Glickhicanwounduphislongdiscoursesbydeclaringhehadneverliedinthewholecourseofhisseventyyears,hadneverstolen,neverbetrayed,nevermurdered,neverkilled,saveinself—defence。Gazingatthechief\'sfinefeatures,nowcalm,yetshowingtracesofpaststorms,Jimbelievedhespokethetruth。
Whentheyoungministercame,however,tostudythehostileIndiansthatflockedtothevillage,anyconclusivedelineationofcharacter,oranysatisfactoryanalysisoftheirmentalstateinregardtothepalefacereligion,eludedhim。Theirpassive,silent,sphinx—likesecretivenesswasbaffling。Glickhicanhadtaughthimhowtopropitiatethefriendlybraves,andwiththesehewassuccessful。Littlehelearned,however,fromtheunfriendlyones。Whenmakinggiftstotheseredmenhecouldneverbecertainthathisofferingswereappreciated。ThejewelsandgoldhehadbroughtwestwithhimwenttotheFrenchtraders,whoinexchangegavehimtrinkets,baubles,braceletsandweapons。Jimmadehundredsofpresents。Boldlygoinguptobefeatheredandbefringedchieftains,heofferedthemknives,hatchets,orstringsofsilverybeads。Sometimeshiskindlyofferingswererepelledwithahaughtystare;atothertimestheywouldbeacceptedcoldly,suspiciously,asifthegiftsbroughtsomeunknownobligation。
Forawhitemanitwasanever—to—be—forgottenexperiencetoseeeightortenofthesegrim,slowlysteppingforestkings,arrayedinalltherichsplendoroftheircostume,stalkingamongtheteepeesoftheVillageofPeace。Somehow,suchaprocessionalwaysmadeJimshiver。Thesinging,prayingandpreachingtheyheardunmoved。Noemotionwasvisibleontheirbronzedfaces;nothingchangedtheirunalterablemien。Hadtheynotmoved,orgazedwithburningeyes,theywouldhavebeenstatues。WhenthesechieftainslookedattheconvertedIndians,someofwhomwerebravesoftheirnations,thecontemptintheirglancesbetrayedthattheynowregardedtheseChristianIndiansasbelongingtoanalienrace。
AmongthechiefsGlickhicanpointedouttoJimwereWingenund,theDelaware;
Tellane,theHalf—King;ShingissandKotoxen——alloftheWolftribeoftheDelawares。
GlickhicanwascarefultoexplainthattheDelawarenationhadbeendividedintotheWolfandTurtletribes,theformerwarlikepeople,andthelatterpeaceable。FewoftheWolftribehadgoneovertothenewfaith,andthosewhohadwerescorned。Wingenund,thegreatpoweroftheDelawares——indeed,thegreatestofallthewesterntribes——maintainedaneutralattitudetowardtheVillageofPeace。Butitwaswellknownthathisright—handwar—chiefs,PipeandWishtonah,remainedcoldlyopposed。
Jimturnedallhehadlearnedoverandoverinhismind,tryingtoconstructpartofittofitintoasermonthatwouldbedifferentfromanytheIndianshadeverheard。Hedidnotwanttopreachfarovertheirheads。Ifpossible,hedesiredtokeeptotheirideals——forhedeemedthemmorebeautifulthanhisown——andtoconducthisteachingalongthesimplelinesoftheirbelief,sothatwhenhestimulatedanddevelopedtheirmindshecouldpassfromwhattheyknewtotheunknownChristianityofthewhiteman。
HisfirstaddresstotheIndianswasmadeonedayduringtheindispositionofMr。Wells——whohadbeenover—workinghimself—andtheabsenceoftheothermissionaries。Hedidnotconsiderhimselfatallreadyforpreaching,andconfinedhiseffortstosimple,earnesttalk,arecitalofthethoughtshehadassimilatedwhilelivinghereamongtheIndians。
Amazementwouldnothavedescribedthestateofhisfeelingswhenhelearnedthathehadmadeapowerfulimpression。Theconvertswereloudinhispraise;
