Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1914-05-27

credit to your discretion and honor
to your jud&n emit, without in the
slightest degree rejecting upon your
courage, were you to maintain iu-
Gicious reserve in the communication
os your thoughts to him they call
Niger Codfrey.'
Il do not fear you Godfrey: for
though you have stolen upon us like
a thief in the night and robbed me of
my only means of defence, the rifle
you hold in your hand, be assured
that / fear you not, nor am / in the
least apprehensive as to the final
outcome of your atrocious efforts
against the liberty of this innocent
girl, who has never in thought or
deed done you harm"
the better for that speech, for if
am to have opposition from you in
my we'll meant endeavors, l am
proud to know that at least one of
my enemies, though very young, is
nevertheless a man, and not sink
ing coward and now, Mr.. Jesse Bad
leigh, for that I have been given to
1 understand is the name you are
known by, what, may / enquire, was
your purpose in entering the camp
of my friends the Sioux, and when
the shades of evening had gathered
Ger the wigwams of my people, and
the braves were wrapt in the pro-
found slumber that cometh of wear
mess you surreptitiously possess
yourself of the person of this beauti-
full daniel of the pale faces, and
with stealth seek to convey her to
your own wigwam, among the people
, of your own nation Why did you
, do this?'
: "Nigger Godfrey" replied Jesse,
you are too well-informed not to
know why / made the effort to secure
the freedom of this girl, dearer to me
| than all the world besides; we'll you
: know that no one but an abject cow
ard unworthy the name of man,
: would rest for an hour, while friend
: of his and that friend a lady as a
captive in the hands of some un-
known person or persons, and every
i instant in danger of losing her life,
or what would be far worse, her lib
= erty, among a people foreign to all
| the customs and traditions of her
own race; we'll you know, Niger
/ Godfrey, that if the present condi-
5 tions were reversed, and it was a
: maiden of the Sioux that had been
spirited away by some white man and
: was being held against her will, all
the Indian blood in your veins would
} boil at the outrage and no man in
S the tribe would more swiftly follow
] the trail of the would be spoiler than
= Niger Godfrey"
The half-breed was evidently i'm
pressed by Jesse's outspoken defense
VI HIS COuIsS ia ScChiHS W iOSeuO
Frances, nor was he slow to ac-
knowledge it,
: Whatever may be said of the nu-
merous crimes laid to the charge OF
this man but a short time subsequent
to the events which are now being
laid before the reader, it must be
said to his credit, that he practiced
at times, self-restraint which would
have been creditable to any white
: man under less trying circumstances
{ than those in which the half-breed
: was usually placed. Many will
!, doubtless agree with Sir Walter Scott
) who, in giving a conversation between
Richard Cour De Lion and Robin
Hood, makes the former say-"He
that does good having unlimited pow
, er to do evil, deserves praise not on
t ly for the good which he performs,
but also for the evil which he for
bears"
Master Jesse Badleigh. was ii not
: you that carried the letter of this
: young lady's father to the place men
toned in my communication to that
gentleman but a short time since? If
am not under an inexcusable misap-
: prehension l recognize in your man
ly form the very same"
J You are not mistaken" answered
; Jesse" it was j that carried the
: letter."
THAT being the case it would not
, be over presumptious in me, if were
, TO assume that you were acquainted
with its contents"
Il knew the substance of the let
ter although / did not read it," re-
piled Jesse.
Master Badleigh. being acquaint-
ed as you admit with the contents of
! the afore mentioned letter in which
it was very apparent that negotia-
tons for the peaceful restoration of
this young lady to home and friends
were pending, how could you in hon