Year: 1872

ing air. But for all these delicate atten-


tions, which to you in civilized life seem


small, but which showed his true


though unspoken love, yet she seemed


not to entertain the slightest regard for


him more than one of her earliest


friends. Her proud spirit seemed to re-


volt against an Indian husband, and Of


ten, when joked about Many Canoes.


she would haughtily exclaim:


"'When White Star leaves the wig


wan Of her father, it must be to glad
den the home Of a pale-facep


Though had married a son Of the


forest myself, my heart bounded with
/ gladness that my child was not inclined
to follow my example. Having received
some education, l had impaired it to nv
daughter, together with the few accom-
piishments which / possessed, one of
which was singing, and in which she
excelled, for her voice was melody it.
self. ! was therefore delighted to think
that my beautiful one was fitted to grace
the home of the white man equally as
well as her fairer sisters who had been
reared in the lap of luxury and refine
ment.


zone day, taking her guitar as usual
from its place, she hung the ribbon
round her neck and left home for the
old tree, which was not over half a mile
from our home. As soon as she was
gone thought struck me. Il will fol-
low her and seek to learn this secret,
which seems TO pray upon her mind
and which / felt was caused by the at
tentions Of Many Canoes, whom she felt
10th to offend by the rejection Of his
hand, but whom she could not love
Proceeding but a short distance, she
was met by Many Canoes, who, with his
rifle slung over his shoulder, was Just
returning from morning ramble. Ac-
costing her with a friendly salutation.
he presented her with a pair of fine
quails, which, with a deer, constituted
that mornings trophies. Taking them. |
she thanked him, and throwing them
across her shoulder she went on her
way. Arriving at her rustic bower. she /
hung her guitar upon branch, and
seating herself she began plucking the
from her gift. Having cleaned
-hem nicely, she tied them together and
hung them beside her favorite compan-
on- Then, rising upon her tiptOes and
shading her eyes with her hand, she
stood looking toward the distant city Of
Baton Rouge, murmuring something to
herself, which to me was inaudible.
Presently low whistle was heard, and
placing her fingers to her lips, she an
swered it, when, stepping forth from
small cleft Of trees, appeared a hand
some young stranger, a pale-face. He
appeared to be about twenty-five years
Of age.


White Star, my beautifulr and in a
moment she was in his arms. Imprint
ing a fervent kiss upon her lips, he led
her to her seat, where taking one beside
her, they conversed in tones too low for
my acute ears. Thus they sat for over
an hour, when, taking down her guitar,



she sang TO or three Of the wild and pas
sionate songs Of my own native land.
Then, hanging it around her neck, she
arose and seemed to be going, when / /.
heard him say:


Promise me, White Star, my beau
tiful one, that you will be mine. and I 4
swear by yon bright sun you shall

never regret it! I will bear thee to the /
home Of the pale-face, where naught but |
love and kindness shall be thy compan- /
ions. Only promise that you will be
mine and / am happy and kneeling
before her, he took her little hand and /
kissed it.


''Rise, dear Herbert do not kneel to
White Star. The Indian girl loves pale
face better than her own life, but should /
She wed him, the anger Of Many Canoes 4
would be fierce, who has also asked her
hand in marriage. But White Star
loves him only like brother, no more
and dropping her head upon his bosom,
she looked up in his face with a sweet
and pleading look, as if waiting for an
answer


" Herbert Norman Burke fears not
the anger of the red man, sweet maid.i
was the reply. Only promise to be nv
bride ere go, and ask no more press-
ing her to his bosom.


viii, will,' 1 heanl her say


"After giving her one long kiss he
waved his hand, and in a few
moments was lost to view.


'Reseating herself, she wept in 81
lenee, till at last, seeing me step for
ward, she started TO her feet, exelaim-
ing, Motherr and falling upon my
neck, burst into tears. Seating myself
upon the elegant skin at my feet, l mo-
toned her also to sit down. Drawing
her TO my breast, enquired the cause
Of her sorrow, when she related to me
the story of her love for the pale stran-
me how she had met him /
six months before while gathering wild /
flowers; how he had met her day after |
day unknown TO Many Canoes, who had 1
sworn vengeance upon all the pale-faces
with whom he should chance TO meet |
how she had played and sung for him,
and how he had won her heart and |
asked her to become his bride, and /
ended by telling me that she never
could be happy without him; that she
had no love for Many Canoes.


How my heart beat as / listened. /
Why had he met her so clandestineIy? /