theunbelieverssilentandthoughtful。Inspiteofhimself,longbeforehehadbeenprepared,hewaslaunchedonhisteaching。Everydayhewascalledupontospeak;everydayonesavage,atleast,wasconvinced;everydaythethrongofinterestedIndianswasaugmented。Theeldermissionarieswerequiteovercomewithjoy;theypressedhimdayafterdaytospeak,untilatlengthhealonepreachedduringtheafternoonservice。
Thenewsflewapace;theVillageofPeaceentertainedmoreredmenthaneverbefore。Daybydaythefaithgainedastrongerfoothold。AkindofreligioustranceaffectedsomeoftheconvertedIndians,andthisgreatlyinfluencedthedoubtingones。ManyofthemhalfbelievedtheGreatManitouhadcome。
Heckewelder,theacknowledgedleaderofthewesternMoravianMission,visitedthevillageatthistime,and,struckbytheyoungmissionary\'ssuccess,arrangedathreedays\'religiousfestival。Indianrunnerswereemployedtocarryinvitationstoallthetribes。TheWyandotsinthewest,theShawneesinthesouth,andtheDelawaresinthenorthwereespeciallyrequestedtocome。
NodeceptionwaspracticedtolurethedistantsavagestotheVillageofPeace。Theywereaskedtocome,partakeofthefeasts,andlistentothewhiteman\'steaching。
ChapterXII。
\"TheGrovesWereGod\'sFirstTemples。\"
FromdawnuntilnoononSundaybandsofIndiansarrivedattheVillageofPeace。Hundredsofcanoesglideddowntheswiftstreamandbumpedtheirprowsintothepebblybeach。Groupsofmountedwarriorsrodeoutoftheforestsintotheclearing;squawswithpapooses,maidenscarryingwickerbaskets,andchildrenplayingwithrudetoys,cametroopingalongthebridle—paths。
Giftswerepresentedduringthemorning,afterwhichthevisitorswerefeasted。Intheafternoonallassembledinthegrovetohearthepreaching。
ThemaplegrovewhereintheservicewastobeconductedmighthavebeenintendedbyNatureforjustsuchapurposeasitnowfulfilled。Thesetreeswerelarge,spreading,andsituatedfarapart。Mossystonesandthethickcarpetofgrassaffordedseatsforthecongregation。
Heckewelder——atall,spare,andkindlyappearingman——directedthearrangingofthecongregation。HeplacedtheconvertedIndiansjustbehindtheknolluponwhichthepresidingministerwastostand。Inahalfcirclefacingtheknollheseatedthechieftainsandimportantpersonagesofthevarioustribes。
HethenmadeashortaddressintheIndianlanguage,speakingoftheworkofthemission,whatwondersithadaccomplished,whatmoregoodworkithopedtodo,andconcludedbyintroducingtheyoungmissionary。
WhileHeckewelderspoke,Jim,whostoodjustbehind,employedthefewmomentsinrunninghiseyeoverthemultitude。Thesightwhichmethisgazewasonehethoughthewouldneverforget。Aninvoluntarywordescapedhim。
\"Magnificent！\"heexclaimed。
Theshadygladehadbeentransformedintoatheater,fromwhichgazedathousanddark,stillfaces。Athousandeagleplumeswaved,andtenthousandbright—huedfeathersquiveredinthesoftbreeze。Thefantasticallydressedscalpspresentedacontrasttothesmooth,unadornedheadsoftheconvertedredmen。TheseproudplumesanddefiantfeatherstoldthedifferencebetweensavageandChristian。
Infrontoftheknollsatfiftychiefs,attentiveanddignified。
RepresentativesofeverytribeasfarwestastheSciotoRiverwerenumberedinthatcircle。Therewerechiefsrenownedforwar,forcunning,forvalor,forwisdom。Theirstatelypresencegavethemeetingtenfoldimportance。Couldthesechiefsbeinterested,moved,thewholewesternworldofIndiansmightbecivilized。
