The evening Argus., 1870-02-26
THE
BRIDE OF DACOTAA.
A TALE OF THE DELAWARES.
CHAPTER /.

eicda beIhWdEe triDe, was hUOut 10 thhe UNIV
himself the loveliest forest flower OF all the
great Atlantic continent. SO beautiful was
she that the women and the warriors OF her
tribe had conferred upon her from esiiest
childhood the sobriquet of "Rosy Morn,
the only name BY when she was ever known.
The chieftsn had chosen her from all the
msideps of his tribe, and he loved her with
high and holy love.
On the evening preceding the day fixed
for the uuptials the tribe elect was surround
ed, as she stood by the camp fire, BY knot
of young and fair Indian girls, all regarding
her with interest and admiration, and some
perhaps with envy, very much after the
manner of Eurepean young ladies under the
same circumstances. The father OF Rosy
Morn hsd been slain while she was yet
child, In an encounter with hostile tribe.
Her mother loved her very tenderly, and
great was her pride to have brought her TO
this moment OF her life, when she was about
to become the bride Of one of the noblest
and most renowned Of the Delaware war
chiefs.
Rosy Mern WAS not more than sixteen
wears of age; but the early development OF
the Indian women had given her figure
carriage and presence which made her sp
pear considerably older. Her features were
exquisite, possessing that perfect regularity
tempered with delicacy which has been
seized by painters and scul ptors as the stand
ard of feminine beauty. That sweet face,
however, owed It's chief loveliAess to the
eyes-soft, dark, and iustorous, now flashing
with the fire of intelligence, now dropping
behind their long silken lashes-these were
indeed magnificent. Her hair, black as the
ravin's wing, fell to her waist in uuressraiu
ed freedom, throwing its luxuriant mantle
over the graceful lines of her figure.
In stature, Rosy Morn was tall, and
stra' ght as an arrow; but the elacticity OF
her form was apparent in every movement
of her symmetrical limbs. Her dress was
sufficiently tasteful and picturesque to merit
description. A tuuic OF beautifully prepar
ed moose skin fell from beneath the arm to
within a lit;le of the knee. This tunc was
80 elaborstsly embroidered that the soft
texture of the skin, species of chamois
leather, was only visible here and there, the
larger portion being covered with gaudily-
coloured beads and porcuplne quiils. Red
chiefly predcminsted in this ornamentation,
and the skirt of the tuniC terminated in q
fringe of small thickly arranged feathers, IN
alternate shades Of the richest scarlet and
black. Around the 1.-THE waist broad,
stiff belt, composed entirely of large beads,
fastened i'll front with an ivory clasp, and
forming in fact kind of bodice or corset
Into this was suntly thrust little ivory
handled poniard, which wid not eowever
look as if intended for mischief. From just
below the knee reached CATERS, also OF moose
and richly EN- broidered, and having little
tags of ivory in lieu Of buttons. These
were met at the shapelv ance BY moccasiu Us
E al hnoY tf,,1lu
namented-covering and protecting the
tiny feet. 1t had been the great
task and pride of Dacotah to trap rare birds
upon the distant hills, with the bright yer
million feathers of which he had caused
these moccasns to be trimmed, for he was
not a little proud of the feet of his betrothed
Such, then, was Rosy Nom, the betrothed
of Dacotah, a picture of savage beauty
sottened by natural intelligence and nobility
of character.
On the evening in question her radiant
face was lighted up with brilliant hopes and
joyful thoughts, for to the Indian maiden
marriage did not imply, as amongst our
selves, the separation from friends, old ties
and endeared associations. The regrets
which come to a bride amongst more civil
lied people were to those forest children un-
known. Marriage was only the uniou with
the object OF their love, In addition to the
pleasure of still living and moving amongst
the kindred that must ever be dear. Rosy
Morn, therefore. as she stood BY the camp
fire amongst the maidens of her tribe, wore
no other expression than that happiness
which brightens the eye and gives to the
cheek the true bloom of health.
1t had beeu arranged that the warriors and
hunters of the party, headed by Dacotah
were to go forth at daybreak on the follow
ing morning in search of an elk, with which
10 grace the wedding banquet The tall
muscular foru of the chief could be seen al
the door of his tent, conversing with some Of
his warriors, and arranging the order Of
things for the morrow. He was handsomely J
arrayed in tunic and leggings of dressed
hide, ornamented with colored quils and
feathers, and on his head was a magnificent
plume of eagles feathers, the symbol of his
authority, upheld by narrow thong OF
moose skin passing round the head. But 1t
needed no sign to proclaim him g chief: his
look, his bearing. showed it, and the author
ity OF his fne, bold eye, spoke more than all
the tradition Of his prowess which his tribe
nurtured for, though Dacotah was was stils
in the very earliest bIush'of manhood, be had
been a warrior from hs most youthful years,
and could count his battles by the score
AS the fame from the camp fre began to
wax low, and the long shadows of the trees
which it's red glare had thrown grew prodig
ious By reason of their indistinct outline,
Rosy Morn, shivering in the cold night air.
turned toward the wigwam. With a warm
ly exclaimed 'good night" to her lover, she
was soon lost to sight beneath the shelter OF
her tent, and the chief, watching her retreat
ing form, till she disappeared, went to his
lodge, there to mediate on and to dream o'
the love of the morn.
To be continued