Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-04-26
VOL. 71.-362S. NO. %.

towards the doorway, crowded by officers
and ladies, he gayly invited them 70 share
in this remarkable argument Which were
the most beautiful women in the world
As he spoke, the hour struck.
Twelve o'clock was there, and with it a
iootstep and then a bold Indian form came
urging through the crowd Of ladies. throng
ing yonder doorway.
Silently, his arms folded on his war blan-
ket, look Of calm stoicism on his dusky
brow, the Indian advanced along the room,
and stood at the head Of the table. There
was no lady with him
Where is she 2" at last gasped the cap
tain. She has refused 10 come Tell me
has any accident befallen her by the way
| know the forest is dark. and the wild path
most diilicut-tell me where is the lady
Tor whom ! sent You into the rebel lines 2"
For a moment, in the strange horror Of
that lovers face, the Indian was silent.
Then, as his answer seemed trembling ON
his lips. the ladies' in yondcr doorway, the of.
fcers from the ballroom ard the party
round the table formed q group around the
two central fgurcs-the Indian. his arms
folded In his war blanket that yosng officer
half rising from his scat, his lips parted,
his face ashy, his clenchcd hands resting on
the dark mahogany Of the table
The Indian answered hy an action then
by word
First the action. slowly drawing his
right hand from the war blanket, he held it
in the light That right hand clutched
with blood-staiued fingers bleeding scalp,
and long and glossy locks of beautiful dark
hair
Theu the word Young warrior sent the
redman for the scalp Of the pale-faccd squaw'
Here IL is 90
Yes, the rude savage had mistaken his
message Instead OF bringing the bride to
her lovers arms he had gone on his way
determined to bring the scalp of the victim
to the grasp Of her pale-face enemy.
Not even groau disturbed the silence of
that dreadful moment. Look there The
lover rises, presses that long hair-so black,
so glossy, SO beautiful TO his heart, and
then. as though huge weight, falling on
his brain, had crushed him, fell with one
dead sound on the hard floor
lie lay therc-stii, and pale, aud cold
his clenched right hand still clutching the
bloody scalp, and the long dark hair falling
in glossy tresses over the floor
This was his bridal eve
When the bridegroom, flung there on the
floor, with the bloody scalp and long dark
tresses in his hands, arose again to the ter
rihle consciousness of life, these words trem
bled from his lips, in faint and husky
whisper;
do you remember how, half an hou
ago-I stood thereby the table-silent
and pale, and horror-stricken while you al
| started up round me- asking me what horri,
| sight | saw Then, O then. beheld tn,
horrid scene-that home yonder 10y the IIud
son river, mounting to heaven in the smoke
/ and flames The red forms OF Indians go
/ ing TO and fro, amid flame and smoke
tomahawk and torch in hand There ami,
dead bodies and smoking embcrs, | behel,
her foun-my bride-ior whom | had sen
the messenger--kneeling pleading for mercy
even as the tomahawk crashed into he
| brain 20
As the horrid picture again came DER hi
! mind, he sunk senselcss again, still clutch
ing that terrible memorial the bloody scall
and long black hair