New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-04-05

| Chapter II.
Let It's pass over the years Of Molitta 5
girlhood, only lingering to say that no care
or expense was spared by the Bedfords 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 she 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,
and 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; 1
wish to talk with you.r
A smile of loving tenderness played over
the young girls features as she bowed as
sent. A 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 a 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 a 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; / wish to feel your
head pillowed on my heart while talk with
you.n
This seemed to Monitta very like a sacri.
lege of the holy veneration mingled in her
love for her white mother; but she knew
not a thought of disobedience to the beauti.
full white spirit she worshiped in her lady
mother
''Eow, Monitta, have you forgotten the
promise gave your dead mother to return
you to yeur people, to teach them of the
Great Spirit who is to save their soulsgn
The light of gladness went out from the
young girls eye, and like astricken bird the
pinioDs of her spirit fell heavy and dead
about her heart She glided from the arms
of her mother, sank upon the floor beside
her, and raised her eyes imploringly to her
face.
ooh! mother, can not, can not. Your
child has listened 70 the love songs of her
white brother until her heart is his. Next
fall abe viii be his wife. Then, my mother,
n inc wnlJe wings or your spirit should
cease to fan the heart of your child she
would dFoOp and die. OH do not send her
away, Mother, can notgo."
20 Godi my poor, poor child. ], who
loVe you so much, am TO blame for this.s
Now the head was erect, and the eyes
were almost naughty In their proud flashes.
Dees my lady mother deem her Indian
child unit to wed with her white brother ?
II %. .M0nitta viii put away the trappings of
the white woman, wrap the Indian blanket
once more about her, and go back to her
People, ever 70 pray fol-. the white brother
and mother she has left behind herr
Monitta, did think this, would Won
have been folded to my heart but moment
ago would you have won from me a love
greater than that / bear for my oWn chill
dreny Oh child Of my love, would to God
that Edward Montray were half as true 10
ypus II is through him that tFemble Tor
you. fear that you have given your pure
love 70 one who knows not how to value
hesrt snd mind above the conventionslities
Of the wofid.p
The proud look was gone, and the light Of
2 happy heart was again playing over the
~ do not believe this, moths; but this
night he shall tell me in your presence If it
be true or not.n
ssThis d what I was going to propose "a
you, my darling, Now 90 and dress. / wish
geu to wear your black popin and scarlet
shawl, and y0ur coral and pearl tiara. and
have y0rr hair brought in heavy fold & across
slle head, With full puts covering the back,
] Nll meet yea In the parlor."
A. HoaitlA that evening entered the par
tef acseH had she looked SO brilliantly beau.
t.lai 4nd e Mrs. Bedford gazed upon the
An1Asg fascinating girl, with the Witchery
g - iAsss.l9nod, loving heart cast about
sqcA a natllrnl beauty. she wondered
new MAa r TRgfsar the APPRECIATION Of
sqr5eay assqa tfssae "a happiness with
auch Won ANa h6r heart WAS aching
ei.s. ~ seAAeA A'aA iag ilI9 young girl she
~ Eawara o6kaa upon MpnitAa
tg& eqenkng Ne Als nn1 iIsge5 -
&ealding that meHtal Ha tofld rrs rs.sisf
64c creature
ssfia sfal1 W. not have = 1l1sl. - Il.
z4Ea4e ia hoahlfal ef1nInel ie1s5 Is.
al1fl It vii BE- SONS da1s 80 Sc
4e eur we may ha44 aafs
tAtQs 81 g f5eQ, bat frst wish yea =
,e's iae q a4l fsseaca of my mother 81 saIs
nt4n . l4l4 tQa4 nroniao 10 make tsa
your bride IA "a fils II 10 not va
qsaos go NFt WAN y have my mothez
Mrs. Bedford ANa8 aaf Srne fun anon him
wish look whleh ani alas6d kI6n.
well, really M0nilta. 1Als Il a sfrAuee
waY * trAppinR lne % mere love hsfrFa
oltqE. would rucA nIaIl iaIk With
"a 1Aa aaFdaN
m s s haIfeafnc1l vet ..1is.='s.E
attempt 81 pleasantly
p esq una%f he 4'eEd - &
pect Of Monisla va nS4
I'm Was erect the eset