Hepote,aMaumeechief,ofwhomitwassaidhehadneverlistenedtowordsofthepaleface,hadthecentralpositioninthiscircle。Onhisrightandleft,respectively,satShaushotoandPipe,implacablefoesofallwhitemen。Thelatter\'saspectdidnotbeliehisreputation。Hiscopper—colored,repulsivevisagecompelledfear;itbreathedvindictivenessandmalignity。Asingularactionofhiswasthathealways,inwhatmusthavebeenhisarrogantvanity,turnedhisprofiletothosewhowatchedhim,anditwasaremarkableone;itslopedinanobliquelinefromthetopofhisforeheadtohisprotrudingchin,resemblingsomewhatthecarvedbowlofhispipe,whichwasofflintandafamedinheritancefromhisancestors。Fromithetookhisname。Onesolitaryeagleplume,itstipstainedvermilion,stuckfromhisscalp—lock。Itslatedbackwardonalinewithhisprofile。
Amongallthesechiefs,strikingastheywere,thefigureofWingenund,theDelaware,stoodoutalone。
Hispositionwasattheextremeleftofthecircle,whereheleanedagainstamaple。Along,blackmantle,trimmedwithspotlesswhite,envelopedhim。Onebronzedarm,circledbyaheavybraceletofgold,heldthemantlecloseabouthisloftyform。Hisheaddress,whichtrailedtotheground,wasexceedinglybeautiful。Theeagleplumeswereofuniformlengthandpurewhite,excepttheblack—pointedtips。
Athisfeetsathisdaughter,WhisperingWinds。Hermaidensweregatheredroundher。Sheraisedhersoft,blackeyes,shiningwithawondrouslightofsurpriseandexpectation,totheyoungmissionary\'sface。
BeyondthecircletheIndiansweremassedtogether,evenbeyondthelimitsoftheglade。Underthetreesoneverysidesatwarriorsastridetheirsteeds;
someloungedonthegreenturf;manyreclinedinthebranchesoflow—spreadingmaples。
AsJimlookedoutovertheseaoffaceshestartedinsurprise。Thesuddenglanceoffieryeyeshadimpelledhisgaze。HerecognizedSilvertip,theShawneechief。TheIndiansatmotionlessonapowerfulblackhorse。Jimstartedagain,forthehorsewasJoe\'sthoroughbred,Lance。ButJimhadnofurthertimetothinkofJoe\'senemy,forHeckeweldersteppedback。
Jimtookthevacatedseat,and,withafar—reaching,resonantvoicebeganhisdiscoursetotheIndians。
\"Chieftains,warriors,maidens,childrenoftheforest,listen,andyourearsshallhearnolie。IamcomefromwherethesunrisestotellyouoftheGreatSpiritofthewhiteman。
\"Many,manymoonsago,asmanyasbladesofgrassgrowonyonderplain,theGreatSpiritofwhomIshallspeakcreatedtheworld。Hemadethesparklinglakesandswiftrivers,theboundlessplainsandtangledforests,overwhichHecausedthesuntoshineandtheraintofall。Hegavelifetothekinglyelk,thegracefuldeer,therollingbison,thebear,thefox——allthebeastsandbirdsandfishes。ButHewasnotcontentfornothingHemadewasperfectinHissight。HecreatedthewhitemaninHisownimage,andfromthisfirstman\'sribHecreatedhismate——awoman。Heturnedthemfreeinabeautifulforest。
\"Lifewasfairinthebeautifulforest。Thesunshonealways,thebirdssang,thewatersflowedwithmusic,theflowerscastsweetfragranceontheair。Inthisforest,wherefruitbloomedalways,wasonetree,theTreeofLife,theappleofwhichtheymustnoteat。Inallthisbeautifulforestofabundancethisapplealonewasforbiddenthem。
\"Nowevilwasbornwithwoman。AserpenttemptedhertoeatoftheappleofLife,andshetemptedthemantoeat。FortheirsintheGreatSpiritcommandedtheserpenttocrawlforeveronhisbelly,andHedrovethemfromthebeautifulforest。Thepunishmentfortheirsinwastobevisitedontheirchildren\'schildren,always,untiltheendoftime。Thetwowentafarintothedarkforest,tolearntoliveasbesttheymight。Fromthemalltribesdescended。Theworldiswide。Awarriormightrunallhisdaysandnotreachthesettingsun,wheretribesofyellow—skinslive。Hemighttravelhalfhisdaystowardthesouth—wind,wheretribesofblack—skinsabound。Peopleofallcolorsinhabitedtheworld。Theylivedinhatredtowardoneanother。Theyshedeachother\'sblood;theystoleeachother\'slands,gold,andwomen。Theysinned。
