Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1857-09-09
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THE MIRROR SISTERS,
BY A NEW CONTRIBUTOR.
Continued from our last.)

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Then the dark eyes Enclosed languidly,
with dim vision, and again was murmured:
Thy world is beautiful, mirror sister, yet
not more beautiful than the earth where we
dwelt together, with our father and his peo
pie. 1t need not be, but ah sweet sister, |
know thine is better world, and hoy to be
there. How have we grieved for each other,
loved one, since our parting, when the moon
was like nerved bowstring, that now is
grown to shield Say, sister, sawest thou
not the sadness in my face, even as in thine,
what time thou lookedst up through the wa
ter mirror listening my song to thee?'
Clasping tenderly the hand that had
smoothed back her heavy tresses, the dusky
maiden sank into peaceful slumber, breathing
the name of Mirror Sister with the last raw
OF dreamy consciousness. Our youthful geo
logan gazed unsatiated On her face and af-
firmed in his heart that he had never beheld
another so beautiful. He analyzed its fea-
lures more carefully and more eagerly than
he would have done specimen in which he
hoped to find the most precious of metals;
and when the question was suggested why
he did this, he answered himself by asking
why he should not, since one was but sense
less lump, and the other the index to living
soul. He wondered deeply to what end provi.
denee had ordered so strangea meeting; and
accepted the belief that this night was an
epoch in his life. Notwithstanding, no def
mite plan, or even desire had been formed;
and even while he INDUCED in connecting
with his future the-young being before him,
he could baye smiled at the romance, the
visionariness, inspired by the place and the
hour.
AT length the sleeper aroused, her eyes
beaming withintelligence, and smile wreath
ing her mouth, so innocent and infantile in
Its expression. But instantly, at sight of her
strange watcher, her eyes flashed wildly,
with cry of terror she started to her feet,
and would have fed, had she not been detain-
ed by necessary force. The young man ad-
dressed her, in her own tongue, with sooth-
ing words, when she was persuaded to sit
down and listen, though still agitated by vio-
lent emotions.
How came the pale face here, where few
have ever been p
He came out from the nearest white set
tlement, with others, who would enjoy a
days sport; he wandered from his party
and became bewildered, and they have re-
turned without him.
The prairie is wide, why need you come
to the place where have been sleeping, till
my hair is stepped with rain from clouds that
are now folded away in the hollows? And
why detain me with hand that is stronger
than woman'sP
Because am interested to know more of
you. 1t is no common circumstance that a
child maiden is found alone in a wild at mid
night. My name is Randolph; let me hear
EnBVTfs VTst z ,.,,,,,,,
What 6o A. IL.
answers nothing save to bid him goodbye,
and then to go over the hills in the way he
goes not? 1, will it be thus
Nay, nay, must detain you still. Do not
look on me so eoldly l am friend. If you
are astray from your people, will take you
to them. l swear, by the Great Spirit, will
harm you not.'
The Great Spirit knoweth the harm 1
would suffer in being returned to my people.
Where is the maiden among all the tribes,
would watch till the hour when sleep weighs
heaviest on the eyelids, and stealing from
her fathers lodge, flee alone into the desert
afar, did she wish to abide again with her
people? Yet / am not alone; nv mirror
sister is with me wherever the rivulet flows
or the lakelet sparkles. desire none other
But who are thy father and his people
that they will not pursue and search thee out
if this be thy retreatP
The maiden replied, casting an anxious
glance around
1 will follow. then, the direction of a dream
that was sent me tonight. / fancied that, as
chanted to my mirror sister, recumbent on
yonder old trees trunk, suddenly was fred
upon by one cf our warriors. | felt not the
ball pierce me, but heard the rifles thur.
der, and knew that was to be seized and
Ioo IL i
even as his fathers and his wampum belt
adorn his person. Swifter than the flying Of
! a bird, l threw myself into the deep water
far below the reach of his coward arm, who
had hunted me as they hunt the timorou:
deer. slept, and awoke with my mirror
sister in the far-of Elysium, and we were
happy
'Mirror-by this name will call you
7 what you relate was no dream. Nor was i
: reality, in the phase you viewed it. Hear tht
, story from me. In the darkness of evening
came to this plateau above, and there lay
down and slept. 1knew not that any human
being was near, and only waited the morning
to light me on the way from which ha(
t wandered. woke, listening to music tha
5 enraptured my soul. The charm drew NE t.
. the edge of the precipice; thence / saw yol
reclining over the lakelet, as you have de
scribed. Ofwhat followed, only know that
! bewildered with a new and intense delight
!, ,, l approached stealthily, and would have con
Z cealed myself and listened to your song still
! when an accident alarmed you, occasioning
g as | believed, yonr inadverte mt fall into tn
!, water. plunged after, and struggled har
a ere your rescue was accomplished; had it nc
q finally been, l should now be lying motor
less and cold on the bed of the lake,
The Indian girl was SILENT but her fac
spoke wonder and gratitude. After momen
l, she said as to herself
- The pale face speaks but the truth. I Sc,
/ there are no rain drops glittering on tt
70 grass, yet my hair and my mantle are lik
r, meadow plants when the boiling river hooc
n them. He has saved my life,-yet, oh, m
" sisterl it were better hadst thou not yielde
!. me up but conveyed me to thy blest home
!, - She ended with love moan,
- Mirror resumed the other, who was upo
Is one knee before her -and his tones were ver
earnest, beautiful maid, I love thee, the
are no words in thy language or mine to te
oe how sincerely. Come then with me amor
u my people let me be thy protector again
! whatever threatens; will make thee hapr
thou wilt not wish to die'
~ She looked at him starfled hi1t mt d;arlao