New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-04-07

| Chapter H.
Let us pass over the years of Monitta's
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 che was
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 hall, wild, half
civilized charm of novelty about her. And
so thought Edward Mentray, 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
"donitta, my love, come to my room; I
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 profered
request, however trivial. The Indian girl
worshiped her. and her smallest wish
wasa 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 creature nearly allied
to the Great Spirit whom she had taught her
to adore.
As Mrs. Bedford seated herself Monitta
/ glided to o low ottoman az her feet, laid her
=
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
your
This seemed to Monitta very like saori-
lege of the holy veneration mingled in her
love for her white mother; but she knew
not thought of disobedience to the beauti-
full white spirit she worshiped in her lady
mother
''Now, 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?n
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 glided from the arms
of her mother, sank upon the floor beside
her, and raised her eyes imploringly to her
face.
ooh! mother, I can not, can not. Your
child has listened to the love songs of her
! white brother until her heart is his. EexL
fall she viii be his wife. Then, my mother,
if the white wings of your spirit should
cease TO fan the heart Of your child she
would droop and die. Oh! do not send her
away. Mother, can nOtgo.n
30 God! my poor, poor child. I, who
love you so much, am to blame for this"
Howsthe head was erect, and the eyes
wore almost naughty In their proud flashes.
2 Does my lady mother deem her Indian
child unit to wed with her white brother
II 80, Monitta will put away the trappings of
the WhiteWoman, wrap the Indian blanket
once more about her, and go back to her
people, ever to pray for the white brother
| and mother she has left behind her.n'
"Monitta did I 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
drenl Oh, child of my love, would to God
/ that Edward Montray were half as true to
| yonl 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
The proud look was gone, and the light of
happy heart was again playing over the
II do not believe this, mothe; but this
night he shall tell me in your presence if it
i be true or not.n
"This is what was going to propose to
| you, my darling. Nowgo and dress. I wish
/ you to wear your black p0plin and scarlet
/ shawl, and your coral and pearl tiara, and
haze your hair brought in heavy folds across
the head, with full puffs covering the back.
1 will meet you in the parlor.p
As Monitta that evening entered the par
l Tor never had she looked so brilliantly beau
| tiful. And rs Mrs. Bedford gazed upon the
| strangely fascinating girl, with the Witchery
1 o. an impassloned, loving heart cast about
such glowing, natural beauty, she wondered
how man could prefer the appreciation Of
society ppon his marriage to happiness with
I such woman. And her heart was aching
I with an actual pain for the young girl she
loved 50 tenderly.
AZ Edward Montray looked upon Monitta
that evening, he excused his conduct by
deciding that mortal man could not resist
| such . creature.
tMonitta shallWe not have stroll in the
garden thia beautiful EVENING" l leave to.
morrow, and Il VIII be some days ere we
meet agaih.7
s,ln q halfh0ur 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 yoar promise to make me
your bride in tAo fall! Il Il not who
doubt you, but wish 20 have my mother
convinced
Mrs. Bedford fixed her ewes full upon him |
with Z look which sorely confused him.
well, really Monitta, this is q strange
way of trapping me 70 make love before |
another. would much prefer stalk with /
you IN the gardeu.n
This was haifearnest yet somewhat /
awkward attempt At pleasantly For be
could not be easy under the steady eve of /
Nm. Bedford
The whole aspect of Monitta was nov j
changed the form was erect the proud