the spirit of the border-第23节
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women。 That is well。 White Eyes has spoken。〃
The old chief slowly advanced toward the Christian Indians。 He laid aside his
knife and tomahawk； and then his eagle plumes and war…bonnet。 Bareheaded； he
seated himself among the converted redmen。 They began chanting in low；
murmuring tones。
Amid the breathless silence that followed this act of such great significance；
Wingenund advanced toward the knoll with slow； stately step。 His dark eye
swept the glade with lightning scorn； his glance alone revealed the passion
that swayed him。
〃Wingenund's ears are keen； they have heard a feather fall in the storm； now
they hear a soft…voiced thrush。 Wingenund thunders to his people； to his
friends； to the chiefs of other tribes： 'Do not bury the hatchet！' The young
White Father's tongue runs smooth like the gliding brook； it sings as the
thrush calls its mate。 Listen； but wait； wait！ Let time prove his beautiful
tale； let the moons go by over the Village of Peace。
〃Wingenund does not flaunt his wisdom。 He has grown old among his warriors； he
loves them； he fears for them。 The dream of the palefaces' beautiful forest
glimmers as the rainbow glows over the laughing falls of the river。 The dream
of the paleface is too beautiful to come true。 In the days of long ago； when
Wingenund's forefathers heard not the paleface's ax； they lived in love and
happiness such as the young White Father dreams may come again。 They waged no
wars。 A white dove sat in every wigwam。 The lands were theirs and they were
rich。 The paleface came with his leaden death； his burning firewater； his
ringing ax； and the glory of the redmen faded forever。
〃Wingenund seeks not to inflame his braves to anger。 He is sick of
blood…spillingnot from fear； for Wingenund cannot feel fear。 But he asks his
people to wait。 Remember； the gifts of the paleface ever contained a poisoned
arrow。 Wingenund's heart is sore。 The day of the redman is gone。 His sun is
setting。 Wingenund feels already the gray shades of evening。〃
He stopped one long moment as if to gather breath for his final charge to his
listeners。 Then with a magnificent gesture he thundered：
〃Is the Delaware a fool？ When Wingenund can cross unarmed to the Big Water he
shall change his mind。 When Deathwind ceases to blow his bloody trail over the
fallen leaves Wingenund will believe。〃
Chapter XIII。
As the summer waned； each succeeding day； with its melancholy calm； its
changing lights and shades； its cool； damp evening winds； growing more and
more suggestive of autumn； the little colony of white people in the Village of
Peace led busy； eventful lives。
Upwards of fifty Indians； several of them important chiefs； had become
converted since the young missionary began preaching。 Heckewelder declared
that this was a wonderful showing； and if it could be kept up would result in
gaining a hold on the Indian tribes which might not be shaken。 Heckewelder
had succeeded in interesting the savages west of the Village of Peace to the
extent of permitting him to establish missionary posts in two other
localitiesone near Goshhocking； a Delaware town； and one on the Muskingong；
the principal river running through central Ohio。 He had； with his helpers；
Young and Edwards； journeyed from time to time to these points； preaching；
making gifts； and soliciting help from chiefs。
The most interesting feature； perhaps； of the varied life of the missionary
party was a rivalry between Young and Edwards for the elder Miss Wells。
Usually Nell's attractiveness appealed more to men than Kate's； however； in
this instance； although the sober teachers of the gospel admired Nell's
winsome beauty； they fell in love with Kate。 The missionaries were both under
forty； and good； honest men； devoted to the work which had engrossed them for
years。 Although they were ardent lovers； certainly they were not picturesque。
Two homelier men could hardly have been found。 Moreover； the sacrifice of
their lives to missionary work had taken them far from the companionship of
women of their own race； so that they lacked the ease of manner which women
like to see in men。 Young and Edwards were awkward； almost uncouth。
Embarrassment would not have done justice to their state of feeling while
basking in the shine of Kate's quiet smile。 They were happy； foolish； and
speechless。
If Kate shared in the merriment of the othersHeckewelder could not conceal
