The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1882-1884, 1883-09-06


contestants with good-natured con.
tempt. l admit that her patriotism
should have compelled her to ignore
one who ridiculed the prowess Of her
Country. Girls do not kindly regard
such sneering strangers now. know
girl who declared, during the last
campaign, that no young man who
voted against her father need ever
call on her again. The result was
that her favored follower pleaded
guilty and marched under the yoke.
This on.y illustrates the spirit Of this
age in contrast to that in which Con-
naheet and Aimee lived. I beg the
reader to excuse the hardihood Of
which am gdilty in forcing him or
her to leap through the space Of two
hundred years. We must jump back
however. Aimee withdrew her at
tentions and endeavored to fix them
on the contest. In vain, for she had
no control over her eyes; again and
again were they drawn 20 the same
spot. Now, each time, she discover
ed that her glance was returned, and
Connaheet left the spot and came
toward her. In those free days no
ceremony was needed to ac1uaint
them with one another. The glances
Exchanged were sufficient introduce
ton. Their wooing was short; she
promised to go with him to his far.of
home, shou ID he vanqulsh her father s
men. She would not we'd one who
was their inferior. She returned to
her fathers side. Old Lowneh's eyes
had been fastened on the games; he
knew not of his Aihnee's treason.
Connaheet rushed into the game with
a vigor Aihnee had never seen equal
ed. One after another of the braves
retired the first because they were
overcome, the last for fear of being
beaten. The old chief, Lowneh. wit
messed this with shame and dismay.
His head sunk lower and lower as
one by one of his men-his pride and
the nations glory-stepped off, yield
ing the victor's palm to the stranger.
The cry went forth that the last and
the greatest, the mighty Inoqueh had
come forward. Lowneh arose, he
stood with outstretched arms as
if to sustain this brave on whom all
depended The contest was long !;
all were breathless; great beads Of
sweat stood on old Lowneh's brow.
first one then the other won, but at
last the tide of victory flowed Con-
naheet's side. Ionqueh struggled
against misfortune cut nothing avail
ed. Losses continued, and he too,
sick at heart, with trembling hands
yielded the palm TO the invincible
one.
A wild yell rang through the forest,
a cry which was never heard before.
the signal of defeat. Connaheet stood
alone, his arms folded on his breast,
his lips parted in smile Cor his
glance rested on the lovely Aihnee.
All saw this and a. murmer ran
through the assembly, for they guess
ed his thought. He heard the
murmer, and as they had read the
mute language of his, so he now in
terpreted their unspoken dissent, and
again to invite a combat, the victOri-
Gus arm was raised, All WAS still
a moment. The two sons of the roy
al house arose. and with beseeching
faces asked permission to join. The
old chieftain consented in an absent
t way. as he would have done to their
death, in that moment of humiliation.
Their untried strength was nothing,
and they too, retired.
Again the victorious arm was raised
and, to the amazement of all, Ol,.
. Lowneh went forward. Connaheet
dropped on one knee before him. In
token of surrender. He would not
contend with this old warrior. Aih'
nee's father. In voice OF thunder
Lowneh called:
'Rise, boy! Begin! Lam no do
tard p
r "As you will !" replied Connaheet
in low tone.
Lowneh was no mean rival, though
eighty winters had furrowed the face
and silvered the raven hair. In his
youth he had known no rival. After
a prayer to the Great Spirit for aid
he joined with his enemy, for such
Connaheet was now considered.
He too was overcome, and the last
stake was gone. Still the youth held
4 up the uncorquered arm. With 8
r great cry the old man lowered his
: head and wept, saying:
"The great spirit has turned his
n back on us. He does not hear oul
: cries nor see our shame
!. Stiffness like death rested upor
j. the field after this. Only for brle
e space, however; for this race was
n as honorable in defeat as they were
s generous in victory. The principa
e men went forward and requested
i lConnaheet to choose his slaves.
8 Il wish no lad, and but one maid
en-she, only, who will offer herself,
IL he said.
e With timid step and downcast eye
It Aimee came from her fathers mat
e stood at Connaheet's side and said:
d Il promised, father, he has wor
q his wife,
el With q fury no one had vet seen