Page:The Prairie Flower; Or, Adventures In the Far West.djvu/86



"Ay. reject 3-0x1 even you the rich, educated, and polished Charles Huntly."

"And why, Frank?"

"First, because her proud, retiring nature would rebel at the thought of an alliance with one whom the world might consider her superior. Secondly, because her sense of duty would not allow her to depart from her tribe, to which she be longs either by birth or adoption. Third ly, and conclusively, because she is one who has evidently resolved to remain sin gle through life. She is a girl possessed of a remarkable mind, which once fixed upon a point, remains unchangeable for ever. That she loves you, I now believe; that you return the passion, in a measure, you have acknowledged ;' but that she would consent to leave her tribe and pledge herself to you for life, I believe a thing impossible."

"You perhaps have reasons for thinking thus?"observed Huntly.eyeingme sharply.

"Nothing more than what I have gath ered from noting her closely, during the brief period of our acquaintance. I may be wrong, but time will show. At all events, my friend, I warn you, if you feel an increasing passion or affection for this girl, to suppress it at once, and leave the vicinity as soon as the health of both of us will permit."

"I will think of it my dear friend; and "in the mean time, do you watch Prairie Flower closely as I will myself to learn if your surmises be correct; and should a convenient opportunity offer, fail not to use it to find out the true state of her feelings

regarding myself. I But enough

she comes."

As he spoke, Prairie Flower entered the lodge to put an end to our conversation, lest harm might be done me by too much excitement. I now observed her narrow ly, and saw their was a constraint in her manner, which she only the more exposed by trying to conceal and appear perfectly natural. She gently reminded IluntJy it was time for him to withdraw; and though lie strove hard to catch the soft glance of IILT darli beaming eye, yet all his efforts Droved fruitless; and pressing my hand, with a hearty " God bless you!" and a deep, earnest prayer for my speedy recov pry, he quitted the apartment.

Asking me one or two questions regard* ing the effect produced upon me by my friend's visit, and finding instead of injury it had resulted to my benefit, Prairie Flow- 1 er bade me seek instant repose in sleep;
 * and promising that Huntly should see me

! again on the following day, she turned, i and in a musing mood, with her head drop ped upon her bosom, and slow steps, dis-
 * appeared.

There was no mistaking it; Prairie

j Flower was in love with my friend; and I

! sighed at the thought, that the hour of her

friendship to us, might prove the data of

her own unhappiness.

CHAPTER XVIII.

CONVALESCENCE THE MYSTERIOUS OR GREAT

MEDICINE TRIBE THEIR MANNERS THEIB

DAILY MODE OF WORSHIP THEIR MORNING,

NOON, AND EVENING SONGS A WSDDING A FUNERAL, ETC.

TIME rolled on slowly, each day adding something to my convalescence, and the expiration of a month found me so far re covered as to venture on a short stroll in the open air. During this long period of confinement, (to me it seemed a year,) Prairie Flower and Huntly visited me ev ery day, though rarely together; and to ward the last, my friend became an almost constant companion.

Never shall I forget the emotions of gra titude and joy which I experienced on be holding once more the green leaves and blades, the bright flowers and glorious sun shine, feeling again the soft, balmy breezo of heaven upon my emaciated frame, and hearing the artless songs of the forest warb lers. Earth, which for a time had seemed cold and dreary, now appeared changed to a heavenly paradise, and I could not realize I had ever seen it look so en- chantly beautiful before. In this I was doubtless correct; for never before had I been absent from it so long; and the con trast between the grim, rude walls of my late abode, and all I now beheld, wa* enough to have put in ecstacies a far less excitable and enthusiastic individual than