St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1884-04-26

for him to remain another year he be-
gan to realize she was very necessary
for his comfort, and his liking grew
into something very like to love- Then
he built wigwam of much greater
pretensions than any in the village, and
resolved that she should till it; in short,
/ be his wife-wife, as such MARI ages
We're viewed by him-that is, simply
j marriages of conveniences, to be entire
ly ignored by the husband when he de-
| parted, no matter though half dozen
! half-breed children had the right to call
| him father.
There was one of the number that
constituted Carlos party that looked
more clearly and honorably at the mat
ter than did Carlos Old Pedro Miguel
had 1een trader and trapper among
the red men in that locality for more
than score of years. He knew their
character too well to Judge them other
wise than Alright, and he shook his head
solemnly as he saw the matter verging
toward a climax.
''What are you taking so much trou-
BILE about that wi gwam for, Carlos?"
he asked Estalez one day, as he saw the
rude but comfortable structure near
completion.
ITO live in, Pedro was the answer.
WASN'T the one you wintered in
good enough?"
''No; it was cold and uncomforta-
ble."
care you going to live in it alone2'
asked the old man, turning his head, as
if ashamed of the question.
Cant tell yet. But there goes the
Berry Hunter. and want to see herr
And he dashed down to the waters
edge, hailed her as she was passing in
her canoe, jumped in, and was padded
away toward one of the little islands
that lined the shore, flashing with their
dense foliage like emeralds set in a
changing sheen of turquoise.
''There goes man to his ruin, NUT
tered the old trapper sorrowfully, as he
took up his rifle.
Often had he intended to warn Esta-
lez, but he was his superior, and, in
firm of purpose, he put off the evil day.
But the young man gave little heed to
the words he had spoken. From the
moment he had seen the Indian girl all
other thoughts were banished from his
mind. With her light canoe dancing
over the waters, and dressed with far
more than ordinary brilliancy-with
scarlet flowers woven in the heavy
braids of her intensely black hair, with
her eyes lighted at the sight of him she
loved, and from whom she hoped so
much--With smile upon her face and
sweet words of welcome upon her red,
a :
it had been otherwise.
The little island reached, they moored
their canoe, and wandering away from
the shore and completely out of sight as
well as hearing, seated themselves upon
the short and yelVet-like grass, mosaiced
by myFiads of tiny flowers.
''How beautiful you look today" |
said Carlos, as he took her hand within
his own.
as the daughter of the red man as
fair in the eyes of the pale-face as those
of his own peopleP" asked the girl,
raising her eyes so as to look him fully
in the face
There are few as handsome as you
are. know thousands thatwould give
all they have for your figure and eyes
and hair.
But they are like snow, and the
daughters Of the Aburanians are as
brown as the hillside when the Mani
tou of the Frost has lbreathed upon it,
''Pshawl you are the fairest of all
your tribe. You know that have often
told you of Pocahontas. / doubt if she
was as white as YOU
"And yet was looked up to by the
pale-faees?''
Eyes; went to England, married one,
and lived in such splendor as you never
dreamed Of.
Never before had Estalez fully deter
mined upon his plan of action. Now
ne had made up his mind to win her at
all hazards, and throwing his arms
around her waist he drew her to his
side. whispered burning words of love,
and for the first time kissed her. And
'hus they sat-she loving and dazzled !
oy the splendor he promised should be
1ers when he returned to civilization,
Ind he forgetful of all but the passion
# the hour. With the declining sun
hey returned to the shore promised
nan and wife, though as yet no time :
lad been fixed upon. ThatWas a sweet |
tecislon left for the future. Il
The old trapper, Pedro, saw them as :
hey landed saw their parting. It was
UGH an one as lovers have INDUCED in
ince Eden, and will until the end of
ime. He saw the tender embrace,
:ould almost hear the kiss, and resolved i
be reticent no longer. {
4 want You to tell me one thing, t
'arlos," he said, as they sat by their I
right campfire, smoking, after 3 late I
upper.
''Well, Pedro, what is itpn !