Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1904-04-13

tened absently as the silken sweet
| voice murmured to him. Then, ere sns
| could detain him, he broke away, anu'
| Swinging to the center OF the tent
| called upon the ottawas for the plenge
| of Neras-Wahna. BY the spoken WORD
| of Neras in solemn council had the giri
| been given TO him: and as Naduia
| would have interfered. one by one the
| elders of the tribe arose to bear wit
| ness TO the bond.
Then Wanna, her face alight with
JOY. came from the shadows where she
had hidden In her despair. There was
no gainsaying the word that had
passed Nadula watched, her heart al
most stilled, as the men and women
parted TO either side. The old medi-
cine man drew his circle around the
two. while the red flame from the fire
leaped and threw its golden light on the
| faces of Malcolm Davent and Wahna.
That night the ottawas Toasted, and
there was great rejoicing, for at the
rising of the moon the Princess Wanna
would ride away from them forever
And when the feast was ended Naduia
brought forth a bottle of musty hued
wine TO pledge them after the man
ner of the paleface," as she said, and
smiled into Davent's eyes. She was
quick as thought but the eye of love
is swifter. Wanna sprang from Da-
vents SIDE and grasped the slender
| wrist. Poison, Poison And low
murmur of horror ran around the great
tent.
Nadula drew her slender form to Its
full height and glanced proudly from
one face to another. What say We,
my people? Am / guiltyr' The def
ance rang clear as clarion note, and
no man answered. Again; What say
We. my people? Judge we between US
the white serpent or the true daughter
of the Ottawas"' The wind In the
mesquite was theo only answer. Wanna
still clasped the slender wrist In her
tense fingers. while the glare of the
torches threw red waves OF light on
the swart faces as the ring drew ever
closer.
The old medicine man parted the
crowd to either side. Daughters of
the great Chief Neras. hail!' And the
elk teeth ratified on his shrunken chest
as hs knelt. spreading out his clawlike
hands. "Hearken TO the voice of one
old in council. Hear. accuser and &C
cused. If there be poison In the cup.
as the Lady Wanna hath said, then let
the Lady Nadula drink that which she
hath prepared for another. but If there
hal 40 IrtFl A
prove the blackness of q lie. | have
spoken"
a shudder ran along the surge of
faces that gathered around Nadula.
Wahnas hand fell away. and she cow
cred against Davent's shoulder
Nadula's proud eyes swept the mass
before her. hostile and grim. There
was not an answering eye. Drink,
Nadular' the old voice commanded,
and Nndula drained the wine. Then
she gathered her robes around her and
went out from among them.
Miles away to the westward rode Da-
vent, with Wanna close at his side. the
sturdy cayuse keeping uneven stride
WIN VII W
where the white tower OF the mission
shone above the olive groves, out to the
west. to her mothers people. But be-
yond the fringe OF the desert, In the
land of the Ottawas. there are shroud-
ed faces among the older men, and the
ponies are laden for long march
away to the south. In the hut Of Neras
lay something that they might not
touch under the law OF the ottawas.
alone. accursed. the unseeing eyes
peering through the shadows Of the
q. .YNo a