Malaeska: The Indian Wife of the White Hunter

r, old fash

hine and

long the bir

ant mus

bright and

rfume sh

s like a f

man sound.-Fran

r over the clear blue, and a light wind stirring the trees until their opening buds sent

arden, oppressed by a feeling of loneliness and home-sickness, which made her long to throw asid

d fashioned loom, would have been pleasanter music to her ear, than that of the pianoforte, which she had once thought so grand an affair; but since then she had spent so many weary hours over it, shed so many tears upon the cold whi

ery irksome to the untrained country girl. She was tired of having regular hours for study-tired of walking out for a stated time in procession with the ot

hat she stood that morning at the window, when she ought to have been hard

to idle at her casement, there would be nothing more entertaining than a hard brick wall to look at. Just then, the garden was more attractive than at any other season of the year. The spring sunshine had made the shorn turf like a green carpet, the trim flower-beds were al

ld grape-vine, that clambered up to the pointed Dutch gables, hung down over the narrow windows, and

, and she envied him the privilege of wandering at will among the grav

endurable, that garden would be an ordinary affair enough, at which no well-trained boarding-school

s, and a host of other dear old-fashioned flowers, lined the walks; and, altogether, the garden was lovely enough to justify the poor girl's admiration. There she stood, quite forgetful of her duties; the clock in the hall str

hovering near the grape-vine, but returned to the pear-tree at last, sang, chirped, and danced about in frantic glee, and at last made it evident that they intended to build a nest in that very tree. Sarah could have clapped her hands with delight! It wa

way, that it reached even Sarah's ear. She started, looked

about them. Well, I will go to studying in a moment," she added, as if a

moment there was a new object of interest add

a few moments, evidently enjoying the morning air, then passed slowly down the steps into the garden suppo

ell who he was. He was the owner of the house that t

her fancy. He was very wealthy indeed, and had no family except his wife, the tidiest, darling old lady, who oft

ved in their pleasant mansion quite alone, with the exception of a few domes

o run around in their garden, and sit in the pleasant rooms that overlooked it, glimpses of which

looked so stern; but his wife she longed to kiss and make friends with at once;

arbor overrun by a trumpet honeysuckle, which was not yet in blossom, although there were faint trac

n through the leaves. At length Sarah saw him rise, move toward the e

was aroused. She flew out of her room down the stairs, fortunately enco

which ran a picket fence. Sarah saw a step-ladder that had been used by a servant in washing

leman was lying, although, in truth, scarcely three minutes had elapsed

t, and recognized the symptoms at once. It was useless to think of carrying him, so she loosened his neckcloth, lifted his head upon the arbor seat, an

by several of her satellites, all screaming at once to know what was the m

s been taken with a fit; come and carry him

o much energy that the women, aided by an old negro who had been roused by the disturbance

mistress?" qu

d the cook; "oh, my poor ole

sent for t

he'll be here in a mini

at she could remember of having seen her mother use when her grandfath

atient freely, praised Sarah's presence of mind, and

rvants exclaim: "Oh, dar'

room and went into the garden, determined to escape unseen. But before

Please to wait; ole missu

so longed to know, came down the steps and moved toward her, holding out her hand. She was very pale, and shaking from hea

it had not been for you, I should nev

nto them. There they stood for a few moments, weeping in each other's embrace, and by those

to see him fall?"

ed Sarah, pointing to her open casement

il of Madame M

ck! They will scold me dreadf

her hand when she tried to break away. "I will make your excu

d seated her in an easy chair in

if you please, my dear.

Here she was, actually seated in the very apartment she had so desired to enter-the

ondered what dreadful penance she would be made to undergo, and decided that even bread and water fo

elegant, looking as if a speck of dust had never by any accident settled in

fever of anxiety to hear tidings concerning him. Just then a servant ente

ays you must be hungry, 'c

your master?

see'll be here in a minute

cook had piled the tray with all sorts of delicacies, that presented a

repast Mrs. Danforth returned, lo

ent," she said; "my husband is able to speak; b

"I don't want any thanks,

ut Mrs. Danforth patted

least you must let m

. The blush and smile on that young face were a

ontinued Mrs. Danforth, "and she has given you permission to sp

old house, which had always appeared as interesting to her as a story. It required but a short time for Mrs. Danfor

kroom, and made herself so useful there, that the dear la

led a monotonous life for months must have experienced, when some sudden event has changed its

nforth's house, and after that, circumstances occurred which dre

ladies left the school for a few weeks. Mrs. Danforth insisted upon Sarah's making her home

re was little hope given that he could do more than linger for a month or two longer. During that painful season Mrs. Danforth found in Sarah a s

nd the quick weeks spent in that old house were perhaps among the happies

and dependent that those who had known him in former years would scarcely have r

nd, and while she put on her glasses and seated he

the fresh loveliness of the day, bef

my dear;

to the door where

e midst of all our trouble," she said;

arrival of a stranger; but that was only a passing pang of selfishness; her n

me; his coming will do his

than all the doct

you exp

ip that brought these letters, and as this vessel has

school to-day," said

ther's permission, and will go myself to speak with Madame. You will run over ev

uite radiant at the thought of not being confi

ut come, we will go over now; I

old routine of lessons; but her study-room was now the ga

iked so much as sitting in the garden, his wife knitting by his side, Sarah studying at his feet, and the robins