The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1870-04-02
THE
BRIDE OF DACOTAh.
A TALE OF THE DELAWARES.

On the morning ofthe funeral Rosy Morn
was sitting working as usual ut the osler
baskets, when she preeeived from the spot
to which her eyes were continually wander
ing, the solemn and picturesque procession
pass out, and her gaze, sharpened by love,
detected at once The PROSTATE, twany form,
in the tranquil statehness of death. Des
pair and anxiety threatened to stihe her
With feet swift as the bounding deer she
decended the hill side, till, breathless and
eager, she stood BY the bier wherein the
corpse was laid.
At the approach of her for whose sake he
was said TO have died the people composing
the train fell back. There was that in the
Indian girls face which forbade denial
There they were, the two that had indeed so
nobly shown what it means to be faithful
unto death. She fell upon the corpse, her
bosom rested upon the broad and manly
breast, her arms wound about the form
whose emsciation was 30 painfully apparent,
all her soul concentrated in the long KISS
that she pressed upon those silent lips and
her Imagination, as she gszed, fashioned tne
features of Dacotah into smile. AS thus
she lay absorbed in the indulgence OF her
grief, they hesitated TO disturb her. Al
last, with 8 gentle hand, the elder OF the
party, Az old and reverend clergyman, raised
her. so that the procession might 60 on its
way.
Words cannot express the look where
with Rosy Morn flung herselfupon her knees
at the feet of the old man, and pointed to
the corpse and then to herself with . mean
ing too plain to be misconstructed. Her
request evidently was that they should give
back to her the lifetime body of the chief
tain, whom they had taken from her in the
vigour and bloom of health but three short
years before. Startling indeed was the re
quest, and at first they declared it to be
impossible. 1t seemed unwise, unnatural to
give up the body to the young creature. What
could she do with it )? Her strength would
hardly anable her to bury it. Perhaps it
WAS her intention to resort to some simble
process enbslming it. IF this was her in
tention, it was worthy of their holy love. As
the minds of the bYstsnders formed this
idea, the justice ofthe case came more for,
chilly upon them. II was but REASONABLE
that TO her, his betrothed, all that remained
of him should be restored.
After some conference among themselves,
the settlers determined that her request
should be complied with, and asked her to
what spot she would have the body borne.
She pointed to her dwelling upon the hill,
so they carried it thither, and laid it, with
reverentlsl hands, within the hut As they
departed and left her alone with her be-
loved, her grief returned in ten fold violence
The pride that strove 10 restrain its vehe
mence before the hated pale faces was now
gone, and her thoughts returned to the past
She saw herself again IN fancy Joyous
careless pet amongst her own people
again she felt the warm touch of hel
mothers lips upon her fore head the kiss Of
sweet, natural affection again she behelC
herself seated with her in the midst of o
little knot of the warriors of her tribe, sing
to them plsinsive melody to the musics
accents OF her people. No more would
those accents come from her lips; no more
would the returning hunters hasten to the
camp tire, drawn by the silver tones of her
music. And again, upon the morning that
was to have hailed her Dacotah's bride. she
saw herself meeting him as he came from
his tent, glowing with happiness and pride.
deeked in his brightes. robes. And now,
behold the bridegroom elect! Oh that
glorious form, 10 what a shadow has ii
come! She could not look upon those
!ineaments and vet forbear TO clasp them
She took the cold hand in her own, she laid
her check close to his she needed not
death.
Under the influence of such love- beneath
the genial warmth of such an embrace, the
eyes OF Dscotah partially opened. und q
smile fitted over his features. With awful
surprise and fear Rosy Morn beheld this
and watched with the most intense anxiety
for what should follow. She laid her fever
ish hand over his heart, and felt throb, s,
slightly perceptiblc, as to make her doubt /
1t were more than imagination. But all bel
dearest hopes had now been awakened
Bending over him again and again, sh,
pressed his cold form to her till it had &C
quired some little warmth. Her efforts wer,
rewsrded-he heaved deep sigh, and, il
feeble tones, murmured her name. Oh, 10Y
this was not death then; it was but the mast
of death, assumed to render falrer the Clio
rious future of life that lay beneath; or wa,
It, perchance, false delicious dream, TEN pit
ing her eager hopes with its Illusions, as with
a mirage. only to vanish the more cruelty
and smite her the more heavily with disap-
pointment? The thought was terrible. Ia
fresh alarm she looked earnestly at the face,
praying that the smile might return, and the
eyes opcut hnu WIG Ape phIsJ W ASSURE ueI
OF the sweet reality. Fear not, gentle maid
en---she spark is there; it remains but for
your care TO bring it back into flame.
Like most Indian women, Rosy Morn
knew something Of medicine. Near to her
abode was a spring, where grew herb Of
peculiar virtue as a ssimplant and often used
as such by the Indians. Taking some of the
leaves of this plant, she infused them in 9
l.t,la EsE fal ha,
fire. OF this infusion she made Dacotaf
drink little, ere long, she had the satisfac
ton of seeing life return to his cheek. He knew
her, and, in feeble voice, spoke two Oh
three endearing words, and seemed surprised
tina, she replied not to him; but when she
laid her hand upon her lips, ond shook her
head, his smile somewhat relaxed, though
the warm pressure of his arm around hel
waist frightened, and a sigh mingled with the
kiss that passed between them.
Who shall describe the delight of that
waking? 1t was as though he had passed
the gates of death, and entered Paradise,
where his love stood waiting to receive him,
and to welcome him. The sweet vision was
too bright; his feebleness needed the re-
freshing influence of slum Der /; and, with his
head upon her shoulder, the chief sank into
a gentle sleep.
This time the maiden feared not his tran
guilty, needed not his ba,ed brealn. She
was rejoiced to see him sleeping; it was the
surest hsrbinger of his recovery. With
grateful feelings she watched him as he
slept and beheld the hue of life stealing in.
to his cheek. Suddenly thought struck
her. What if the paefaces should come
and find Dacotah yet living? Would they
not take him from her again, stung to anger
BY the idea that he had cheated them by sa
Stunning death? Love is very far sighted for
preparation or protection Rosy Morn saw
the fresh danger to which her beloved was
exposed, and she felt that no time was to be
ios' IN obviating it. Gently disengsging
ms head from her shoulder. she laid it upon
pno~, and without awakening Dacotah,
s.oie rom the hut. 1t was not long before
sne mad collected from the adjacent under
growth large quantity of wood. which ,hs