\"ManymoonsagotheGreatSpiritsorrowedtoseeHischosentribe,thepalefaces,livinginignoranceandsin。HesentHisonlySontoredeemthem,andsaidiftheywouldlistenandbelieve,andteachtheothertribes,Hewouldforgivetheirsinandwelcomethemtothebeautifulforest。
\"Thatwasmoonsandmoonsago,whenthepalefacekilledhisbrotherforgoldandlands,andbeathiswomenslavestomakethemplanthiscorn。TheSonoftheGreatSpiritliftedthecloudfromthepalefaces\'eyes,andtheysawandlearned。SopleasedwastheGreatSpiritthatHemadethepalefaceswiserandwiser,andmasteroftheworld。Hebidthemgoafartoteachtheignoranttribes。
\"Toteachyouiswhytheyoungpalefacejourneyedfromtherisingsun。Hewantsnolandsorpower。Hehasgivenallthathehad。Hewalksamongyouwithoutgunorknife。Hecangainnothingbutthehappinessofopeningtheredmen\'seyes。
\"TheGreatSpiritofwhomIteachandtheGreatManitou,youridol,arethesame;thehappyhuntinggroundoftheIndianandthebeautifulforestofthepalefacearethesame;thepalefaceandtheredmanarethesame。ThereisbutoneGreatSpirit,thatisGod;butoneeternalhome,thatisheaven;butonehumanbeing,thatisman。
\"TheIndianknowsthehabitsofthebeaver;hecanfollowthepathsoftheforests;hecanguidehiscanoethroughthefoamingrapids;heishonest,heisbrave,heisgreat;butheisnotwise。Hiswisdomiscloudedwiththeoriginalsin。Helivesinidleness;hepaintshisface;hemakeshissquawlaborforhim,insteadoflaboringforher;hekillshisbrothers。Heworshipsthetreesandrocks。Ifhewerewisehewouldnotmakegodsoftheswiftarrowandboundingcanoe;ofthefloweringashandtheflamingflint。Forthesethingshavenotlife。Inhisdreamsheseeshisarrowspeedtothereelingdeer;inhisdreamsheseeshiscanoeshootoverthecrestofshiningwaves;
andinhismindhegivesthemlife。Whenhiseyesareopenedhewillseetheyhavenospirit。Thespiritisinhisownheart。Itguidesthearrowtotherunningdeer,andsteersthecanoeovertheswirlingcurrent。Thespiritmakeshimfindtheuntroddenpaths,anddobravedeeds,andlovehischildrenandhishonor。Itmakeshimmeethisfoefacetoface,andifheistodieitgiveshimstrengthtodie——aman。Thespiritiswhatmakeshimdifferentfromthearrow,thecanoe,themountain,andallthebirdsandbeasts。ForitisbornoftheGreatSpirit,thecreatorofall。Himyoumustworship。
\"Redmen,thisworshipisunderstandingyourspiritandteachingittodogooddeeds。ItiscalledChristianity。Christianityislove。IfyouwilllovetheGreatSpirityouwillloveyourwives,yourchildren,yourbrothers,yourfriends,yourfoes——youwilllovethepalefaces。Nomorewillyouidleinwinterandwagewarsinsummer。Youwillwearyourknifeandtomahawkonlywhenyouhuntformeat。Youwillbekind,gentle,loving,virtuous——youwillhavegrownwise。Whenyourdaysaredoneyouwillmeetallyourlovedonesinthebeautifulforest。There,wheretheflowersbloom,thefruitsripenalways,wherethepleasantwaterglidesandthesummerwindswhispersweetly,therepeacewilldwellforever。
\"Comrades,bewise,thinkearnestly。Forgetthewickedpaleface;fortherearemanywickedpalefaces。Theyselltheserpentfirewater;theylieandstealandkill。Thesepalefaces\'eyesarestillclouded。Iftheydonotopentheywillneverseethebeautifulforest。Youhavemuchtoforgive,butthosewhoforgivepleasetheGreatSpirit;youmustgiveyourselvestolove,butthosewholoveareloved;youmustwork,butthosewhoworkarehappy。
