The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1870-03-26
THE
BRIDE OF DACOTAH.
A TALE OF THE DELAWARES.

Coopers Falls with the news of the terrible
mishap. They therefore struck the forest at
n noint close TO the buffalo track, with the
intention of taking this short though moon
yenient route. They had not proceeded far
upou their way, when dog of the party
(simisr in breed to the one Dacotah had
killed, returning from o short foraging ex-
petition into a neighbouring thicket, seized
its master by the skirt of his blouse, and
drew him to the spot whence it had lust
emerged. Other members of the party fol.
lowed, interested by this strange conduct,
and the scene which presented itself reward.
ed their curiousity.
Half sitting half reclining, besides the
gnarled trunk of an ancient tree, was Rosy
Morn. Her head was resting upon her hand
In lieu ola pillow, and her attitude was
rather that of wakefulness and watching !;
but the closed eyes, the gentle, regular hsav-
ing OF the bosom, the sweet placid smile on
her countenance, proclaimed her to be sleep
ing. Btsstul as her dreams apparently
were rough hands soon stsrtled her from
them. She awoke with shudder and CLAN
ced towards the tree beneath which she had
left Dacotah sleeping, and that glance sui
feed to show her that escape was hopeless
Poor girl what anguish was hers! But FOR
the neglect OF her task this could not have
taken place. Why had she persuaded him
to rest !? why had she taken upon herself to
keep guard and having done so, why had
she allowed her feebleuess to overcome the
stern, ell important necessity of her duty
But her proud nature would no, give the
pale faces the triumph of witnessing her
grief. Not q tear escaped her; but in that
little heart there was sorrow deeper, greater
than pen can express or sympathy imagine.
Almost before he was awake, he was seized
by two powerful men, his arms and legs
piuioned, and himself prisoner in the hands
of the traders. Resistance was useless, for
the traders were well armed, ana :hey were
not spsring of rough usage to him either;
for the scene they had lately witnessed had
not improved their temper. With Rosy
Morn. however, they were more gentle but
they took care so TO secure her that escape
should be impossible for, from the blood
upon his dress, and her extreme beauty,
they doubted not that they should find the
nurderers Of Margold and also the band
who had fired the settlement. They there.
fore determined to take them on 70 Coop
er's Falls, that an investigation might be
made.
Coopers Falls was place of some i'm
portauce, for from its position upon the
bank of large uagivable river it had be
come depot for all kind of produce, aud
lucrative transactions were carried Oh there
in hides hence 1t had atolerably numerous
and respectable population, and could boast
OF a court of Justice, several clergymen,
an organized system of promoting law and
religion, In accordance with the Institutions
of the mother country Being also amongst
the earliest Of the settlements, the inhabit
ants had not for long time been troubled
with the attacks of Indians, who had now
retired from their i'm mediate neighborhood
The rancorous feeling that also existed
IN smaller and more remote com
munlties was not felt here: for it generally
happens that direct personal in ury is requIr.
ed IN order to raise a deep and earnestresent-
ment. The Deawares would therefore be
put upon trial in regular form, and Justice
would be done TO them, even though the
popular feeling might be against them. In
any case they could not be in danger of
being lynched, or sacrificed to public fury.
as would probably have been the case in g
smaller and more recently formed settle
ment.
Impelled by the desire of impsrting their
intelligence, and anxious to deliver their
prisoners to the guard Isuship Of the author
tiles, the traders mad their Journey with
great rapldity. On the way the Delawsres
entered freely into conversation with their
captors but although many attempts were
made TO elicit from them some confession OK
the crime OF which they were accused, they
were entirely silent upon the subject. Rosy
Morn, by her great beauty, amlabilty and
modest demeanor, was a great favorite with
the rough traders, and they treated their
prisoners kindly enough up TO their arrival
at Cooper's Falls.
The whole com munltv was thrown into a
state Of intense excitement by the news
which the traders brought, and the grea test
possl bic care was taken OF the two prisoners.
1t was decided that Dacotah should be put
upon his trIs! for the murder of Msrgold,
the evidence, as reported TO the Judge,
clearly pointing to him as the assassin 4
day being fixed, the Delaware was placed
al the bar of the Coopers Fall Court House.
and formally indicted for the villful murder
OF Jonas Msrgold. Witnesses arrived from
the late settlement and narrated the events
referring to the abduction OF the Indian girl
from the encampment during the absence OF
the warriors at q hunt and the old negress,
Margolds servant, deposed that the Della
ware girl was imprisoned in her late mas
ters house on the night of his death. The
e n mus for the crime was considered to be
sufficiently established against the prisoner.
Then as to the crime itself there we're sew
eral witnesses who had seen the body of
Margold Oh the morning after the fire, and
who could depose to the condition in which
it was proving beyond doubt that the de
rs ADD onp pd mi at death nv vIniput
means. The party who had discovered
them in the fores, spoke of the blood upon
Dacotah's dress, snS this point was strongly
dwelt upon by his accuser,.
When challenged respecting the crime
through al interpreter, the chief, with gu
coantenance, threw back his tunlc
Ind disclosed the wounds IN his side, bid
ding those present pronounce whether the
blood upon his trappings was that OF red
Or white man. The wound, he said, had
been but freshly made in an encounter with
Indians hostile to his tribe. Nhsr could /
gaiusay him? This wound not only ac-
counted for the state OF his robes, but it was |
= strong proof OF an abb. 1t was not put /
forward as possible that be could have re-
ceIVed 1t ID anY struggle with Margoid. In
the hrst place 1t had been made with much |
smaller weapon than that by which Margoid |
had been pierced Secondly, there was q
loaded pistol lying by the side of the dead
man, which he had evidently not had time
TO use for his defence 1t was highly i'm
probable then that he could have used u /
knife, even had one been found In the room /
Or near the bed Thirdly. the position of
he body showed that no struggle could have
.aken place, but that the blow must have
been struck while Margold was asleep. The
accusation therefore fell to the ground I'm
less some witness could be found who had
seen Dacotah within the settlement on the
night IN question. But no such testimony
was forthcoming. The old negress was re-
called, but abe at once admitted her ignor
ance OF the affair. 1t was clear then that
unless this important point connecting him
with the scene of the murder at the time of
Its occurrence, could be proved, the prisoner