Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1881-07-19
THE BLUE DOVE.

| luna trlDe, 1ne race Ol Tcu llen WIN
| dwelt near the base of the famed ''iron
mountain" in what is now the State of
Missouri. Surrounded by all that could
render the wilderness attractive, and in
heriting proud recollections of victori-
GUS contests with the tribes around them,
they werein the ascendency at the grand
council-fres of the united tribes. Nor
was there, in the white alliance of the
Missourians, a more beautiful maiden
than the Blue Dove, whose voice was
music to the decaying spirit of the War
Eagle, her father and the chieftain of the
tribe. As she brought him bowls of
hominy,..or put on his WORCESTERSHIRE
work of her own hands-a light would
come into the GOODNESS of the old war
rior's eye, and her glances were the sun
Of his thoughts, the light of his rejoic-
ing
The corn, encased in it's bright green
husks, simmered in the large earthen
pots, over smouldering fires, and the re-
ioicings in honor of the harvest were
about to commence. But the Blue
Dove, usually the gayest of the attend
ant maidens, was sad. Occasionally she
would leave the fire under her charge
and walk to the edge of cliff upon
which the tribe celebrated it's rites, as if
watching for some absent one, but she
could discover no form among the hunt
ers, who were returning laden with spoil,
that brought smile to her olive cheeks.
''The Blue Dove is sad" said her
mother. "Does she wait the coming of
the adopted warrior p
'The Blue Dove will not abide in the
buzzards nest said the Arrow Head,
who was her brother and the heir pre-
sumptive to the craftsmanship. He was
a cruel man with tattooed face, over
which the shadows OF his evil passions
| passed like clouds over the windows of
the stormy heaven, while his wrath,
once excited, ragged like an undying
pestilence.
Among the objects of his hatred was
the Hunter, young warrior whom he
had taken prisoner in foray against
the Kansas, and whose dying agonies
he had hoped to enjoy. But just as the
young man had been bound to the stake
a widow, whose only son had been slain
in the expedition, came forward and
claimed her privilege of adopting the
prisoner. There was no appeal, but
| from that time the wrath of the Arrow
Head to the Hunter was inextinguisha-
ble Nay, when in subsequent Skin,
mish with the Kaskaskias, the valiant
Hunter saved the life of his former
conqueror, it only added fuel to the
fame. The chance of defeat and the
thirst of revenge gnawed into the heart
of the young chief like vultures, for he
would rather have fallen beneath the
war club of his foe, than to have owed
his'life to the valor of his old captive.
Yet with every member of his tribe
the Hunter was a favorite. No one re-
turned from the chase with more grace,
and when at last his valor gave him the
right to recount his adventures at thu
counsel-tires, his unassuming manners
gained for him the friendship of all, ant
called forth the most generous feelings
from the ruthless warriors. Soon it be
came evident that he had made favor
able impression upon the beloved Blue
Dove, and the old gossips hoped that hi
suit would be reciprocated. In his hear
there was no doubt. The Blue Dove
was untutored in those arts which re
finement has adopted to conceal TIT
widest passions of the soul, and as silt
accepted his carefully -dressed skins, o
gay feathers, she gave him evidence O
an ardent attachment, which no artitice
could have heightened.
Meanwhile the evening star rose slow
ly up over the iron mountains, and sth
Blue Doves dark eyes gazed sadly npol
it. The hunter had not returned, al
though week had elapsed since he ha,
gone out to set traps for beavers upor
the mountain streams, and this was
time when every warrior should be pres
ent. Soon the festivities commenced
and after the customary invocations t
the Great Spirit, the sweet ears were de
voured with roasted beaver-tail bake,
buffalo hump and other delicaces of tn
forest.
The feast concluded, the hunters gror
ed around the council-fire, while the fra
grant tobacco was kindled, and the war
=, riors, with impassioned gestures, relat
ed the deeds of their prowess. Thei
wives and dauehters eropea ar0nnd til