National Republican., 1879-12-23
a BBOKEN HEART.
An Incident Connected with Indian Slavery
on the Pacific Coast.

From the ArgonautI
Many years ago it was a custom, quietly
conducted. for certain lawess white men to
60 among the Red River Indians and steal the
children of the tribe aud carry them away to
be sold rs slaves among families in other parts
of the State. have seen the poor creatures,
after thev had been driven like beasts before
their captOrs, with sore feet and sullen faces
sittingalone apparently hopeless and apathetic
But who shall say that beneath that stoid ex-
terror there was not human heart hot and
bitter from cruel wrongs endured?
Two lustrums have passed since one of
these raids resulted in the capture, among
others, of girl five or six years old. With
the characteristic of her race she possessed no
beauties to soften the hearts of beholders, but
as she promised sturdy Frame she was readily
disposed of to lawyer, who, in turn, pre-
sented her to his wife to be trained as maid
of-allwork. She received the name of Marie
and soou became neat and deft worker in
all household ways. can bear testimony to
the immaculate neatness of her kitchen, and
the snowy whiteness of the clothes that hung
ON wash day from her line, and also to the
quiet way in which all this labor was per-
| formed. knew Marie for many years, and
never heard her speak but once or twice in all
that time. Her face always wore the same
| look, and have often wondered whether she
thought at all. She went to no place, saw no
company, and year after year. with automatic
|
| As the years went by Marie grew to woman
| hood. but she developed to our eyes no new
beauty, and no new awakening of the facuti es
| and affections, and she stirred no new thoughts
on our part concerning her. As the village
where her owner lived enlarged it had the am
btion to possess an Episcopal church and a
| curate. The man sent to this place was u
gentle, charitable character who strove TO
make his people better, and worked faithful lly
among his charge, always giving them the
| light of a true life and earnest purpose to help
them into better paths. This man had an In
dian in his employ whom he strove to en-
tighten. Pedro, like all his race, was not easily
Impressed, and if things touched the deep places
of his nature no outward sign betrayed the
workings within. 1t happened, If things ever
| happen in this world, that Pedro and Marie
met, and, though no one ever knew how they
soon developed into intimacy This intimacy
in time became love, and they planned to marry
and pass through the world together.
Marie was so much slave that she had o
idea of leaving her mistress, or organizing II
home of her own, without that mistress CON
| sent. 1t will. never be known what men tai
struggles she passed through before she told
her desires aud asked permission TO wed Pedro.
No doubt astonshment was the first feeling
her story aroused, but soon Indignation ap-
peared. Poor Marie She was good servant
she saved dainty hands from disagreeabe
| tasks, and the loss of her meant many dis
agreeable things. She must not marry, and SC
she was told that she could not be given up
Not muscle moved as she heard the decision
but she seemed to quietly submit and went
about her work as usual Ii she suffered as
her white sisters suffer it was never known
and IL the little chamber in the attic she
called her own was witness of hearts anguish
and remuneration IL never told the story. The
mistress TejOiced that Maries nonsense had
passed away, and she was in no danger o
losing her efficient handmaden.
But one morning she did not come down tC
her tasks, and the mistress crept up the mar
row stairway TO ascertain why her repeated
calls were not answered. The room was neal
and orderly, aud on the bed Marie lay-dead.
Beside her was the knife with which she had
taken her own life. She lay as If asleep, show
ing even in death the trace of the deep despair
that must have nerved her for the awful deed
Some compunctOus STRINGS moved the hearts
of those who had caused this bondwOman e
seek release from her woes but the prnci
pal feeling was regret that well-trained ser
want had slipped from their grasp forever
Marie was buried an alien in strange ground
with no tears for her lost life and no prayer
, for her peace. God pity the soul that surely
was touched with human intrmities aud glte'
, with immortality. A broad board marks hel
sleeping place, with but one word painted
quantity upon it-Marie.