinctions, he felt that the, the haif-breed, son
of father who had been previously mar
ried, and whose wife and legal offspring still
lived, held but questionable place among
those with whom he had mingled and as il
were, faEcying himself in an amphitheatre,
gazed upon by the assembled world, who
were all possessed OF bis story, he shrank
with dread from the fanced scrutiny of hu.
man eyes. To add to his grief, Julia be-
gan to look coldly upon him. while to 4
dolph Murtel she was all smiles. She
could not refrain, during this season 0
festiyity, from comparing the gay cheerful
ness Of the trapPer with the moody brow o
the studlous young half.breed. and Adolpl
alway gained point by the comparison,--
Ka-am upbraided her for her eoldness to
wards him, and she in turn Knocked at hi
4 gloomy brow and jealous air. To tease hid
she became more familiar with Adolph, an
weLt SO far as to permit his lips to toucl
:. hers in the presence of her lover--this, Q
course, produced, quarrel and she, laughing
turned from The devoted Ka. am to the laugh
| ing young trapper. AS the former was leaving
their presence his ear caught an express
ion which turned his blood to fire.
I "The half.breed savage" said Adolph
| "has grown jealous"
Il The light laugh of Julia, at this unfeel
ing remark, completed Ka-am's rage, an
/ turning upon Adolph, he felled him to I
earth where he stood, and strobe of. vow
ing a deeper vengance. Oh, how darl
Il