The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-07-17


will be safe. Farewell, Nahwista, we
shall meet tomorrow" The maiden
rose and returned to her prison
house.
Pierpont had returned from an
hunting excursion. and held in his
hand beautiful bird, native of the
forest, which he presented to Nah
vista as she entered. She spread it's
crimson wings upon her lap, while
she forced smile, and her master
seated himself beside her. "You are
sad this morning, Nahwista," he at
length said.
81 am in captivity, and great
way from my father and sisters"
But are you not happy with me,
Nahwista'"
'"The Indian girl likes not to be a
slave. Nahwista likes her father and
sisters, and prefers to roam free
among the hills of her native forests"
True, but if will set thee free,
and make you my wife"
"Wilt make me free?" she asked
vehemently, clasping his hand in
both of hers.
81 will, if you will be my wife,"
Nahwista relaxed from his embrace,
and turned her eyes sorrowfully to
the ground.
"Dost doubt that l love thee. Nah
vista? l will cherish thee forever,
and make you happy. Why then
not accept my offer?"
81 cannot be your wife," she firmly
replied.
"Then be my slave" he said, and
rose and left her.
1t was past midnight, and the
wakeful Nahwista was seated upon
her pallet of boughs, when the report
of a gun was heard. She bounded
to her feet like a fawn, and went
towards the northern gate. The gate
was yet fast and she listened for a
moment. Presently the alarm was
given among the watch, and immed-
lately succeeded the clash of rapiers
There was running hither and
thither, and firing of muskets, and
clashing of steel. There appeared
at intervals an engagement between
two, then between three or four, and
then all seemed closed in a general
melee The drums beat the reveille,
and the soldiers and citizens were
heard collecting in masses, and the
Indians whooping and yelling in
every direction. The noise and con-
fusion increased; and Nahwista be-
gan to be alarmed for the fate of her
lover, when the ponderous gate came
tumbling down at her feet. She
leaped over the fragments and was in
the arms of earle.
ely" he said, 81 have broken the
rapier of your master, and have dis
armed two of his guard, and we must
now escape. Your release was all
that | desired, and have no dispo-
sition to pursue the conflict further.
have ordered my men away; and
when we are no longer to be found
the town will be quiet again.
Pierpont was picked up wounded,
with the hilt of his rapier in his hand,
and was assisted home. But had he
known that night that Nahwista was
lodged in the house of earle, no cir
cumstance would have stayed his
vengeance.
The next day he reported the af-
fair to the governor, and informed
him of the escape of the Indian cap
tive. 1t was thought expedient to
make it subject of correspondence
between the commissioners and the
Dutch governor. Nahwista was de-
manded by the magistrates, but earle
regarded not their authority. He SUBJ
sequently made proffers of marriage
to her, and made known his inten-
tons to her adopted father. The
Dutch governor made virtue of ne
cessity, and consented to the union
so soon as Nahwista should be law
fully baptized.
earle continued to remain in Hart
ford until Stuyvesant came into
power, when he repaired to New Am
sterdam. In the meantime Nahwis-
ta's father had died, and her adopted
father having sailed to foreign land,
was cast away; and being no longer
inclined to join her sisters, she set
tied down in quiet life with her hus-
band, and lived many years, an orna-
ment to society and her sex.-Bosto,s
Miscellany, 1912.
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