When I next awoke, the sun was stream ing through the open doorway and crevi ces of th e old cabin, and, to my surprise, I found Prairie Flower again kneeling by my side. Her eyes were turned upward as before, and her lips moved, but not a sound issued from them. She was evi dently making a silent appeal to Heaven in my behalf ; and as I lay and gazed upon her sweet, placid countenance, and felt that all this was for me, me thought I had never beheld a being so lovely ; and she seemed rather an immortal seraph, bent at the Throne of Grace, than a mortal tenant of this mundane sphere.
At length she arose, and with a charm ing smile upon her features, and in the sweetest tone imaginable, said :
" And how fare you this morning, my friend ?"
" I feel much refreshed," I answered, 'by a night of calm repose and my btrength is evidently improving."
" 1 am glad to hear it for you have been nigh unto death."
" I am aware of it, and know not how lo express to you rny deep obligations for my recovery."
" As I told you before, no thanks are due me. I did but my duty, and my own conscience has already rewarded me ten fold. Those who labor to effect all the good they can, need no thanks expressed in words for words are superfluous."
" And yet had I done for you what yov have done for me, would you not have thanked me ? "
" Doubtless I should."
" And will you not allow me the privi lege you would have claimed yourself! Would it have pleased you to find me ungrateful ?"
" I cannot say it would," she replied, musingly; "for, like others, I am only mortal ; and perhaps vain too vain of having what little I do appreciated. I should not have such feelings, I am well aware ; but they are engrafted in my na ture, and I cannot help it."
" Then even oral thanks cannot be dis pleasing to sweet Prairie Flower ? "
" Understand me, friend ! There is a vast difference between expressing thanks by word of mouth, and being ungrateful. That you are not ungrateful, your look and actions tell therefore are words su perfluous.
" Well, then, I will say no more but trust that time will give me an opportunity of proving by acts, what at best could he but feebly spoken. I agree with you, that words in a case like mine are of little im portance. They are in fact ' trifles light AS air,' and as often proceed from the lips merely, as from the heart. But now a word of myself. Tell me, fair being, and do not fear to speak plainly regarding my present condition. Can I ever recover ? "
" Great Medicine has pronounced you out of danger."
" Shall I ever regain the full use of ail my limbs ?"
" I know nothing to the contrary."
" And my wounds what are they ? "
" You were found with your head fright fully gashed, and your skull slightly frac tured. Your left arm was broken, and the flesh around it badly bruised, apparently by the tread of a horse. Various other flesh wounds were found upon your per son made, seemingly, by some sharp in strument from which you bled profusely. These, together with loss of blood, pro duced a delirious fever, from which kind Providence has restored you, as it were by a miracle. For a week, life and death contended equally as it seemed for the victory. Many a time have I stood by your side, and thought every breath you
ADVENTURES IN THE FAR WEST.
71
Jrew your last I can only compare yuur | critical condition to a person suspended by | a mere c.ord over a terrible abyss, with a strain upon it so equal to its strength that another pound would divide it and render death certain, and there hanging seven I days and nights, ere a safe footing could be effected on the solid earth above."
" You draw a fearful picture, Prairie Flower. But my friend did he know of I this ? "
"Not fully. He knew you were badly wounded but we gave him all the hope we could, lest, with his own wounds, the excitement should prove fatal to him also. As it was, he was often delirious, and raved of you, and accused himself of dragging you hither and being the cause of your misery, perhaps death. Had we informed him you were dead, I do not think he would have survived an hour."
"God bless him for a noble fellow a true friend ' " I cried, while tears of affec tion flooded my eyes.
As I spoke, I noticed the countenance of Prairie Flower become suddenly crim son, p.nd then white as marble, while she averted her head and seemed uncommonly affected. What all this meant, I was at a loss to conjecture. In fact I did not give it much thought, for my mind was filled with the image of Charles Huntly, and I quickly added :
" Is he not a noble friend, sweet Prairie Flower ? "
" He is indeed ! " she exclaimed, looking at me earnestly a moment, as if to detect a hidden meaning in myiwords, and then dropping her eyes modestly to the ground.
" But his wounds ? "
" Like yourself, he received two very se/ere contusions on the head, which ren dered him senseless for several hours."
