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Page 79
At noon the cannon thundered forth their bursts of
rejoicing. This was the signal for the numerous
Pottawattamies outside, all of whom had decked themselves
for the occasion, to approach nearer to the Fort. On the
glacis they discharged their guns and rifles, and seemed
to have but one spirit with the allies to whom they
appeared to have devoted themselves. Winnebeg, however,
though long expected, had not yet returned, and nothing
yet had been seen of Waunangee, since his departure on
the day following the little incident which occurred in
Elmsley's apartments.
Contrary to that unnatural etiquette which enjoins that
two betrothed persons, who are expected to be inseparable
after marriage, should never show themselves together in
public immediately before, Ronayne had after parade
ascended the rampart, with Maria Heywood leaning upon
his arm, occasionally glancing at the group of
gaily-costumed Indians, who were amusing themselves on
the green, but oftener admiring the lovely view, softened
by distance, which was presented in various points, and
particularly towards the farm--the theatre of events
which the otherwise happy girl, could not at that moment
avoid bringing to her recollection.
While gazing in that direction, her eye fell upon the
form of a young Indian who was leaning against the corner
of the picketed bastion on her left, in the shallow, dry,
and grass-covered ditch that surrounded it. At first her
glance caught an indistinct human form dressed in the
Indian garb, but as her gaze settled on the object, her
surprise was great to recognise Waunangee, who was even
then looking at her with the same softened and eloquent
expression, which had given her so much anxiety on a
former occasion. The impression produced upon her was
exactly what it had been then--indescribable--inexplicable
to herself.
"What is the matter, my love?" inquired Ronayne tenderly,
and pressing her arm to his heart--"what fixes your
attention below?" then seeing the Indian himself. "Ah!
Waunangee, my friend!" he exclaimed, "where have you been
all this time? Come round to the gate and shake hands
with my wife."
"No, no, no, do not call him up, Ronayne--you cannot
think how much the presence of that Indian troubles me."
"Nay, dearest Maria, you are not yourself. Why continue
this strong dislike against the poor fellow? I thought
you had quite forgiven him."
Was it accident--was it modesty, or was it a consciousness
that his presence was not desired by at least one of the
parties, that prevented the young Indian from obeying
the summons of the officer. Whatever the cause, he assumed
a serious mein, and playing one of those melancholy airs
which so often, at that time, might be heard proceeding
from the rude flute of their race, walked slowly away.
"I fear you have offended him, Maria. Oh! if you knew--"
"Ronayne--dearest Harry!" interrupted his betrothed--"I
have never said anything of this before to you, because,
after all, it is but an idle fancy, yet I cannot divest
myself of the idea that this Indian, interesting and
prepossessing as he is, is somehow or other connected
with my future fate. Nay," as the young officer smiled
in playful mockery, "you may ridicule my presentiment,
which is, I confess, so much at variance with good sense,
that I almost blush to introduce the subject, but still
I cannot banish the impression."
"Then, I will assist you in doing so, dearest, even though
at the risk of re-opening a newly-closed wound," remarked
her lover, with deep affection of manner. "In my narrative
of those events, hastily thrown together, which I gave
you on that memorable night, when I suffered for a period,
almost the torments of the damned, I did not, it seems
to me, name the young Indian, who, with his father, so
greatly aided me on my return to the farm, and even bore
upon his shoulders the sacred charge."
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