The emigrant aid journal of Minnesota. [volume] (Nininger City, Minn. Terr. [i.e. Minn.]) 1856-1858, 1858-02-10

SRRPSt uOC'S SN
that he found a place to suit him. Arrived here, how
ever, he determined to remain, and develope the destiny
that fate had in store for him. Selecting " claim he
proceeded to The erection Of his log hut, and the I'm.
provcmcnt of his land. Some three weeks after bis ar
rival, he was one day startled by the appearance OF q
beautiful Indian girl ut the door Of his house. With
an air of kindness he beckoned to her to enter, but the
moment she perceived his eyes bent upon her, she start.
cd like the ,imid fawn, and fed into the depths Of the
forest. The next day and the next, she came again, un.
til his manner induced her to cross the threshold
and stand gazing upon him, while engaged in bis home.
" household labors. At last she accepted from him a
small mirror, in which she looked long aud admiringly
upon the smiling face, that it brilliantly reflected. Then
he gave her some trinkets, all of which she would re-
ceivc with gay laughter. Decking herself in the little
~trappings, she would hang over the placid river, to see
her image in its waters.
to expect her. Ono day she failed to make her appear.
ance. The West was all aglow with its radiant fires,
aud the sun was just sinking to its rest, when another
figure threw its shadow far into the interior of bis hum
bic home. He looked up and discovered q warrior,
dressed and painted in the manner Of the DAkots war
chiefs.
ENTER said Marcus to the stranger.
TAh.a-was-sa the Black wing Of the thunder
cloud, enters not the wigwam of the pale face until they
are friends. The brave of many moons comes to look
upon the stranger that has won from him the heart Of
Mah-le too-ah, the Melting %Snow.drop Of the Dacotahs ?
Umph = 80
Il pray you come let me have your hand in friend.
ship! | knew not that the Indian maiden was coming
until | saw her here. / would be friends with you and
all your tribe
80 said the Frenchmen, when from the dark waters
of yon stream, where Manitous FIRE is dimly blasting,
when from the Red river of the North, they steal down
upon u, to destroy with their fire water, and with their
bad hearts. The pale face is no friend to the Red man
Il am not of them = replied Cooley, . I come among
you open handed and true. l bold neither the rifle or
the fire. brand. Peace is my wish, and not mine will be
the blow that shall disturb it,
The white man ever speaks fair, but like the face of
the deep stream, is his words. Beneath them-hid
from the eyes that read-lies are hidden and evil
thoughts concealed. l know your race-I speak your
language-I know to, how base you are!
Your coming then, is not peaceable! What do you
require? How have I offended you 20 e~*<
'Mah.lc.tooah, the Melting Snow-drop, should be
mine She has promised to come to tho wigwam of
Tabs. was.sa, to be his squaw, to be the mother OF his
papooses. When last | whispered into her unwilling
ear the love songs Of our tribe there were no smiles
upon her lip-there were tears in her dark eyes. Once
like the spray over Minnehaha, she danced in the light
of her un,roublcd heart. Now, like the shadow in
the deep forest, there is a darkness above her brow.
She no longer loves me Is the Black wing Of the
thunder cloud a feeble old squaw ! Or will he not re-
sent his injuries =
Again / say that I have not injured you. If blood
be your object say it, and let the God whom you call
Manitou decide for the right
AS the young pioneer thus spake, he placed himself
in an attitude Of defence. The Indian, however, de.
clined a combat on such terms. He hastily withdrew
himself from the hut, uttering the we'll known sound,
'Umph!'
'Umph, means that you will return = said Marcus
to himself, when tue savage had left him. so be it
my dark warrior! If we are to be enemies, better know
it at once. / shall be on my guard
There glided to his side a small slight form He
looked down upOn Mah.lo tou.ah. She seized his hand
and covered it with kisses.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
DO you then speak my language! ! he asked in sur.
prise.
He found that she did to a limited extent. The Mis-.
who in earlier days, had penetrated to these
found her a child, and had impaired a knowl.
edge OF English to her. AS she became more accus-
toned to his utterance, she found that her memory
b ought back the language she had almost forgotten.
We will not give her imperfect words, but their connect.
ed substance. Raising her from her dropping position,
Cooley led her to the rude bench he bad constructed,
and wished her to he seat ID.
sNo thus, at your feet will Mah-le.too-ah repose. She
loves the pale face who comes to her forest home There
is truth dwelling in his dark eyes, and she would read
his soul.
She threw herself upon the cabin floor and with her
head resting upon his knee looked up into his face.
'Tah-a-wassa has been here she said, taking one Of
his labor soled hands, and passing it over her dark silk
en- hair. beware OF him the lightning is not more
fatal in its broad destruction than he. lie is the chief
Of our braves, and next to Mah-le-too-ah's sire, is the
most feared
May | fear him not replied the pioneer, as be ran
his fingers through the rich masses Of her hair, and
gazed into her liquid eye. He loves the Snow-drop!
But she loves not him was the quick reply. she
will wed no one but the stranger-if the stranger loves
her, y
Cooley's heart beat strangely. Iu all her native in
uocence, there lay the most exquisite beauty, that he
tA ..o- l-,1.l .z- H. en- ----l e.
of graceful ease met his enraptured vision. Her dark
eyes were swimming with liquid beauty. The rich tones
OF her musical voice fell like the murmur of dista:t
waters upon his car The full ripe lips, dlstilling sweet
ness with every breath, were upturned to his. But NO
thought unworthy Of u man, or offensive to her purity,
crossed his mind. He looked at her long and m~usingly.
'Yes!' lie said at last, the stranger loves his gentle
Indian girl
She sprang to her feet at his declaration. She twined
her arms around his neck and imprinted a single kiss
upon his forehead. Then drawing herself to her full
height she exclai ned.
BE that kiss, our be%trothment. Now hear me Tab.
a-wassa, would claim ME fer his bridge. 1n another
moon he thinks that [ shall be his. but 1 will sooner 30
to my resting place in Manitou's bosom, than live in h,s
wigwam. l am yours only, yours forever ! .na f..
Again she threw herself into his embrace. She took
back the kiss she had given, with interest.
But he will not rest, until either he or you are gone
to the far hunting ground sue unused. lie never for
- vs. ~ "6~~
You have the arm Of strength, and the courage Of the
brave If he comes here it is only to entrap you.
Cut him down like the withered tree that shuts out your
view from the prospect. beyond. You must show no
mercy for he will show none to you. In a moment,
when the back of the stranger is turned Tah-a was-sa
will throw his tomahawk into his brain. Remember i
Away sped the glad maiden. fa~f
Not long was Marcus left in doubt as to the intentions
of his enemy. Numbers Of the painted warriors were
daily seen around his clearing. From beneath the dark
underwood, darker eyes looked forth threateningly upon
him. Go where he would, do what he would, there
seemed to be a hundred eyes fastened upon his every
movement. Still he did not heed them. With a wary
eye, and careful observation be noticed every change.
A week had thus passed, and no decided demonstration
had been made. One morning while bathing early in
the calm water of the Mississippi, he perceived the
treacherous Tah-a. was.sa steal down to the bank, with
the evident intention Of abstracting his rife. Spring
ing to the shore he caught the Indian in tho very act.
SEEING his weapon he presented it at the breast Of the