" And how is he now ? "
" He has so far recovered that he leaves his lodge, and occasionally takes a short stroll."
" And has he not been to see me ? "
"No! we would not permit him."
" And how did a refusal affect him ? "
" Quite seriously. But we told him that
your life, in a great measure, depended on your being kept perfectly quiet, and that as soon as he could do so with safety, he should be admitted to your presence. He seemed to grieve very much, but uttered no complaints."
"But you must let me see him now, Prairie Flower !"
"I do not know," she answered: "I will consult Great Medicine."
"But, Prairie Flower ! " I called as she turned away.
"Well?"
" Remember, I must see him ! "
" But surely you would not endanger your life and his ? "
" Certainly not. But do you think such would be the effect of our meeting ? "
" I am unable to say, and that is why I wish to consult Cha-cha-chee-kee-hobah. or, as we often term him, Great Medi cine."
" Go, then, and Heaven send I get a favorable answer."
Prairie Flower turned away, and ap proaching the Old-Man-of-the-Mountnins. held with him a short consultation. Then returning to me, she said :
"Great Medicine thinks it imprudent; but if you insist on it, he says you may meet; but at the same time he bids me warn you both to be cautious and not be come too much excited, or the worst of consequences may follow."
" I will endeavor to be calm, and se no cause why I should be more than ordi narily excited."
" You perhaps overlook, my friend, that a great change has taken place in the ap pearance of each of you since last you met ; and your system being in a feeble state, a sight of your friend may affect you more than you are now aware of. The greatest change, however, is in your self; and I must prepare your friend to behold in you a far different person than he beheld on the night of the battle. I charge you beforehand, to brace your nerves and meet him calmly ! "
Saying this, she turned and quitted tin hovel.
THE PRAIRIE FLOWER; OR,
CHAPTER XVII.
VISIT OF MY FRIEND HIS CHANGED APPEAR ANCE SINGULAR MANNER OF PRAIRIE
FLOWER HER ABRUPT DEPARTURE HER
RESEMBLANCE TO ANOTHER OUR SURMISKS
HER MY FRIEND IN LOVE,
REGARDING
ETC.
HALF an hour of the most anxious sus pense followed the disappearance of Prai rie Flower, during which, in spite -of my self, I suffered the most intense mental excitement, and my hands shook like the quaking aspen, and I felt both sick and faint. At the end of die time mentioned, Piairie Flower appeared and announced that my friend would shortly be with me.
"But you seem agitated," she added, with an expression of alarm.
"0, no mere nothing, I assure you," I quickly replied, fearful she would alter her arrangement and put off our meeting to another day. " My hand shakes a little perhaps but you see, Prairie Flower, I am quite composed quite collected, in deed."
She shook her head doubtingly, and
was about to reply, when Huntly made his appearance, and approached me with a feeble step.
Heavens ! what a change in sooth ! A wild exclamation of alarm and surprise was already trembling on my lips, when, remembering the injunction of Prairie Flower, I, by a great effort suppressed it.
Could this feeble, tottering form ap proaching me, indeed be the gay, dashing, enthusiastic Charles Huntly, whom I had known from boyhood ? His face was pale and thin his lips bloodless his eyes had lost much of their luster, and moved some what nervously in their sunken sockets his cheek bones protruded, and his robust figure was wonderfully emaciated while the wonted expression of fire and soul in his intelligent countenance, had given place to sedateness and melancholy. To complete, his head was rudely bandaged, and his habiliments exhibited marks of the recent conflict. If such was his ap pearance, what, judging from the remarks of Prairie Flower, must have been mine ! I shuddered at the thought.
As he came up, so that his eye could
rest upon me, he suddenly started back, with a look of horror, threw up both handa and exclaimed :
" Merciful God ! can this be Francig Leigh ton ? " and staggering to my side, he dropped down upon the ground and burst into tears.
" Beware ! beware ! " cried Prairie Flower earnestly, her features turning deadly pale. " Remember, Charles Hunt ly remember my warning ! or you will
do what can never be undon
and all our have been
efforts to save you both will made in vain."
"Charles," gasped I: "Charles Huntley my friend com pose yourself, or you will destroy us both ! "
" Oh, Frank, Frank ! " he rejoined some what wildly, " I never thought to see you thus, when in an evil moment I urged you to leave home. Oh! why did I do" it! Forgive me my friend forgive me, for God's sake ! or I shall go distracted."
