The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1869-02-27

oar laws when welded you, but hoped that
O.hkosA wonl1 sutlivs myself. or that Minnie
nieht not b ehildless. Oh, hoped much, fol
I could nst believe that fate ever would be sc
ere Bat hsve besn mistaken"
"Re6 wsuld not kiln Minnies"
"No che shall hvs."
"And yourselfY"
"Horrsosu, look at that feecy cloud which
arises from the water ~ it rushes over yonde,
falls. The river 10 mad. 1t sees gulf before
it, and dashes forward, plugging over that gulf
The vspor which arises is the waters spirit. Sc
Il viii be With poor Pepin. II her madness she
will rush hsadlsng into the yawning chasm
which opens TO receive her; hut her misty eeul
will sriAe and float away to the spirit-land. Per-
ps yeu will watch it, fight there, and then
follow it, Horriconi"
Whom Pepin began this speech, her manner
was wild in the extreme, but she gradually be-
came moro subdned in her tones and Is she fin.
ished, she folded her arms across her bosom,
spoke in = whisper, and turned her dark ewes
toward Heaven, while tears glistens1 in them
She was perfect picture Of forest loneliness.
The husband did not reply for some moments
but he stood with his eye. fxep upon her. while
his own expression was half of pity aud half of
reproach. But after time he asked
"Would Pepin bring dishouor on her h-sbsnd9
our laws has broken them Would she have it
said that wOmans tears have made woman of
HorrioonP Shall it be said, too, that the wife
OF the chief shrank from her duty?"
This appeal was powerful one, and it had
its effect
The woman arose, and gradually became calm,
although deadly paleness had settled upon her
face. But she approached Der husband, and
winding her arms around his neck and resting
her head upon his bosom. she said:
Twill not Horizon forgive the momentary
weakness of Pepin I"
"Yes-yes," was the kind response.
"She will do her duty-she will weep no
more"
$50 will she be worthy of love. Now go and
bring Minneapolis hsher.'
The wife departed to obey the command bu.
her -tep was unsteady 1t was evident it re-
quired an effort on her part even to stand erect.
In snort time she returned to the lodge in
company with Minnie.
The wife Of the fallen chief had scarcely left
her own lodge since the death of her husband
She wns now scarcely less pale than Pepin and
she appeared greatly apitated.
The chief did not even look upon her, but he
asked:
Has Minneapolis thought of our laws? ?"
eyes," was the faint reply.
And she knows her duty"
"Yss."
Enough. will assemble nv braves at oncc."
HUrricOn left his lodge, and the wife and widow
were alone
For a few moments the two women regarded
each other in silence, and then Minnie asked:
"Pepin, do you love your husband?"
"Bstter than life" was the answer
"You do not wish that any other should share
his love in this world 7"
II do not"
"Do you believe that those who share our loves
in this world will be the same to US in the spirit
land ?"
"Yes, Minnie, l think so.''
''Then, whose wife will | be after nv BODY
dies I"
with two husbands cannot tell"
Il would be only the wife of Oshkosh"
"Aua only the wife OF Horizon"
elbow, then, can this marriage be prevented"
As Minnie spoke she turr ed her eyes from the
mist as it rolled up from the falls. A thought
appeared vt oace to enter her mind, and throwing
her arms aronud the wife, abe embraced her ten
Derby and said
do not fear, Pepin. wish to Join my hus.
band. The road is short. Look I"
She pointed toward the roarlng cataract.
"Come, come y cried Pepin. pointing to q
crowd OF braves who were approaching. "See--
they come to witness oar marriage. They shall
look upon our death"
''You would not die Pepinf"
eyes; and with you."
one: live for your husband
ono; if die now he will follow mo- Then
! shall have him, and only him, in the spi-it.
land Come, we will go together"
Hand-in-hand the two women started forward,
running with all their speed toward the river.
The chief and his approaching braves did not
appear at FIRST to comprehend the meaning of
This, and they stood still, silently watching
them.
But in few moments Horizon began to sus.
pect the object of the runners, and he started
after them, followed by nearly the entire :ribe
The women reached the river together and,
leaping into canoe one of them seized the oar,
and the little craft shot out toward the centre of
the river, which was soon reached
Then they began TO sing their death-sopg, az
slowly the canoe foated down toward the roar
ing falls
Soon the canoe reached the verge Of the cata.
ract The death-seskers stoed erect. aud their
song rang out, wild and mournful, even above
the thunders of the water. Then the fearful
leap was made, and down the boat plunged, bear
ing its human freight to death beneath those
boiling pillows, while cry of horror burst from
the lips of those who were standing upon the
banks, witnesses Of the terrible scene.
a When the husband saw the intention Of his
wife and Minnie, he sprang into q second canoe
and followed after them But he was too late ts
save them, or even himself, for he had proceeded
40 far that his boat was in the midst Of the rap
ids, and was being drawn swiftly onward I'M
memeDt more the yonng chief had Joined those
who had preceded him-joined them in tho .pir-
it.~ ord; the same foam the shroud of each the
same thunders their funeral dirge, and the
same sheet Of falling water their everlasting