The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1866-04-28
Mi5tellalteolls,
WHITE WAVE.

WHITE WAVE.
Joseph Herndon was known all along the
shores of the st. Lawrence as the most Skillfu
boatnan on that dangerous stream. Few were
the landings at which his boat had not touch
ed, to bring or take away such articles of pro-
duce as be traded in at various points along the
river. Among other places which he frequently
visited, was st. Regis, the ldian village, situated
upon the southern bank Of the st. Lawrence at
the mouth OF the river of the same name He
was great favorte with the Indians, whom he
always treated with kindness and respect.
During the second or third year of Joseph
Herndon S career as boatman, his visits to ST
Regis became more frequent. Seldom, on any
of his trips up down the river, did he fail to
land there and much did his half breed assistants
wonder thereat. Without assigning any reason,
he would often pass entire days there, aud though
his lazy crew, with the natural Incidence of their
rade, were quite willing to enjoy the rest, they
did not fail to make it the subject of curious re-
mark.
But the affair admitted of easy solution. Jo-
seph Herndon WAS in love. And not with q
maiden of bis own race, but with " White Wave,
whose check flushed darkly with the hue of her
Indian blood.
With a SOFT undulaiing motion, the rapid riv-
er bears on its bosom many white-crested wave
Like these was the graceful, gliding step of the
Idian maiden, and the name, like most of the
names given by the red men, had a singular and
easily recognizable appropriateness to its objects
White Wave had not been always n dweler in
the homes Of her people. While yet scarcely
more than achild, she had been sent to Montreal,
aud there, in q convent, had received an educa-
ton, under the name of Marie, similar in all re-
IL, # 10 hor
sociatious were entirely with the whites, and she
imbbed the habits, tastes, and, to great extent,
the models of thought Of those among whom she
so long had her home
AT eighteen she had been suddenly recalled
to the dwelling place of her childhood, to the
rude shelter of her infant years.
The refinement impaired by education and by
long commerce with those of another race, so su-
perior to her own in civilization and culture, but
lily fitted her for her present surroundings and
from the rude life of her home, from the Indian
costume, which her father had compelled her to
resume from The squalid habits and unbroken
ignorance or her people, even of those of her ia
theirs household, she shrank with the hopeless
feelings of a captive, and felt that neither time
nor habit could ever make ber content TO dwell
there 81 ,t5
1t was while iu this state of almost despair,
that she first saw Joseph Herndon. He was the
first white person who had addressed her as an
equal since her return home, and she was un-
speakably grateful for kindness so unwonted.
Joseph Herndon first saw aud was struck by
her rare beauty, next he listened to her exquisite
voice which Joined and scared above the uncul-
tured but sweet voices OF her kindred and people,
in the old church. He went to ber fahter's house,
and conversed with her, and saw that she was
as lovely in mind as in person, and be forthwith
fell in love with her. s1s IiJ
This love il was that, month after month, drew
him TO ST. Regis. A year had passed away, and
he had not once asked himself where was this 10
end, until he learned, on one of his visits that
stalwart Indian-ugly, coarse bruttaly ignorant
but rich--was looking with longing eyes upon
the graceful White Wave, and would fain trans
fer her from her father cabin to his own.
With many u tear the maiden told her lover
that her father favored the red mans suit, and
that she would die rather than become his wife.
Is it wonderful that Joseph Herndon went to
his lodgings, that night, thoughtful and sad
Here was girl, lovely, refined, educated, ,-one
who loved him truly, and with the intense ardor
of her race, whom his beating heart compelled
him to acknowledge that he loved, and because
she was an Indian, should he leave her to fate
SO pititul and hopeless as must be hers even II she
escaped the persecution of her savage lover?
These were serious questions, upon the decision
of which hung importent consequences. Ere
morning, Joseph bad resolved to seek the advice
and authority of his mother the safe and beloved
counsellor of his youth and manhood. Without
impartiug his project to White Wave, to whom
be had mentally bound himself to say nothing
until his mothers opinion should be gained, he
departed the next day.
Asmigbt be expected, Mrs. Herndon's decision
was adverse. Although she had never occupied
other than an humble position, she had good
sense, pride character and pridein her children
particularly in her son. Humble as his occupa-
tionS were, they were lucrative beyond those OF
his home, and his father. And he was still
young, and with a fair prospect of a successful
career, that should place him, if be so willed,
higher upon the social plane Her decision was
emphatcslly in the negative. aie
Joseph FASTENED back to ST. Regis A crisis oi
his fate had arrived, aud with feverish npatience
he longed as much as he dreaded, to meet II and
to PASS it, He was an honest, true man, rough,
uucultured boalman MS he was. lie went to
White Wave and told her all. be was surprised
almost Indignant to find that she concurred in
all he had TO say She loved him with an in
tense, grateful love, but she had pride, and she
had good sense. She would notg go unwelcomed
into the family Of ber white lover, and she saw,
even clearer than he did, much that if she were
his wife he would have 10 encounter, that might
shake his canstancy, and weaken bis affection.
''Go," she said to him, my people are not
like your people my skin is red, and my blood
ought not to mingle with that which howsin the
veins of the pale-faces. Go, Joseph Herndon
We have had brief, pleasant dream, but the
hour ofawakening has come and now and hence
forth our paths are separate. Go you out among
the white men, and take to your bosom daugh-
ter Of Your ownrace. As for the red maiden, for.
get that ever your eyes rested upon her. My fate
is with my people. Leave me to il"
They parted never TO meet again.
A score Of years afterwards, Joseph 1Ierndor
returned to St. Regis. He was not alone.
handsome, proud-looking woman, of middle age
whom he called his wife, and a beyy of pretty
daughters and nne-looking sons, accompanied
him. They were travelling for pleasure, ant
with all the accessories of wealth, therfore, it il
fair TO conclude that Joseph Herndon had pros
pered and grown rich They were joyous fam
| ily-party, whom curiosity had drawn, as it doe
so many others, annually, to visit the lndiaI
village and to drink the mineral waters at th,
Springs of Massenna, bard by. But while wifi
| and children visited the old church, and chattet
! with the good missionary priest, in his gardei
aud quaint old house, Joseph Herndon strollet
away along a we'll remembered lane, and over
we'll remembered threshold, that for many year
his feet had not crossed. a withered Indian wo
man met him there, 10 whom amidst her hideou
wrinkles, he recognized some likenesS TO th
mother of White Wave With trembling voic
he asked for tidings OF the pure, bright creatur