\"BeholdtheVillageofPeace！Onceitcontainedfew;nowtherearemany。
Whereoncethedarkforestshadedtheland,seethecabins,thefarms,thehorses,thecattle！Fieldonfieldofwaving,goldengrainshinethereunderyoureyes。Theearthhasblossomedabundance。Idlingandfightingmadenottheserichharvests。Beliefmadelove;lovemadewiseeyes;wiseeyessaw,andlo！therecameplenty。
\"Theproofofloveishappiness。TheseChristianIndiansarehappy。Theyareatpeacewiththeredmanandthepaleface。Theytillthefieldsandworkintheshops。Indaystocomecabinsandfarmsandfieldsofcornwillbetheirs。
Theywillbringuptheirchildren,nottohideintheforesttoslay,buttowalkhandinhandwiththepalefacesasequals。
\"Oh,openyourears！Godspeakstoyou;peaceawaitsyou！Castthebitternessfromyourhearts;itistheserpent—poison。Whileyouhate,GodshutsHiseyes。Youaregreatonthetrail,inthecouncil,inwar;nowbegreatinforgiveness。Forgivethepalefaceswhohaverobbedyouofyourlands。Thenwillcomepeace。Ifyoudonotforgive,thewarwillgoon;youwillloselandsandhomes,tofindunmarkedgravesundertheforestleaves。Revengeissweet;butitisnotwise。Thepriceofrevengeisbloodandlife。Rootitoutofyourhearts。LovetheseChristianIndians;lovethemissionariesastheyloveyou;lovealllivingcreatures。Yourdaysarebutfew;therefore,ceasethethestrife。Letussay,\'Brothers,thatisGod\'sword,Hislaw;thatislove;thatisChristianity！\'Ifyouwillsayfromyourheart,brother,youareaChristian。
\"Brothers,thepalefaceteacherbeseechesyou。Thinknotofthislong,bloodywar,ofyourdishonoreddead,ofyoursilencedwigwams,ofyournamelessgraves,ofyourhomelesschildren。Thinkofthefuture。Onewordfromyouwillmakepeaceoverallthisbroadland。ThepalefacemusthonoraChristian。HecanstealnoChristian\'sland。Allthepalefaces,asmanyasthestarsofthegreatwhitepath,darenotinvadetheVillageofPeace。ForGodsmileshere。
ListentoHiswords:\'Comeuntomeallthatarewearyandheavyladen,andI
willgiveyourest。\'\"
Overthemultitudebroodedanimpressive,solemnsilence。ThenanagedDelawarechiefrose,withamienofprofoundthought,andslowlypacedbeforethecircleofchiefs。Presentlyhestopped,turnedtotheawaitingIndians,andspoke:
\"NetawatweesisalmostpersuadedtobeaChristian。\"Heresumedhisseat。
Anotherintervalofpenetratingquietensued。Atlengthavenerable—lookingchieftaingotup:
\"WhiteEyeshearstherumblingthunderinhisears。Thesmokeblowsfromhiseyes。WhiteEyesistheoldestchiefoftheLenni—Lenape。Hisdaysaremany;
theyarefull;theydrawneartheeveningofhislife;herejoicesthatwisdomiscomebeforehissunisset。
\"WhiteEyesbelievestheyoungWhiteFather。ThewaysoftheGreatSpiritaremanyastheflutteringleaves;theyarestrangeandsecretastheflightofaloon;WhiteEyesbelievestheredman\'shappyhuntinggroundsneednotbeforgottentolovethepalefaces\'God。Asayoungbravepantsandpuzzlesoverhisfirsttrail,sothegrownwarriorfeelsinhisunderstandingofhisGod。
Hegropesblindlythroughdarkravines。
\"WhiteEyesspeaksfewwordsto—day,forheislearningwisdom;hebidshispeoplehearkentothevoiceoftheWhiteFather。Wariswrong;peaceisbest。
Loveisthewaytopeace。ThepalefaceadvancesonestepnearerhisGod。Helaborsforhishome;hekeepsthepeace;heasksbutlittle;hefreeshiswomen。Thatiswell。WhiteEyeshasspoken。\"
TheoldchiefslowlyadvancedtowardtheChristianIndians。Helaidasidehisknifeandtomahawk,andthenhiseagleplumesandwar—bonnet。Bareheaded,heseatedhimselfamongtheconvertedredmen。Theybeganchantinginlow,murmuringtones。
