The Knight Of The Golden Melice by John Turvill Adams (web based ebook reader txt) 📖

Untutored Politeness Of His Red

Companion, And Desirous To Please Him In All Respects, Did Not Deny

His Guest The Stimulus Of Strong Water; Taking Care, Nevertheless,

That The Wine Drunk Should Be In Too Small Quantities To Affect Him

Injuriously. Of This, Waqua Partook With Peculiar Zest, And It Is

Fortunate That He Had One More Prudent Than Himself To Stop Him Before

Temperate Indulgence Became Excess. For So Great Is The Delight Which

The Indian Temperament Derives From The Use Of Intoxicating Drinks,

That It Is Difficult To Regulate The Appetite. Brought Up Without Much

Self-Control, If Civilization Be Taken As A Standard,--Regardless Of

The Past, Heedless Of The Future, And Mindful Only Of The

Present,--The Wild Child Of Nature Quaffs With Eager Joy The

Fire-Water, Which Seems To Bring Him Inspiration, And To Extend The

Bounds Of Existence.

  

 

"Waqua Knows," Said The Savage, Holding Up His Cup At The End Of The

Meal, "That The Great Spirit Loves His White Children Very Much, Else

Never Would He Have Given Them The Dancing Fire-Water That Streams

Through Me Like The Sun Through Morning Clouds."

 

  

"Beware," Said Arundel, "That It Be Not More Like The Lightning, Which

Marks Its Path With Destruction. But, Waqua, Come Thou Now With Me. I

Saw No Red Cloth In Thy Lodge, And There Was But Little Paint In Thy

Pot, And I Know Where There Is Plenty."

  

 

"My Brother Is An Open Hand, And Will Make Waqua's Wigwam As Gay As

The Breast Of The Gues-Ques-Kes-Cha."

  

 

With These Words, The Indian Followed Arundel Into The Street, Walking

In His Tracks, And The Two Pursued Their Way In The Direction Of One

Of The Principal Store-Houses.

 

  

The Street Led Directly By The House Of The Assistant Spikeman, And,

As They Passed, The Eyes Of The Young Man Were Busy, As Was Natural,

To Discover Traces Of His Mistress. Nor Was He Doomed To

Disappointment. As He Came Opposite, A Casement Opened, A Small White

Hand Was Thrust Out, And Beckoned To Him. Thus Invited, Arundel

Stepped Within The Door, Whither He Was Followed By The Savage. In

Those Days, The Simple Forest Children Thought There Was No Harm In

Asking For A Hospitality They Were Ever Ready To Grant Themselves, And

Which They Considered A Duty; Nor Inasmuch As They Never Attempted To

Take Away Anything By Violence, But Thankfully Accepted Whatever Was

Offered To Them, Were Their Visits Generally Discouraged. Indeed, The

Importance Of Treating Them With Indulgence Was Sedulously Inculcated

By Both Elders And Magistrates, As Being Conducive To Their Own

Security As Well As From Higher Motives. The Expediency Of Such

Conduct Was So Obvious That Few Were Found To Disregard It. Hence The

Indians, On Their Visits To The Settlement, Were Accustomed, If They

Wanted Food, Or To Enter The Houses For Any Other Purpose, To Step In

With The Same Freedom Almost As Into Their Own Wigwams. If Now And

Then A Circumstance Occurred Inconsistent With The Sacred Duty Of

Hospitality, It Was Not Considered As Reflecting Disgrace Upon The

Whole Community, But Only On The Sordid Churl Who Was The Occasion Of

It, And Whose Domicile Was Ever Afterwards Carefully Avoided.

  

 

The Young Man And His Dusky Companion Were Met By Prudence, Who, While

Conducting Them Into A Room, Whispered:

  

 

"Why, Master Miles, Who Expected To See You? People Said You Was Ever

So Far Away In The Woods, Living With Bears And Wolves. Have You Got

One Here?"

 

 

"Poh, Poh! Pretty Prudence, No One Hath Better Reason To Look For Me

Than Thyself, Seeing Thy Message Brought Me. As For My Copper Friend,

He Is The Gentlest Savage That Ever Took A Scalp. Do Not Be

Frightened, And Clap Thy Hand On Thy Head: He Will None Of Thine. But

Thy Mistress, Where Is She?"

  

 

"I Declare, Master Miles, You Have Scared Almost All The Breath Out Of

My Body. Oh! How My Heart Beats! Follow Me Quick, For I Want To Get

Out Of The Way."

 

  

"Waqua Will Wait For His Brother Here," Said The Young Man, Turning To

His Follower, Whose Eyes He Noticed Were Fastened On A Full Length

Portrait Hanging On The Wall; "For Which Reason," He Added "And,

During My Absence, May Make Acquaintance Ith The Venerable Ancestor Of

Master Spikeman, Who Hath Followed His Descendant's Fortunes Across

The Sea."

