Connecticut western news., 1876-03-31

there, more like @ dead man suddenly recalled to life than living being. d.
 That moment passed, he sat down with cold shiver i; made strong effort as if to command his reason; and then gave utterance to a forced laugh. -
 "Ha, hal See how I've frightened you l'' he said-and then laughed that cold, unnatural, hollow laugh again. " 4 But now he turned from one comrade to another, uttering some forced jest, or looking towards the doorway, crowded by officers and ladies, he gayly invited them to share in this remarkable argu- ment: Which were the most beautiful women in the world2 .. 3- .. -.-t | As he spoke, the hour struck.
 1 Twelve o'clock was there, and with it 8 footstep,, and then bold Indian form came urging through the crowd of ladies, thronging yonder doorway.
 Silently, his arms folded on his war blanket, 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 l ... t'Where is she ?' at last gasped the captain. "She has notrefused to come Tell me-has any accident befallen her by the way2 I know the forest is dark, and the wild path most dificult-tell me where is the lady for whom sent you into the rebel ines2"
 For moment, as the strange horror 1 of that lover's face was before him, the Indian was silent. Then as his answer seemed trembling on his lips, the ladies in yonder doorway, the officers from the ballroom, and the party round the table, formed 8 group around the two central fgures-the Indian, standing at the head of the table, his arms folded in his war blanket-that young officer, half rising from his seat, his lips parted, his face ashy, his clenched hands resting on the dark mahogany of the table. |, ..
 The Indian answered by an action, then by word. ..... .".- j..' .' .-s.+
 First the action: Slowly drawing his right hand from his war blanket, he held it in the light. That right hand clutched with blood stained fingers a bleeding scalp, and long and glossy locks of beautiful dark hairl q - Then the word: "Young warrior sent the red man for the scalp of the pale faced squawl Here it is r
 Yes-the rude savage had mistaken his messagel Instead of bringing the bride to her lover's 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 groan 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 8 huge weight, falling on his brain, had crushed him, fell with one dead sound on the hard floor. . .'''
 He lay there-stiff, and pale, and 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 terrible consciousness of life, these words trembled from his lips, in 8 faint and husky whisper: ... ..'.-
 "Do you remember how, half an hour ago-I stood thereby the table-silent, and pale, and horror r-stricken-while you all started up round me, asking me what horrid sight I saw? Then, oh, then, I beheld the horrid scene-that home, yonder by the Hudson river, mounting to heaven in the smoke and flames The red forms of Indians going to and fro, amid flame and smoke tomahawk and torch in hand There, amid dead bodies and smoking embers, I beheld her fornl-my bride-for whom I had sent the messenger -kneeling, pleading for mercy, even as the toma- hawk crashed into her brain !''
 As the horrid picture again came o'er his mind, he sunk senseless again, still clutching that terrible memorial-the bloody scalp and long black hair