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Page 81
"Come young gentleman," said Captain Headley, entering
with an air of gaiety by no means usual to him, "you are,
it appears, in all things," and he bowed significantly
to Maria Heywood, "the chosen of the evening--but
recollect," he added, as he drew his arm through his own,
and proceeded towards the larger apartment where Ronayne
was awaited, "as you acquit yourself of YOUR duty, so
shall I of MINE."
"I shall do my best, sir," replied the youth, in the same
light tone, "but of the two orations, I know which will
be the best suited to my own taste."
The other ladies, with the exception of Mrs. Heywood,
had also risen, and now stood grouped near Captain Headley,
who, with Maria Heywood on his arm, leaned against the
door-way separating the two rooms--while Ronayne, amid
cheers and congratulations, made his way to the tribune,
at the farther end of the apartment.
His address was necessarily not long--for independently
of the impatience he could not but entertain at that
moment of all subjects but that nearest his heart, he
was by no means ambitious of making a display of his
powers of elocution. Yet, notwithstanding this, he treated
his theme in so masterly a manner, and in such perfectly
good taste, omitting all expressions of that rancor
towards Great Britain, which forms so leading a feature
in American orations on this occasion, and yet reflecting
honor on the land of his birth--alluding, moreover, to
the high position even then occupied by the nation, and
the future greatness which he predicted, from its laws,
its institutions, and peculiar form of government, awaited
it--that Maria Heywood could not fail to experience a
secret pride in the warm, and evidently sincere acclamation
of the little party present, attesting as they did, their
estimate of the worth of him, who in another hour, would
be her own for life.
As Ronayne descending from the tribune, passed to the
other side of the room, he looked out of the door which
had been left open, not more on account of the heat, than
to afford the men and their families an opportunity of
hearing the discourse thus delivered--almost the first
person who came under his glance was Waunangee, for whose
admission he had given orders to the serjeant of the
guard, and who now, in compliance with his pressing
entreaty, had attended. He was becomingly dressed in deer
skin, richly embroidered, pliant and of a clear brown
that harmonized well with the snowy whiteness of his
linen shirt, which was fastened with silver brooches,
while on the equally decorated leggins, he wore around
the ankle, strings of minute brass bells. On his head
floated the rich plumage of various rare birds, but no
paint was visible beyond the slightest tint of vermilion
on the very top of each cheek-bone, rendering even more
striking the expression of his soft dark eyes.
Beckoning to him, Ronayne drew the young Indian within
the door, which had he not accidentally distinguished
him in the crowd, he was quite too modest to enter alone.
Then drawing his arm through his own, he led him, coloring
and embarrassed at the novelty of the scene, to the place
where Captain Headley was still lingering with his charge.
The moment they were near enough, the latter held out
her hand to Waunangee, and with all the warmth of her
generous nature, pressed that which he extended. The
young Indian colored more deeply even than before--his
hand trembled in hers--and the look of thankfulness which
he bent upon her, in return for this unmistakable
confidence, had all the touching melancholy of expression
which she had remarked in them at their first meeting.
Again a mingled sentiment of confusion and distrust
suffused the cheek, and for a moment oppressed the spirit
of Maria Heywood in despite of herself, and she almost
wished Waunangee had not returned. The thought however,
was momentary. She felt the folly, the injustice of her
feelings, and anxious to atone for them, she nervously
--almost convulsively grasped the hand of the Indian,
carried it to her lips, and said in her full, sweet and
earnest tones, that he must ever be her brother as she
would ever be his sister.
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