  

 

He Waited For No Reply, Such Was His Impatience To See His Mistress;

But, Preceded By Prudence, Hastily Left The Apartment, And Was Ushered

Into The Presence Of The Young Lady.

  

 

One Who Saw Eveline Dunning Would Never Have Wondered That Her Lover

Had Followed Her To The New World. She Was One Of Those Charming

Beings Who Are Irresistibly Attractive--Whom To Behold Is To Love, And

Whose Presence "Clothes The Meanest Thing In Light." Her Features Were

Regular, Her Complexion Delicate And Brilliant, Her Eyes Blue And

Sparkling, And Her Hair Of A Rich Brown. Those Blue Eyes Were Commonly

Calm And Soft, Though There Were Times When They Could Kindle Up And

Flash, And The Full Red Lips Became Compressed, Hinting At An Energy

Of Character Which Required Only Circumstances To Call It Forth Into

Exercise. Her Person Was Of The Ordinary Height, And Most Perfectly

Formed, And She Moved With A Grace Which Only Faultless Proportions

And High Breeding Can Impart.

  

 

"My Eveline, My Best And My Dearest," Said Arundel, Imprinting A Kiss

Upon The Blushing Cheek She Nevertheless Offered Him, Even Before The

Considerate Prudence Had Retired, Shutting The Door After Her, "How

Blessed Am I, Once More To Breathe The Air Sweetened By Thy Breath."

  

 

He Led Her To A Seat, And, Retaining Her Hand, Sat Down By Her Side. 

 

 

"And How Dearly I Love To Have Thee Near Me, Miles," She Answered;

"The Perils I Make Thee Encounter For My Sake Too Plainly Tell."

 

  

"Nay, Sweet, The Danger Is Only In Thy Imagination. Conscious That The

Right Is On Our Side, We May Defy Master Spikeman And All His Wicked

Devices, Certain That We Shall Yet Triumph Over Them."

  

 

"Would That I Felt Thy Confidence, But Sometimes I Am Quite Sad."

  

 

"Dearest Eveline, Why Thus Cast Down?" Exclaimed Arundel, Looking At

Her Anxiously And Kissing Off A Tear. "Has Anything Happened? What

Makes Thee Unhappy? Of What Art Afraid?"

 

  

"Not Cast Down, Not Unhappy, Not Afraid, Miles, But Anxious On Thy

Account, And Weary Of Imprisonment. My Jailer Hath Lately Dropped Some

Threats Respecting Thee Which Have Filled Me With Apprehension, And It

Was In Consequence Of My Grief Thereat, And Of Something I Said, That

Prudence, Without My Knowledge, Sent Thee A Message, As She Afterwards

Told Me."

  

 

"And I Hope Thou Art Not Angry With Her For Being The Cause Of My

Present Happiness?"

  

 

"I Feel Not Like Chiding Her Or Any One," Answered Eveline, Smiling,

"But Would Speak Seriously During The Few Moments We Are Together. Oh!

Miles, I Have It From A Sure Hand, (Though Thou Must Not Inquire

Thereafter), That Master Spikeman Is Endeavoring To Poison The Minds

Of The Governor And Of The Assistants With False Reports Against Thee,

Such As That Thou Art Disaffected Against The Government. Oh! Miles,

Be Prudent; For If Anything Were To Happen To Thee It Would Make Me

Very Unhappy."

  

 

"The Lying Varlet! The Cozening Knave!" Exclaimed The Young Man,

Indignantly. "So This Is The Way Whereby He Designs To Accomplish His

Purpose! But I Defy His Machinations. I Have An Advantage Over Him

Whereof He Knows Not."

  

 

"What Is That, Miles?" Inquired Eveline, Seeing That He Hesitated.

  

 

"He, Whose The Right Is, Hath Every Advantage Over Him In The Wrong,"

Answered Her Lover, Rather Evasively; "But Would That I Could Persuade

Thee To Cut The Gordian Knot And Put An End To This Torturing

Suspense, By Flying With Me, And Giving Me A Lawful Right To Be Thy

Protector According To The Wishes Of Thy Father."

  

 

"Cease, Miles, And Do Not Importune Me In A Matter Wherein The

Impulses Of My Heart Make Me But Too Ready To Forget The Suggestions

Of Prudence." 

 

 

"But How Long Mean You To Submit To This Unjust Violence?"

  

 

"I Know Not. Be Assured, However, That Nothing But Dire Necessity

Shall Induce Me To Take A Step, The Thought Of Which Burns My Cheeks

With Blushes."

  

 

"Do You Distrust Me, Eveline?" Said Arundel, Reproachfully. 

 

 

"No; But It Becomes Eveline Dunning; It Becomes One Whom Thou Hast

Thought Worthy To Be Sought For Across A Stormy Ocean; It Becomes The

Descendant Of A Long Line Of Honorable Ancestors; It Becomes A Woman,

Whether In The Thickly Peopled City Or In The Wilderness, Among

Strangers Or With Her Own Kindred, To Avoid Even The Appearance Of

Evil. Much Will I Endure, And Long Will I Bear My Thraldom, Before I

Will Allow The Thought Of Such A Mode Of Deliverance To Harbor In My

Mind."