Amidthebreathlesssilencethatfollowedthisactofsuchgreatsignificance,Wingenundadvancedtowardtheknollwithslow,statelystep。Hisdarkeyesweptthegladewithlightningscorn;hisglancealonerevealedthepassionthatswayedhim。
\"Wingenund\'searsarekeen;theyhaveheardafeatherfallinthestorm;nowtheyhearasoft—voicedthrush。Wingenundthunderstohispeople,tohisfriends,tothechiefsofothertribes:\'Donotburythehatchet！\'TheyoungWhiteFather\'stonguerunssmoothliketheglidingbrook;itsingsasthethrushcallsitsmate。Listen;butwait,wait！Lettimeprovehisbeautifultale;letthemoonsgobyovertheVillageofPeace。
\"Wingenunddoesnotflaunthiswisdom。Hehasgrownoldamonghiswarriors;helovesthem;hefearsforthem。Thedreamofthepalefaces\'beautifulforestglimmersastherainbowglowsoverthelaughingfallsoftheriver。Thedreamofthepalefaceistoobeautifultocometrue。Inthedaysoflongago,whenWingenund\'sforefathersheardnotthepaleface\'sax,theylivedinloveandhappinesssuchastheyoungWhiteFatherdreamsmaycomeagain。Theywagednowars。Awhitedovesatineverywigwam。Thelandsweretheirsandtheywererich。Thepalefacecamewithhisleadendeath,hisburningfirewater,hisringingax,andthegloryoftheredmenfadedforever。
\"Wingenundseeksnottoinflamehisbravestoanger。Heissickofblood—spilling——notfromfear;forWingenundcannotfeelfear。Butheaskshispeopletowait。Remember,thegiftsofthepalefaceevercontainedapoisonedarrow。Wingenund\'sheartissore。Thedayoftheredmanisgone。Hissunissetting。Wingenundfeelsalreadythegrayshadesofevening。\"
Hestoppedonelongmomentasiftogatherbreathforhisfinalchargetohislisteners。Thenwithamagnificentgesturehethundered:
\"IstheDelawareafool？WhenWingenundcancrossunarmedtotheBigWaterheshallchangehismind。WhenDeathwindceasestoblowhisbloodytrailoverthefallenleavesWingenundwillbelieve。\"
ChapterXIII。
Asthesummerwaned,eachsucceedingday,withitsmelancholycalm,itschanginglightsandshades,itscool,dampeveningwinds,growingmoreandmoresuggestiveofautumn,thelittlecolonyofwhitepeopleintheVillageofPeaceledbusy,eventfullives。
UpwardsoffiftyIndians,severalofthemimportantchiefs,hadbecomeconvertedsincetheyoungmissionarybeganpreaching。Heckewelderdeclaredthatthiswasawonderfulshowing,andifitcouldbekeptupwouldresultingainingaholdontheIndiantribeswhichmightnotbeshaken。HeckewelderhadsucceededininterestingthesavageswestoftheVillageofPeacetotheextentofpermittinghimtoestablishmissionarypostsintwootherlocalities——onenearGoshhocking,aDelawaretown;andoneontheMuskingong,theprincipalriverrunningthroughcentralOhio。Hehad,withhishelpers,YoungandEdwards,journeyedfromtimetotimetothesepoints,preaching,makinggifts,andsolicitinghelpfromchiefs。
Themostinterestingfeature,perhaps,ofthevariedlifeofthemissionarypartywasarivalrybetweenYoungandEdwardsfortheelderMissWells。
UsuallyNell\'sattractivenessappealedmoretomenthanKate\'s;however,inthisinstance,althoughthesoberteachersofthegospeladmiredNell\'swinsomebeauty,theyfellinlovewithKate。Themissionarieswerebothunderforty,andgood,honestmen,devotedtotheworkwhichhadengrossedthemforyears。Althoughtheywereardentlovers,certainlytheywerenotpicturesque。
Twohomeliermencouldhardlyhavebeenfound。Moreover,thesacrificeoftheirlivestomissionaryworkhadtakenthemfarfromthecompanionshipofwomenoftheirownrace,sothattheylackedtheeaseofmannerwhichwomenliketoseeinmen。YoungandEdwardswereawkward,almostuncouth。
