The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1860-12-25

stood, and the chief who acted as prizes
IN the ceremony, addressed Nick by say.
ing, as he again pointed an arrow up
wards
4" If my white brother would win the
bird, he must catch her ere she gains
her nest" and drawing his bow, the
arrow twanged from the string, aud
away rushed the trapper at the signal.
For brief second the coquette seemed
resolved to reach the goal which would
have freed her from her plighted faith
but stopping suddenly in her rapid path
she turned on her heel and threw her
self with ringing laugh into Nick 5
outstretched arms.
A shout of triumph announced the
success of his suit, and to all, save ONE,
the completion appeared to give great
satisfaction. This was an Indian youth,
an undeclared lover of the trapper's 5
bride. In secret he hsd worshipped the
idol Of his affection, trusting that time
would enable him to gain the prize, and
when his hope seemed ripening he saw
her thus suddenly lost to him, and lost
forever.
May the Great Spirit strengthen my
arm - said he, dashing forward, with
all his savage nature reused within him
and like tiger springing upon his prey
ne was about burying his knife between
the shoulders of the unsuspecting trap
per, when backwards he went to the
earth as if a whistling bullet had rushed
through his BRAIN in the strong grip of
Nick 5 deer-hound
Halo - exclaimed the trapper, re-
leasing his wife from an embrace re-
sembling a grizzly bear in tenderness,
=" why, what's this about, eh 2"
The drawn knife in the fallen Indians
hand, and his ferocious aspect revealed
the cause OF the dogs unexpected At
tack, which continued to pin him firm
ly to the ground in his torturng hold.
Art jealous, man % said Nick,
laughingiy, and bestowing kick Of no
gentle force on his PROSTATE enemy.
" AIT jealous % And lifting him from
the earth, and snatching the blade from
him lie cutted him, amidst the jb5 and
jeers Of his tribe, far away from the
scene Of his discontinue.
Months rolled away The maple Leaf
wore the brown tint Of scorcEiny au
tumn, and Nick Woolsey was a rough
but doating father. Upon returning
from examining his traps late one even.
ing, he was somewhat astonished and
not lit;le veXeI Al his wite's ueglectne
10 meet him, according to her wonled
custom, some short distance from the log
cabin.
Where's Mnamee, wonder ." said
he striding towards The door. and rs he
reached the threshold he stumbled heay
iIy against something laid across II. Up
on STOPPING down to ascertain the causa
lie discovered the IjCeIess body Of his
faithful dog.
" Mioamee, he shouted with sten,o-
rian lungs. 4" Sea and earth. how did
this happen, Nnamee, say 2"
4" Hush - said voice in whisper,
hush, you'll wake my child"
Wake your child y repeated he,
hearing her nesting her infant 10 her
bosom as be drew open the door. wake
your. the sentence wac finished
Fell horror petriiied him with the sight
that presented itself, his lower Jaw drop
ped and his eyes seemed ready 10 start
tom their sockets the warm blood cur
died in his veins and the checked pulse
ceased lis throbbing Sitting before the
hearth upon tie floor, there was tie
young mother bearing marks OF cruel
treatment in her features aud her discol.
ored dress, and pressing TO her bosom
the headless trunk Of her infant. Pale
was her eouuleuance, and the fixed glas
ey stare beloaened madness in all its
horrid form
Say = screamed the trapper. rush
ing 10 the side OF his dementel wife
:" say how-who has done this ,"
" God Of Heaven I" exclaimed he
+" shes datI--gone wild-mal !" and
scarcely less 50 himself The strong, bold
hunter howIed IN his misery
For days he was unable 10 learn The
particulars of the terrible catastrophe.
At length a change took place in the be
nighteI reason Of his wife bat like the
remaining spark in the charred ember,
il was the last effort Of the miad ere
death eApunsed lis miseries.
IL appeared that at sunset Minamee
WAS preparing to meet her husband II,
Ter rolling her litle charge IN buffalo
skin and laying him TO his bed, when
the long shadow Of a man was cast sud
denly into the entrance and Is quickly
disappeared. The deer hound sprung
from the floor on which lie had been ~.
ing, As he leapcl to the doorway. follow.
ed by bis mistress, the sharp crack Of
rifle was heard, and the noble animal
fell dead at her feet In IN instant al
terwards the form OF an Indian, whom
Mlnamee at once recognized as the foil
ed assassin at her marriage bounded into
the cabin, and despite the mothers fur
ious struggles. clutched the child from
his couch, aud brandishing lis knife
with savage yell, severed his head
from his body.
There, said he, pitching the head
less corpse towards the mother. :" is my
revenge, Blood TO the red man wrongs
is as water 20 the fire | am satisfied
Farewell. And turning upon his heel
he Quilted the spot like one who had ac-
4