  

 

"My Judgment Tells Me Thou Art Right, Eveline, However Much My Heart

Rebels; But Is There No Emergency Which Can Make Thee Cast Off This

Slavery?" 

 

 

"None Such Has Arisen, And Whatever Difficulties May Harrass Me, I

Hope To Be Equal To Them." 

 

 

"And Years, Long Years, May Drag Along With Weary Feet, While We Are

Wasting Our Youth In Hopeless Sighs Over The Tyranny Of A Heartless

Villain, Lingering In This Dreary Land, Where A Smile Is A Vanity And

A Light Heart A Crime."

 

  

"Does It Pain Thee So Much," Inquired Eveline, Half Reproachfully, "To

Remain In The Wilderness?"

 

  

"Nay, Lovely One, Where Thou Art Is No Wilderness, But A Paradise.

Hither I Came, Attracted By The Love That Binds My Soul To Thine, And

This Land Will I Never Leave Alone. A Cabin With Thee In These Wilds

Were Better Than A Palace Ungraced By Thy Presence."

  

 

"I Thank Thee, Miles, And Thy Words Strengthen My Courage. So Long As

Thou Feelest Thus, I Cannot Be Unhappy. But Shouldst Thou Ever Change;

Shouldst Thou Weary Of The Delays And Vexations Which Thy Love For

Eveline Dunning Doth Impose, Hesitate Not To Avow It, And Thou Shalt

Be Free, Though My Heart Break In Bidding Thee Farewell."

  

 

"Eveline, Dearest Eveline," Cried Her Lover, Catching Her To His

Bosom, "How Canst Thou Speak Thus? He Who Hath Found Heaven Will Never

Voluntarily Resign It."

  

 

But Why Pursue A Discourse Which Can Have But Little Interest Except

For The Speakers? The Reader Will Suppose The Further Conversation

Which Would Naturally Take Place Between Two Young Persons In Their

Situation. Owing To The Vigilance Of Spikeman, It Was A Long Time (So

At Least It Seemed To Them) Since They Had Met, And The Interview Was

Sweeter For That Reason. While The Precious Moments Are Flitting By

Them Unheeded, Let Us Return To Waqua.

 

  

The Indian Was So Absorbed In The Contemplation Of The Portrait, That

He Paid No Attention To The Jesting Observation Made By Arundel As He

Left The Room, But Continued Motionless, Gazing Fixedly Upon It. It

Represented A Man Of Middle Age, Of A Stern And Somewhat Forbidding

Countenance, Standing With The Open Palm Of The Right Hand Thrown

Forward, As If He Were Addressing The Spectator. It Was Exceedingly

Well Done,--So Graceful Was The Attitude, So Boldly Stood Out The

Figure, So Admirable Was The Coloring, So Illusive The Air Of Life. It

Was The First Portrait That Waqua Had Seen, And He Very Naturally

Mistook It For A Living Person.

  

 

Seeing, As He Supposed, A Man With Eyes Fastened On Him, Standing In

An Attitude Soliciting Attention, And As If Only Waiting Until The

Conversation Between Those Who Entered Should Cease, To Address Him,

Waqua, With Instinctive Politeness, Had Stopped, And Looking Full At

The Painting, Awaited The Speech. He Was Somewhat Surprised And

Scandalized, Under The Circumstances, At The Garrulity Of His

Companions, And, To Confess The Truth, Arundel Sunk Considerably In

His Estimation. However, He Made All Allowances For The Rude Manners

Of The Whites And Differences Of Customs, Though Hardly Restrained By

Such Considerations From Uttering A Rebuke For The Others' Want Of

Respect To Age, And To The Master Of The House, For Whom He Took The

Picture. As, After Arundel And The Girl Left The Apartment, The Figure

Remained Standing, With Eyes Fastened On Waqua, And His Hand

Continually Extended, The Indian, Considering It An Invitation To Be

Seated, Sat Down In A Chair. He Expected Now To Be Addressed, And

Modestly Dropping His Eyes Waited For What Should Be Said. Thus Sat

Waqua, Until, Surprised At The Continued Silence Of The Other, He

Raised His Eyes, And Beheld Him Still In The Same Position, With Lips

Partly Open, Yet Emitting No Sound. The Situation Of The Indian Now

Became More And More Embarrassing, And He Hesitated What Course To

Pursue. Greatly Perplexed, He Turned The Matter Over And Over, Until

Finally He Reached The Conclusion That This Was A Mode Of Welcome

Among The White Men, And That The Politeness Of The Other Kept Him

Silent, In Order That The Visitor Should First Take Up The Word, In

Which Opinion He Was Confirmed By The Sedate And Unmoved Expression Of

The Face. With Such A Notion Occupying His