EmbarrassmentwouldnothavedonejusticetotheirstateoffeelingwhilebaskingintheshineofKate\'squietsmile。Theywerehappy,foolish,andspeechless。
IfKatesharedinthemerrimentoftheothers——Heckeweldercouldnotconcealhis,andNelldidnottryveryhardtohidehers——sheneverallowedasuspicionofittoescape。Shekepttheeasy,eventenorofherlife,alwayskindandgraciousinherquaintway,andpreciselythesametobothherlovers。Nodoubtshewellknewthateachpossessed,underallhisroughexterior,aheartofgold。
OnedaythegenialHeckewelderlost,orpretendedtolose,hispatience。
\"Say,youworthygentlemenarebecomingornamentalinsteadofuseful。Allthischangingofcoats,trimmingofmustaches,andeloquentsighingdoesn\'tseemtohaveaffectedtheyounglady。I\'veanotiontosendyoubothtoMaumeetown,onehundredmilesaway。Thisyoungladyischarming,Iadmit,butifsheistokeeponseriouslyhinderingtheworkoftheMoravianMissionImustobject。Asforthatmatter,Imighttryconclusionsmyself。I\'masyoungaseitherofyou,and,Iflattermyself,muchhandsomer。You\'llhaveadangerousrivalpresently。Settleit！Youcan\'tbothhaveher;settleit！\"
Thisoutburstfromtheirusuallykindleaderplacedtheearnestbutawkwardgentlemeninaterribleplight。
OntheafternoonfollowingthecrisisHeckeweldertookMr。WellstooneoftheIndianshops,andJimandNellwentcanoeing。YoungandEdwards,afterconferringforonelong,tryinghour,determinedonsettlingthequestion。
Youngwasapale,slightman,veryhomelyexceptwhenhesmiled。Hissmilenotonlybrokeuptheplainnessofhisface,butseemedtochaseawayaseriousshadow,allowinghiskindly,gentlespirittoshinethrough。Hewasnervous,andhadatimidmanner。Edwardswashisopposite,beingamanofrobustframe,withaheavyface,andamannerthatwouldhavesuggestedself—confidenceinanotherman。
Theyweretrueandtriedfriends。
\"Dave,Icouldn\'taskher,\"saidYoung,tremblingattheverythought。
\"Besides,there\'snohopeforme。Iknowit。That\'swhyI\'mafraid,whyI
don\'twanttoaskher。What\'dsuchagloriouscreatureseeinapoor,punylittlethinglikeme？\"
\"George,you\'renotover—handsome,\"admittedDave,shakinghishead。\"Butyoucannevertellaboutwomen。Sometimestheylikeevenlittle,insignificantfellows。Don\'tbetooscaredaboutaskingher。Besides,itwillmakeiteasierforme。Youmighttellheraboutme——youknow,sortoffeelherout,soI\'d———\"
Dave\'svoicefailedhimhere;buthehadsaidenough,andthatwasmostdiscouragingtopoorGeorge。Davewassobusyscrewinguphiscouragethatheforgotallabouthisfriend。
\"No;Icouldn\'t,\"gaspedGeorge,fallingintoachair。Hewasghastlypale。\"I
couldn\'taskhertoacceptme,letalonedoanotherman\'swooing。Shethinksmoreofyou。She\'llacceptyou。\"
\"Youreallythinkso？\"whisperedDave,nervously。
\"Iknowshewill。You\'resuchafine,bigfigureofaman。She\'lltakeyou,andI\'llbeglad。Thisfeverandfrettinghasaboutfinishedme。Whenshe\'syoursI\'llnotbesobad。I\'llbehappyinyourhappiness。But,Dave,you\'llletmeseeheroccasionally,won\'tyou？Go！Hurry——getitover！\"
\"Yes;wemusthaveitover,\"repliedDave,gettingupwithabrave,effort。
Truly,ifhecarriedthatdeterminedfronttohislady—lovehewouldlooklikeamasterfullover。Butwhenhegottothedoorhedidnotatallresembleaconqueror。
\"You\'resureshe——caresforme？\"askedDave,forthehundredthtime。Thistime,asalways,hisfriendwasfaithfulandconvincing。
