Year: 1861

come"


With such gentle words the maiden
strovc to rouse him TO the effort, and
finally succeeded. He had sense enough
remaining to know that if he did not &C.
company her his hours of life were mum.
bered. He had heard of the medicinal
knowledge that the Indians possessed, and
he doubted not that she could aid him.


My brother - he said family.


" VIII return to this spot, and wait your
coming; he has gone 10 seek you. He
will never leave you till he meets you
again. When the sickness is passed Alta.
wahta will bring you here. Come, ere
the warriors Of my race shall discover you
and me-"


BY series of painful efforts Harry at
last reached the canoe, into which he was
assisted by his fair guide


" Now you must trust yourself to Ata-
wahta, who, by the help of the Great spir-
it, will draw this arrow from your arm,
and heal the wound She could thus
atone for the cruelty of him who drew
the bow"


As Harry felt himself lifted from the
frail barge, he cast grateful look upon
his preserver and become unconscious.





Four months had passed ere Harry was
again able to leave the mats whereon he
had reposed in utter prostration. The
fever had at last left him, but he was very
weak. Atawahts had clung to him with
singular devotion, and had been true to
her promise. Aided by couple of aged
squaws she had brought him from the very
gates of death far on to health. We find
her now, after the lapse of so many weeks,
still by his side either administering some
restorative or sitting at his feet listening to
the strange stories of the white mans
home.


You will soon leave the Wilderness"
sighed the maiden, "apd | shall see you
no more. Four moons have passed since
! saw you-they have been happy days to
me, but we must part. Look from this
door upon the scene without. Already
the leaves are withering and dying in the
cool autumn blasts. Ere long the storm
king will ride upon the wind, and wrap
earth in its cold embrace, You will 90 to
meet the warm hearts that watch for you,
while Atawahta will grow cold as the
snow. The winter will blight her very
heart"


Harry turned from the contemplation of
landscape to the bright eyes of the fair
child of nature beside him. He read in
their dark meaning, words that sent the
warm flush to his check. His arm rested
on her shoulder and almost encircled her
neck, joining his hands he pressed her to
his bosom.


Atawahta,' he whispered, ~ love
you, and must never leave this spot. BE
mine and let me here live and die |"


With glad smile the maiden raised her
moist lips to his; but ere he could press
them shadow stole across her face, her
head dropped again as she murmurod
sadly:


No, no it must not be. This has
been pleasing dream to the forest maid,
but it cannot be realized. In few moons
Harry would tire of his Indian bride, and
would long for the associations that he
had abandoned. Better leave me now
than then"


Atawahta believes that there is truth
in the heartl"


Yes, but affection may grow cold"


Listen to me, dearest My life was
preserved by you, and to you it should be
devoted. Do not suppose that ! wish
merely to repay the dcbt-thut l can
meyer do; but over and above all other
considerations is the love that can be an
swered by possession, could not breath
word of harm to you! | have left no
one in the far off homo of my childhood,
for whose society / can languish. Fear
not, then, my truth, for by the light of
that great sun I swear"


ono! not for me The great Maniton
will not hear.an oath. l am yours for
eyer If in some future hour your heart
should 60 back to the friends of earlier
days, I will bid you depart and lay me
down to die. At least you will be mine
till then"


She did net longer hesitate, but with an
impassioped gesture, clppg about his neck,
while Harry imprinted innumerable kisses
upon her yielding lips.


AS they stood thus, the sound of horses
hooc, c,ll;nn ro nidlv unon tho soft turf