Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1864-11-25

woman na1f was mlAeu WIN In'
r blood that dyed the plank foor.-
: What could have been the inccntiv,
7 to the murder of this unoffendins
r widow was not apparent to the or
l phan's loving flial heart; so JanC
; surmised that it must be simply say
f age, revengeful hate, for, surely there
was nothing in the cabins poor be
Iongings to justify violence.
A deep sleep soon came over Min
= ME, and Jane placed her between
! two beds of straw, thinking that
place would prove the best of any III
| the cabin for concealing them both
: After fastening the windows and the
decayed outer door, although she
knew its rottenness was not proof
against one smart blow, Jane crept
into her sitting berth beside her
sister. Although almost smotheled
the children lay there, but Minnie,
in her forced sleep, did not share the
dread that filed her sisters heart
the fear of death from the tomahawk.
Two hours later, with a fresh i'm
pulse, Jane crawled softly from the
beds and went to the door to assure
herself that all was quiet about the
cabin. She looked out, all was still,
but the moment her distressed gaze
sought the well, she saw in the moon
light a huge form approach and look
over the curb below. How his red
face lighted up at the awful sight be-
low. The Indian, hourishing his
hatchet over the corpse yelled, "Ya,
ya-one, two more small squaw,
kill" Then, again hourishing his
tomahawk, he looked towards the
cabin. At this, poor Jane, nearly
dead, tottered back into her hiding
place. Gathering Minnie to her, she
waited almost frozen with fear, the
reality of the Indians threat. A
crashing blow from the towahawk,
soon after sent the old door inwards.
With satisfied grunt the savage
walked in, feeling certain that his
victims were there from the very
fact of the cabins having been fast
ened; but the dear little ones he
came to slaughter he did not see
cringing before him so, with a scowl
of unsatisiied venom, his blazing eyes
sought every place that could con-
ceal them-eyeryWhere except the
bed. Finding nothing however, he |
began to think his savage treat was
over for that night at least. Coming
upon some whisky, he seized it with
delight, gulped it down, then threw
himself upon the bed, and directly |
over Jane. I h c heavy sinking
weight upon her chest, caused her
to cry out sharply. "Uwa, Viva;
like a fash the savage was up, and
began tearing away the outer bed
ready for the welcome work.
"We're coming, mother" was the
motion of James blanched lips.
But here the savage paused, still
the tomahawk, to bend over
the children his hideous, grinning
face. AT this moment of life interest
to the poor sisters, a light figure
tripped over the doorsill-an Indian
girl, unseen by the savage; her eyes
from behind him, sought his face with
one quick glance. Oh, the conflict
ing feeling and astonishment that
stirred her dusky features; her sud
denly blazing orbs riyallcd the bot
-omless pit in their dreadful intense
Like a dart came her
small axe from its belt, and, bending ;
.owards him on her moccasin tips, {
she sent it down through the plume
If feathers into the craven head be- ,
ow. All harm to the children had \
)assed-he fell backwards down to !
he planks with a dull sound; but d
wen in his death, as his glazing eyes '
astcned upon her who had sent it, Er
is last breath gave sound to one
yord-Moaoaa The red maidcn's
ye at this began to beam softly and II
er lip to quiver, but for a moment "
My; then all her senses vowed fdel- il
-y to the indignation that had just h
7 settled in her breast, and she n
ale was not worthy OF r,
have sent him to find nv n
ale sister-the Great Spirit smiles n,
I'D it is well.
Tanawa had been the lover of this
ldian girl, and on the coming of the Ii
lme moon now sailing above in It's Il
ayes of shimmering glory, he had N
I'D her Of his savage love, that e,
igwam, bright with all red daugh- W
II covets was awaiting her, and her
cart in her dusky bosom had beat
apply as she answered, Il will in
,me." 1t had been her habit to- so
sit the widows, and to bring the or
bite birds, as she called Jane and yc
innie, baskets of beads and other ha
ze trinkets, formed by her own ex-
,rt fingers and inventive fancy.