New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-04-09
Chapter H.

Leu US pass ON6l luC years vi hAOAllLd .
girlhood, only lingering to say that no care
or expense was spared by the Bedtords to
educate and exalt her. And well she repaid
them, for at the age of eighteen she was a
woman of rare requirements as well as
grace, and halfwild, halfcivilized beauty.
The gazelle is brown and very beautiful in
the softness and clearness of its color and
the natural grace of its delicate form, and
so was Monitta, only more beautiful than the
gazelle as the light of the soul broke
through her black eyes and flushed the
rich olive cheeks with its varied passions.
All, yes, MOnitta was very beautiful, and
almost irresistible with that halfwild, half
civilized charm of novelty about her. And
SO thought Edward MOntray, whose visits
had become almost daily.
Mrs. Bedford loved the child Of her adop.
ton devotedly; nay the child had cast the
witchery of her strange power so entirely
over her that she felt that it would be al
most impossible to live without her, and
her heart had been pleading so strongly to
keep her that it had been two years since
she had spoken to her of her mission among
her people. And now that sic marked the
growing attentions of Edward Montray, and
that the young girls eye frightened at his
coming and saddened in his absence, her
heart was anxious for the child of her love,
AMI her conscience troubled her for listen.
ing TO the pleadings of her heart rather
than the voice of duty.
"Monitta, my love, come to my room;
wish to talk with you.n
smile OF loving tenderness played over
the young girls features as she bowed as
sent. smile that ever lit up the dark
olive face when Mrs. Bedford proffered a
request, however trivial. The Indian girl
worshiped her, and her smallest wish
was a delight. Monitta had all the vivid
imagery Natural to her race, which seemed
intensified by education, but in point of
fact had only found channel of expression,
and in her passionate heart had enshrined
her benefactress as a creature nearly allied
to the Great Spirit whom she had taught her
to adore.
As Mrs. Bedford seated herself Monitta
glided to low ottoman al her feet, laid her
hand over on her lap, and raised her great
liquid eyes beaming with love up to her
face. Mrs. Bedford clasped the brown hand,
and raised the young girl to her feet. MY
child come to my arms; l wish to feel your
head pillowed on my heart while talk with
you"
This seemed to Monitta very like a sacri.
lego of the holy veneration mingled in her
love for her white mother; but she knew
not a thought of disObedienoe to the beauti.
full white spirit she worshiped in her lady
mother
Snow, Monitta, have you forgotten the
promise gave your dead mother to return
you to your people, to teach them of the
Great Spirit who is to save their souls?"
The light of gladness went out from the
young girls eye, and like stricken bird the
pinions of her spirit fell heavy and dead
about her heart. She gided from the arms
of her mother, sank upon the floor beside
her, and raised her eyes imploringly to her
face
ooh! mother, can not, I can not. Your
child has listened to the love songs of her
white brother until her heart Is his. Next
fall she win be his wife. Then, my mother,
II inc WhlIe wings Ol SouI spIlI ellOulu
cease to fan the heart of your child she
would droOp and die. Oh! do not send her
away. Mother, can not CO."
80 God! my poor, poor child. /, who
love you so much, AM to blame for this"
Now the head was erect and tho eyes
were almost naughty in their proud flashes.
"DOes my lady mother deem her Indian
child unfit to wed with her white brother?
II so, Monitta will put away the trappngs OF
the white women, wrap the Indian blanket
once more about her, and go back to her
people, ever to pray for the white brother
aud mother she has left behind her."
"MOnitta, did | think this, would you
have been folded to my heart but moment
ago +? would you have won from me love
greater than that bear for my own chill
dren? Oh, child of my love, would to God
that Edward Montray were half as true to
you 1t Is through him that tremble for
YOU fear that you have given your pure
love to one who knows not how to value
heart and mind above the conventionalities
of the world"
The proud look was gone, and the light of
a happy heart was again playing over the
olive face.
al do not believe this, mother; but this
night he shall tell me in your presence if it
be true or uot.n
"This is what l was going to propose to
you, my darling. Now go and dress. wish
you W WtuA yOuE bidth DuDllu anu HGdE ttl
shawl, and your coral aud pearl tiara, aud
have your hair brought ia heavy folds across
the head, with full puffs covering the back.
l will meet you in the parlOr.n
As Monitta that evening entered the par
Tor never had she looked so brilliantly beau
tiful. And MS Mrs. Bedford gazed upon the
strangely fascinating girl, with the Witchery
of an impassioned, loving heart cast about
such glowing, natural beauty, she wondered
how man could prefer the appreciation Of
snciety upon his marriage to happiness with
such a woman. Aud her heart was aching
with an actual pain for the young girl she
loved so tenderly.
As Edward MOntray looked upon Monitta
that evening, he excused his conduct by
deciding that mortal man could not resist
such creature.
"Mouitta shall We not have a stroll In the
garden this beautiful evening? l leave to.
morrow, and it will be some days ere We
meet again.n
''In halfhour we may have a walk
through the garden, but first | wish you to
tell me in the presence of my mother if you
mean to fulfill your promise to make me
your bride in the fall 1t Is not | who
doubt you, but wish to have my mother
CONVINCED"
Mrs Bedford fixed her eyes full upon him
with look which sorely confused him.
swell, really. Monitta, this is strange
way of trapping me to make love before
another. | you'd much prefer u talk with
you in the garden.n
This was halEearnest yet somewhat
awkward attempt at pleasantly. For be
could not be easy under the steady eye OF
Mrs. Bedford.
The whole aspect OF Monista was now
chAngedi the form was erect, the proud