\"Iknowshedoes。Go——hurry。ItellyouIcan\'tstandthisanylonger,\"criedGeorge,pushingDaveoutofthedoor。
\"Youwon\'tgo——first？\"whisperedDave,clingingtothedoor。
\"Iwon\'tgoatall。Icouldn\'taskher——Idon\'twanther——go！Getout！\"
Davestartedreluctantlytowardtheadjoiningcabin,fromtheopenwindowofwhichcamethesongoftheyoungwomanwhowasresponsibleforallthistrouble。Georgeflunghimselfonhisbed。Whatarelieftofeelitwasallover！Helaytherewithevesshutforhours,asitseemed。AfteratimeDavecamein。Georgeleapedtohisfeetandsawhisfriendstumblingoverachair。
Somehow,Davedidnotlookasusual。Heseemedchanged,orshrunken,andhisfaceworeadiscomfited,miserableexpression。
\"Well？\"criedGeorge,sharply。Eventohishighlyexcitedimaginationthisdidnotseemtheproperconditionforavictoriouslover。
\"Sherefused——refusedme,\"falteredDave。\"Shewasverysweetandkind;saidsomethingaboutbeingmysister——Idon\'trememberjustwhat——butshewouldn\'thaveme。\"
\"Whatdidyousaytoher？\"whisperedGeorge,aparalyzinghopealmostrenderinghimspeechless。
\"I——ItoldhereverythingIcouldthinkof,\"repliedDave,despondently;\"evenwhatyousaid。\"
\"WhatIsaid？Dave,whatdidyoutellherIsaid？\"
\"Why,youknow——aboutshecaredforme——thatyouweresureofit,andthatyoudidn\'twanther———\"
\"Jackass！\"roaredGeorge,risingoutofhismeeknesslikealionrousedfromslumber。
\"Didn\'tyou——sayso？\"inquiredDave,weakly。
\"No！No！No！Idiot！\"
Asonepossessed,Georgerushedoutofthecabin,andamomentlaterstooddisheveledandfranticbeforeKate。
\"DidthatfoolsayIdidn\'tloveyou？\"hedemanded。
Katelookedup,startled;butasanunderstandingofGeorge\'swildaspectandwilderwordsdawneduponher,sheresumedherusualcalmdemeanor。LookingagaintoseeifthispassionateyoungmanwasindeedGeorge,sheturnedherfaceasshesaid:
\"IfyoumeanMr。Edwards,yes;Ibelievehedidsayasmuch。Indeed,fromhismanner,heseemedtohavemonopolizedalltheloveneartheVillageofPeace。\"
\"Butit\'snottrue。Idoloveyou。Iloveyoutodistraction。IhavelovedyoueversinceIfirstsawyou。ItoldDavethat。Heckewelderknowsit;eventheIndiansknowit,\"criedGeorge,protestingvehementlyagainstthedisparagingallusiontohisaffections。Hedidnotrealizehewasmakingamostimpassioneddeclarationoflove。Whenhewasquiteoutofbreathhesatdownandwipedhismoistbrow。
ApinkbloomtingedKate\'scheeks,andhereyesglowedwithahappylight;butGeorgeneversawthesewomanlyevidencesofpleasure。
\"OfcourseIknowyoudon\'tcareforme———\"
\"DidMr。Edwardstellyouso？\"askedKate,glancingupquickly。
\"Why,yes,hehasoftensaidhethoughtthat。Indeed,healwaysseemedtoregardhimselfasthefortunateobjectofyouraffections。Ialwaysbelievedhewas。\"
\"Butitwasn\'ttrue。\"
\"What？\"
\"It\'snottrue。\"
\"What\'snottrue？\"
\"Oh——aboutmy——notcaring。\"
\"Kate！\"criedGeorge,quiteovercomewithrapture。Hefellovertwochairsgettingtoher;buthesucceeded,andfellonhiskneestokissherhand。
\"Foolishboy！Ithasbeenyouallthetime,\"whisperedKate,withherquietsmile。
\"Lookhere,Downs;cometothedoor。Seethere,\"saidHeckeweldertoJim。
SomewhatsurprisedatHeckewelder\'sgravetone,Jimgotupfromthesupper—tableandlookedoutofthedoor。HesawtwotallIndianspacingtoandfrounderthemaples。Itwasstillearlytwilightandlightenoughtoseeclearly。OneIndianwasalmostnaked;thelithe,gracefulsymmetryofhisdarkfigurestandingoutinsharpcontrasttothegaunt,gaudily—costumedformoftheother。
\"Silvertip！Girty！\"exclaimedJim,inalowvoice。
