Page:The Prairie Flower; Or, Adventures In the Far West.djvu/78

 Prairie

Flower, if in her power, had so warned the latter. Prairie Flower did not call the red- man there; she regretted to see him there; but being there, she could do no less than warn and put the pale-face on his guard."

This was said with .such a proud look of conscious rectitude an expression so sub lime, and an eloquence so pathetic that I could hardly realize I was gazing upon and listening to an earthly habitant. I felt ashamed of my ungallant and unjust insinuation, and hastened to reply :

"Forgive me, sweet Prairie Flower, for having again wronged you for having again done you injustice! But, as before, I overlooked the motive in the act. 1 will strive not to offend again and wound your sensitive feelings by doubting your gener ous intentions. Are there many more like you, sweet Prairie Flower?"

"Our tribe numbers between sixty and seventy souls."

"Is this your fixed abiding place?"

"Only for a time. Our home is every where between the rising and the setting sun. We go wherever we think ourselves the most beneficial in effecting good."

"Perhaps you are Christian missiona ries ?"

"We believe in the holy religion of Jesus Christ, and endeavor to inculcate its doc trines."

"Why then did this old man use mys terious signs?"

"He is of another race and generation, was once a great medicine in his tribe, and cannot divest himself of old habits."

"You seem rightly named the Mysteri ous Tribe; and of you in particular I have heard before." ' " Indeed! When and how?"

I proceeded to detail briefly the story of the old trapper.

She mused a moment and replied :

"I remember such a person now, me- tbinks. He was found, as you say, with life nearly extinct. By careful nursing he 'Was restored to health. But he seemed inquisitive, and I employed the ruse of telling him his life was in danger to hurry his departure, lest he might prove trouble some. I trust there was nothing wrong in that. But come, come, I have forgotten my own caution, and talked too long by far. You need repose and silence/'

"But one thing more! My friend?"

"You shall see him soon perhaps to morrow."

"0, no! say to-day !"

"I cannot. To-morrow is the eatlieo* And so adieu! Seek repose and forget fulness in sleep."

With this she turned, and glided out of the apartment in the same noiseless man ner she had entered it. The old man look ed at me a moment shook his head and trembling hands turned shuffled away to his fire and I was left alone to reflect on what I had seen and heard and my pre sent condition.

CHAPTER XIV.

SICK-BED REFLECTIONS GREAT MEDICINH

REAPPEARANCE OF PRAIRIE FLOWER OUB

CONVERSATION GRATITUDE MT WOUNDS

HER SUDDEN EMBARRASSMENT DEPAR TURE, ETC.

IT is a painful thing to one who has nev er known sickness, to be confined day aftei day to his bed, racked with torture, debar red even the liberty of enjoying for a mo ment the bright sunshine and clear air of heaven, unable perhaps to lift his head from his pillow, and yet beholding others, flushed with health and happiness, coming and going as they please, and seeming to prize lightly all which he most covets. Il is only on a bed of sickness and pain, thai we are taught to value as we should thai greatest of all blessings, good health 9 blessing without which all others are rob bed of their pleasures : for what are for tune and friends and all their concomitants, to one who is borne down by a weight of bodily suffering? True, these may in a measure minister to his comforts for with out money and friends, the sick bed is only a pallet of the most abject misery yet all the joys arising therefrom in connection with health, are lost to the invalid; and he lays, and sighs, and groans, and envies the veriest strolling mendicant on earth tbe enjoyment of his strength and liberty.

Such were my thoughts, as hour after hour, from the disappearance of Prairie Flower, I lay and mused upon all the events of my chequered life