Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1858-08-12
Misfellanp.
Written for the Green Mountain Freeman.
NORA M0NTELLE;
OR,
THE MYSTERY UNVEILED.
CHAPTER VII.

IdE M OIEh ON EIhHD.
~~~-~~>->~~>.~>-~--v~,>~~>'c>~~>o~>
CHAPTER VII.
Mine after life! what's mine after life
My day is closed The gloom Of night is come!
A hopeless darkness settles o'er my fate.
Joanna Bailis.
Her eyes dark charm 'twere vain to tell,
But gaze on that Of the gazelle,
1t will assist thy fancy well.-Byon.
II would be difficult to describe the feeling OF
utter loneliness and sadness that oppressed Er-
nest as he entered the Indian villas7, COMPOSED
of a large number of wigwams. He felt sick,
besides being ignorant of what was to be his
fate, and knowing that could he escape he had
not strength to return home, he cherished no
hope of life. And though he felt that death
would be relief, yet the manner in which he
might be called to meet the stern messenger
perhaps at the stake, Or In some other cruel
manner-flled his mind with darkness and
gloom. But the night after their arrival, while
the savages were holding war dance, and their
horrid whoops were every moment sounding in
his ears, as he lay in the wigwam of an old
souaw where he had been carried, he was seized
with raging fever, which had been lurking in
his veins more than week, and he became un-
conscious of all around. Days passed ere rea-
son again returned to its throne. Awaking one
day, as it seemed to him, from long and
troubled dream, he attempted to raise his head,
bnt failing in this he exclaimed,
Where am II" for he could recall no
recollection of that strange abode.
Immediately the light, graceful form of a
young Indian girl appeared befor. him, and a
cooling beverage was presented to hislips which
was most acceptable. At length he murmured
again,
"Where am l? Tell me, fair maid, have
left the shores of mortality, and are you the
first to welcome mop"
But she placed her hand upon his lip, saying
in tones of low, sweet melody,
"White man no talk make sick more"
As his eye caughta glance of her dress ir
the Indian style, the past gradually returned tt
him. But let us describe his gentle attendant
Her features were finely moulded, her brilliant
dark eve, with its soft melting light, seemed tt
win the love of all, and her hair was OF th'
same dark hue; her smooth polished skin tolt
that Che blood Of the pale face mingled in hel
veins. This was indeed true; for her father
the chief of the tribe, had married q beautiful
French captive maiden. Her graceful form
was 40 elastic in its motions that the tall gras
would rise up and shake off the dew drops afte
her pretty moccasins had pressed it, Many
the young warriors had sought to win the lov
of Silver Bird, for such was she called on ac
count of the exquisite melody of her voice, bu
in vain for though her father had betrothed he
to Tallayna, whom he considered the bravest
his warriors, she loved him not. Her heal
had never felt the presence of the gentle go
till she became acquainted with Ernest. Blu
when she learned to converse with him, as b
became convalescent, in his language, whic
she soon did, with true maidenly modesty sh
concealed all trace of these awakened feeling
from him.
Tallayna who claimed the honor of captu'
ing Ernest, had left him with his mother, Soor
seetah, the old squaw before spoken Of, wit
this injunction if he recovered, to prevent h
escape, or her life might pay the forfeit; an
together with the chief and the rest Of the SAY
ages, except the aged men of the tribe and
few Indian lads who were left to guard I'll
squaws and the village, he had gone toward IL
North to hunt and obtain furs. Soonseetah a
lowed Silver Bird, whom she already regard'
as daughter, to visit Ernest whenever 81
chose but he saw that she kept watch over
his movements
1t was now the first of January, and Erne'
having nearly recovered, began to think Of
cape but week passed, and he saw no c
portunity to escape the vigilant eye of Soons'
tab, and that evening he knew by the unusr
noise that some of the savages had returned.
The next morning, when Silver Bird came
see him, as usual, he noticed sad expressi
on her countenance he had never seen there
fore and as soon as Soonseetah left the
which she sometimes did, as she could not |
derstand their conversation, he asked,
"Where is Silver Birds morning smile, ii
she brings none for the poor captive? Has
row como to her heart?''
gentle sigh heaved her breast, but she me-
no reply.
'Did the warriors bring sad news last eve
'' Yes, they brought news, and it ought
to be sad to Silver Bird, but it is
"Why? and what is it?"
"My father soon returns
"And is that sad news?''
1T would not be if he came alone.''
"Who is coming with him -
Zone Silver Bird cannot love and them
There was perceptible tremor in her vo
and Ernest saw tho tears gathering in her d
eyes. Taking her hand as she sat beside h
he said
"Then what, Silver Bird? Will you
tell your white brother?'
Tallayna obtained promise, many inc
ago, from my father, that when he brought
a captive, Silver Bird should go and live
Tallayna's wigwam and be his squaw"
And am the captive, am | not?"
:" Yes"
"Then why, when | was brought here,
not Silver Bird go and dwell in the wlgwau
Tallayna?"
Because Silver Bird plead of the chief
time to be reconcled and as rallayna wis