The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1870-03-21
THE
BRIDE OF DACOTAH.
A TALE OF THE DELAWARES.

AS soon as his restless movements ceased
Dacotah arose from his recumbent posture
and with two noiseless steps gained the bed
side. Marking the spot whence the breath
ing came, he calcu lated, with Indian precs.
ion, the position of the heart He gazed
close down upon the face of Margold that he
might be sure of the featares, taking care
not to breathe lest he should excite attep.
ton. He raised the long, sharp, shining
steel, point downwards, over the desired
spot, so that it might find its place withou.
90 much as air's.breadth deviation High
above his head he held it, that the blow
might gather force in its descent Then. as
the arm fell, he Kissed into his victims ear
the one word, "Dacotah |" and his left hand,
suddenly laid on Margold's mouth, forbade
the escape of sound. 1t was needless
not groan, not q word, only the pierced
bosom gave q long. deep sigh, and the
strong frame shuddered beneath the shock
Of the terrible stroke. Dacotah pushed
back the curtain from the window, and the
moon shone straight upon the face of the
murdered man. The Delaware took it for
an omen of good-his prayer was answered !
And loI around the neck of his foe there
was q chain and to the chain was attached
Daeotah, and he lost no time in taking it
from the neck of the dead man; for he |
knew that this was the talisman at whose |
touch the iron grated door would yield. He |
was, however, very careful not to stain hir.
self with Margold's blood, which, indeed
until he drew his poniard from the wound
was not externally shed. Carefully remov
ing from the dagger all trace of the deed
Just accomplished, he replaced it in his belt
Controlling his haste, that he might not
awaken any other occupant OF the house, he
sought the chamber which held his be-
trothed. With what a beating heart did he
try the key in the great iron lock-slowly,
cautiously, turning it. But how was this
Was it not, after all, the right key? 1t
seemed to turn in the ward, certainly, and
the bolt, too, appeared to be shot back but
the door would not yield. In that moment,
stole though he was, Dacotah shed tears of
vexation and disappointment for already
the stars were beginning to look sickly and
pale, and a streak of the faintest red Just
marked the horizons line low down in the
far east. Must he then go back to the room
where he had left those ghsstly traces Of his
pssssge-resurn again, and by the wierd
moonlight search the belongings of the muir
dered man? Fl, was necessary it must be
should at once be brought to close. His
companions still awaited him in the forest.
aad had yet to do their portion of the work
The Indians muscular strength was well
known, and he esssyed. since he could not
open the door, to burst it il. He now found
that it was not the lock which held it, but
that a bolt had been drawn across it on the
inside. Ascertsining exactly the position
of this bolt, he passed his arm through the
grating, and gently pushed it back But
in so doing he made a slight noise, and
rustic from within told him that be had dis
turbed its inmate He advanced, however
into the room, fearing not bu. that the next
moment his betro,hed would be in his arms.
Reaching the bed, he stretched out his arms
to clasp her. 1t was strange ! they en-
countered nothing. The bed was empty,
but warm. He longed to whisper through
the darkness, " Rosy Moru, it is Decot.h,"
but prudence forbade it: he dared not vet
reveal his presence, lest another than his
betrothed should be there. Determined,
however, to unravel the mystery, he com
menced, with one hand feeling round the
wall OF the roem, while the other grass ped
his ponisrd ready to strike. Suddenly his
hand rested on what he at once reeog nized
as human form. It was but touch, and
now passed the angle of the little easement,
and the room was again dark. w hat would
he have given for one second of light To
have shown him whether it was or was not
Rosy Morn whom he had touched Then
he thought he could tell if il were her BY
her trappings, her beads, and her features.
Again cautiously advancing his hand he
tried to touch the form The moment his
touch encountered the object he felt short
sharp pain in his left side. Quick as light
ming, he caught in his iron grasp the wrist
which had dealt the blow. But he soon
loesened his hold, for he felt tina. it was
small and delicate, and he marvelled that so
puny frame should possess such great
courage. The hand struggled to free itself
lhat it might again use its weapon, and q
voice, which enen anger could not render
other than musical, Kissed out in the Indian
tongue, Beware pale facet"
Dscotah fel, not his wound. felt not mis-
anger. Well did he know that voice-"My
bride my sweetl., he whispered. "Oh my
love, have then found you ?"
Rosy Morn fell upon his neck, in mingled
JOY and fear and sorrow, and With thousand
kisses and food of tears, begged his for.
sivsness for the mistaken stab, and her ter
ror lest he Should be deeply injured was
intense. But the chief treasured her. He
had met steel in the battle and tusks in the
chase and he told her it was mere scratch
her little hand dealt him, He 5000 under
stood how che had in the darkness mistaken
him for Margold, the fear of whom was 80
great, that she had laid downwithout remov
ing her dress, only taking off from her weary
feet the little moccasihs which had done
Dsco,Ah such good service.
His heart bounding with JOY, the chief
took Rosy Morn up in his arms, and carried
her from the house, trusting the noiseless
ness of his own step thus laden. rather than
incur the sound of the double football AS he
passed the room where Margold lay, he could
not refrain from showing her the fate of
their arch enemy. 1t had been better for
Daco,ah and for Rosy Morn if she had never
looked upon the ghastly secret OF that room.
With hasty steps the Delaware bore his love-
iy burden out of the settlement without be
ing seen by single soul in it.
They we're not long IN gaining that part
Of the forest from which Dacotah had
emerged. Among the tree trunks and
brush~ood sill lay the six logs the black,
rough oaa logs; but, at sonnd from Da-
cotah, the ak logs became as many 1.-the,
tawney Deawares. 1t was the ambush par
ty, charged with the rescue of the other
Delaware maidens. Every one wore a belt
and a sharp knife, like Dacotah's, and one
had, in addition, flint, steel, aud finder
box.
Rosy Morn was soon able to give them
the desired Information with regard to her
companions in captivity. Ascending a
slight eminenent, she pointed out to them sew
erai different houses to which she knew they
had been taken. Her mind, quick and re-
tent've, had not lost the impression OF that
memorable morning.
Inc ambssh party set off at once upon
sn.ll mission, their movements being char
Ia,a ;H oy rapidi.y proportionste to theiI
~ mertness' for the day threatened to
Tn AZ. them, and time was very precious
ne eh'et and his hetrothed, fervently wish
lnV mem every success in their undertaking
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