The Knight of the Golden Melice / A Historical Romance

n's swarthy ch

is very fra

to me!'-

rm

d been so noiseless that it was unobserved by either the girl or the I

inks, Prudence, there are other parts of

savage would act who never had beholden a painting.

eyes than those of a wild Indian. But, Prudence, thou knowest that I mean not to chide thee. Far diff

d are my friends," answered the girl, glad to get away

, though not so loud as to be overheard, "that

ything to eat?" inquired the Assis

Indian. "His white brother has fed

he Assistant, observing that the eyes of the sa

as.) "My brother loved his father very much, and so, before he was called to the spirit land, my brother put him on a board, even as white men put

s; "but he has seen little of the wisdom of the white man. It is a light thing to put a man upon a board, though at the same time he may be in the spirit lan

is afraid it is not big enough to hold all these

But will he follow me now into

sistant preceding him, the two went in the dire

re the expostulations of Prudence and the entreaties of Eveline could prevail. And when he rose to leave, some time longer was consumed in tender leave-takings, which, though they seemed instants to the lovers, were lengthened almost into hours to the anxious waiting

rundel, "without any averment on my

n of thine to assure me

d words. Plainly, I came to see Mistress Eveline Dunning, and strange

"and avow that like a thief thou didst steal in to corrupt the af

man could reply,

charge him with aught unbecoming. He comes hithe

flashed, and her cheeks were c

ar forgotten the modesty of your sex as to make this declaration in public? I knew before, tha

e insinuation concealed in the language, which was not entirely unders

"would slander celestial purity. Master Sp

arm raised, as if about to strike; but Waqua stepped between them. He had grav

d wolf in his anger. Give to my brother for his wife the girl whose cheek

ived him of reason, for turning upon the Indian with glaring eyes and exerting his strength to the utmost, he hurled him wi

is revenge. Holding the savage by the arm, Arundel passed out of the apartment, leaving the Assistant standing as if petrified by his own violence,

t, shouldst have been the object of the ruffi

he Indian. "It is nothing; not so m

olence, and hope that no further mischief may spr

qua are open,"

to seek no revenge, but

n the ground. "Waqua," he said,

tempt to punish the bad white man would bring ruin on the

o no harm to

s that the arms of the English are very long, and their hands s

s the forest leaves because he is the wind, and water runs, and fire burns, because the Master of Life made them thus; and

companion for the present, and until time should have blunted sensibility to the injury. For this reason, and in order also to counteract, as far as might be, the effect of the incidents at the house of the Assistant, after purchasing the articles which they came out to procure, he took the savage with him on the visit to the Governor, which he had promised the knight to ma

England's red rose still blooming in thy chee

el, "is Waqua, to whom I owe my life, wh

mmon in our wild-beast-infested forest, and young

easure, as contributing thereby to recommend his companion to the favorable consideration of so

over us. Yet," he added, turning to the Indian, "be not the instrument forgotten by whom He manifes

ther would have killed the beast himself without W

th other matters, the truth revealed in the Scripture, (nature herself thereunto bearing witness,) that we are descended from one common parent, of whose qualities all do partake, even to th

him, and taking therefrom a medal attached to

hat the white chief knows how to estimate thy s

t out his hand to rece

nown before an ornament, of which the savages are usually so fond, refused.) "

e, softly, "but he wears only one totem, and that

ture of a turtle. It was painted upon or pricked into the skin in divers colors, so as to be indelible, and though rudely

if the white chief desires to please Waqua, let him recollect and teach his people t

might imply a want of exclusive devotion to his tribe, or a placing of himself in a position inconsistent with perfect independence. He scrutinized the Indian with muc

d, and the friend of the white man, but sith it may not be, receive my promise that I will inculcate the maxim on my people, that we are all descended fr

h lies very near to my heart, and without the granting whereof the

such a consequence following its reje

e stranger, with no further claim to your consideration than one man has upon his fellow to d

inquiring look upon the Indian, and the m

on of the friendly relations existing between himself and the savage, in whom he already felt a cons

emark, he rose from his seat, and, with a delicacy little to be expected

r of the Government. The secrets of a family should not be blazoned to the world. Our little

ke, "for my imprudence; but your sagacity has already divined what forces me to fly to yo

nmanly in any one to heed; and which, as such, it were disgraceful in the ruler of a people to r

od. A great and grievous wrong hath been committed and i

charge, and now

over Eveline; to all which Winthrop listened with profound attention, by neither word nor sign interrupting the narrative. Upon it

y thee be correct; and, understand me, I doubt not thine entire sincerity. But what further testimo

the word of Eveline sufficient to outweigh the prevar

Amor semper c?cus," he added, smiling, "This rule I take to be wit

by the denial of the Assistant Spikeman, who would deny

ue with thee on the facts, and that a bare demurrer were all-sufficient to throw thee out of court. Forgive me for inflicting th

stice in this land,"

rightly constituted guardian of Mistress Dunning) of the facts which, in thy opinion, impose on him a duty to give thee his ward in marriage. But suppose, as I have said, he were to demur t

an hasten to perform the desire of his deceased friend; but

ose thy union with his daughter, and then ask thee which he was in duty bound to obey-the settled purpose of his friend, as demonstrated by his daily life and conversation, or a chance word of sickness, perhaps, of delirium? That Edmund Dunning did at first, even till his death-bed, deny thee his daughter, thou dost admit; and this is a weighty argume

re I, even for the sake of her hand,

ek ye first the kingdom of heaven, and all other things shall be added unto you,' Doubt it not, and consider also how sweet is the tie that doth bind consenting hearts with one

t way of thinking, I might not do without guilt, Master Sp

nd to the dead? Think, rather, that Providence hath, in its own wonderful way, determined to lead

e no hope of your intercession, honored sir," said Arund

ution of the deceased Edmund Dunning, which seems to have been inspired by Heaven; but, the cause of that resolution being removed, no one will be

s good will, and lamenting that i

he Indian approached. The sight of the latter seemed to s

om some of your countrymen, Waqua. Wi

e of the Indian only an

to brighten the chain of friendship between the white men and them

wise; but he has heard the old men of his tribe say, tha

n's presence, "how they attempt to deceive me. The friendship of the white man is like the blessed su

mired his black and white hair, and thought his round, bushy tail, which was different from theirs, very beautiful; so they invited h

n to conciliate our favor, and we would be at peace, if we are permitted, with all men. We came no

e a skunk. The white chief will remember the words of Waqu

eacherous," answered the Governo

o palliate the pain which he had inflicted on Arundel, he accompa