his； and Nell did not try very hard to hide hersshe never allowed a
suspicion of it to escape。 She kept the easy； even tenor of her life； always
kind and gracious in her quaint way； and precisely the same to both her
lovers。 No doubt she well knew that each possessed； under all his rough
exterior； a heart of gold。
One day the genial Heckewelder lost； or pretended to lose； his patience。
〃Say； you worthy gentlemen are becoming ornamental instead of useful。 All this
changing of coats； trimming of mustaches； and eloquent sighing doesn't seem to
have affected the young lady。 I've a notion to send you both to Maumee town；
one hundred miles away。 This young lady is charming； I admit； but if she is to
keep on seriously hindering the work of the Moravian Mission I must object。 As
for that matter； I might try conclusions myself。 I'm as young as either of
you； and； I flatter myself； much handsomer。 You'll have a dangerous rival
presently。 Settle it！ You can't both have her； settle it！〃
This outburst from their usually kind leader placed the earnest but awkward
gentlemen in a terrible plight。
On the afternoon following the crisis Heckewelder took Mr。 Wells to one of the
Indian shops； and Jim and Nell went canoeing。 Young and Edwards； after
conferring for one long； trying hour； determined on settling the question。
Young was a pale； slight man； very homely except when he smiled。 His smile not
only broke up the plainness of his face； but seemed to chase away a serious
shadow； allowing his kindly； gentle spirit to shine through。 He was nervous；
and had a timid manner。 Edwards was his opposite； being a man of robust frame；
with a heavy face； and a manner that would have suggested self…confidence in
another man。
They were true and tried friends。
〃Dave； I couldn't ask her；〃 said Young； trembling at the very thought。
〃Besides； there's no hope for me。 I know it。 That's why I'm afraid； why I
don't want to ask her。 What'd such a glorious creature see in a poor； puny
little thing like me？〃
〃George； you're not over…handsome；〃 admitted Dave； shaking his head。 〃But you
can never tell about women。 Sometimes they like even little； insignificant
fellows。 Don't be too scared about asking her。 Besides； it will make it easier
for me。 You might tell her about meyou know； sort of feel her out； so
I'd…〃
Dave's voice failed him here； but he had said enough； and that was most
discouraging to poor George。 Dave was so busy screwing up his courage that he
forgot all about his friend。
〃No； I couldn't；〃 gasped George； falling into a chair。 He was ghastly pale。 〃I
couldn't ask her to accept me； let alone do another man's wooing。 She thinks
more of you。 She'll accept you。〃
〃You really think so？〃 whispered Dave； nervously。
〃I know she will。 You're such a fine； big figure of a man。 She'll take you；
and I'll be glad。 This fever and fretting has about finished me。 When she's
yours I'll not be so bad。 I'll be happy in your happiness。 But； Dave； you'll
let me see her occasionally； won't you？ Go！ Hurryget it over！〃
〃Yes； we must have it over；〃 replied Dave； getting up with a brave； effort。
Truly； if he carried that determined front to his lady…love he would look like
a masterful lover。 But when he got to the door he did not at all resemble a
conqueror。
〃You're sure shecares for me？〃 asked Dave； for the hundredth time。 This
time； as always； his friend was faithful and convincing。
〃I know she does。 Gohurry。 I tell you I can't stand this any longer；〃 cried
George； pushing Dave out of the door。
〃You won't gofirst？〃 whispered Dave； clinging to the door。
〃I won't go at all。 I couldn't ask herI don't want hergo！ Get out！〃
Dave started reluctantly toward the adjoining cabin； from the open window of
which came the song of the young woman who was responsible for all this
trouble。 George flung himself on his bed。 What a relief to feel it was all
over！ He lay there with eves shut for hours； as it seemed。 After a time Dave
came in。 George leaped to his feet and saw his friend stumbling over a chair。
Somehow； Dave did not look as usual。 He seemed changed； or shrunken； and his
face wore a discomfited； miserable expression。
〃Well？〃 cried George； sharply。 Even to his highly excited imagination this did
not seem the proper condition for a victorious lover。
〃She refusedrefused me；〃 faltered Dave。 〃She was very sweet and kind； said
something about being my sisterI don't remember just whatbut