" For Heaven's sake, my friend, do not blame yourself ! I left home by my own desire and free will. You are not to blame, any more than I. Of course, we could no4 foretell what fate had in store for us. Rather thank God, dear Charles, that we are both alive and likely to recover ! "
"And you think, dear Frank, I am not to blame ? "
" Not in the least."
" God bless you for a generous soul ! Oh ! if you could but know what I have suffered ! Tortures of mind beyond the strength of reason to bear."
" 1 have heard so from the lips of our sweet benefactor."
"Ay, sweet benefactor, indeed! God bless you, lovely Prairie Flower ! " lie ad ded, passionately, suddenly turning his eyes upon her. " If you are not rewarded in this world, I am sure you will be in the next."
At the first sentence, the face of the maiden flushed, and then changed quickly to an ashen hue, while her breast heaved with some powerful emotion, like to the billowy sea. She strove to reply, but words failed her, and turning suddenly away, she rushed from the lodge, leaving us alone.
" Angelic creature ! " pursued Huntlv. gazing after her retreating foim with an
ADVENTURES IN THE FAR WEST.
expression of sincere admiration. " A lily too ffir to bloom in a region so desolate as 'this. But why did she leave us so abrupt ly, Frank ? " *
" I cannot say, unless it was her dislike of praise."
" I could adore her, Frank, for her good ness. Where would we be now, think you, but for her timely aid? "
" In another world, most probably," I answered solemnly.
" Ay, truly in another world," rejoined Huntly with a sigh. " And you, Frank, if one may judge by your looks, are not far from there now. Great God ! " he contin ued, gazing steadily on me, while his eyes became filled with fears " what a change what a change ! I cannot realize even now, that I am speaking to Francis Leigh- ton. And this the work of one short week ! Oh ! how have I longed to see you, Frank ! How on my knees have I cried, begged and implored to be permitted to see you ! But I was denied unresistingly de- lied and now I am thankful for it ; for tad I seen you in that unconscious state described to me by Prairie Flower, I fear K should have lost my reason forever, and the sods of the valley would soon have been green above my mortal remains."
This was said with an air and tone so mournful 1 }', touchingly sad, that in spite of myself J found my eyes swimming in tears.
"Well," I answered, "let us forget the past, and look forward with hope to the fu ll ire ; and return to Him who has thus l:ir watched over us with His all -seeing « ye, and raised us up friends where we b.ast expected them, in our moments of affliction the spontaneous thanks of grate ful hearts ! "
T.n this and like manner we conversed sol ae half an hour without interruption. As my friend had been struck down at the sane moment with myself, he was of course unab'e to give me any informa tion regardir what happened afterward. Whether anj of our friends were killed or not, we had i o means of ascertaining, and could only speculate upon the probability of this thing or that. What had become of Teddy ? Had he survived ? and if so, what must have been his feelings when he found we came not to his call, and ap- [ared not to his search !
This train of conversation again brought us back to Prairie Flower, and each had to rehearse the little he had gleaned, and the much he had surmised concerning herself and the tribe ; and in many points we found our conjectures to correspond exactlv.
" By-the-by," I observed at length, " it strikes me I have seen some face like hers but where and when I cannot tell per haps in my dreams,"
"Indeed!" replied Huntly, quickly, "and so have I but thought it might be fancy merely at least that yoa would think so and therefore kept it to my self."
" Who, then, is the person ? "
" You have no idea ? "
" None in the least."
" And if I tell you, and you see no like ness, you will not ridicule my fancy ? "
"Ridicule, Charles ? No ! certainly not. But why such a question ? "
" You will understand that full soon."
"Well, then, the lady ?"
" Have you forgotten the fair un known?"
" Good heavens ! how like ! " I ex claimed. You are right, my friend there is indeed a wonderful likeness. Perhaps But no ! the idea is too chimerical."
" Speak it, Frank perhaps what ? "
" I was about to add, perhaps they are related but that could not be."
" And why not ? " asked Huntly. " Such a thing is not impossible."
" Very true but most highly improba ble, as you will admit. The beautiful un known we saw in New York the beauti ful mysterious, if I may so term her, in the Far West : the former, perhaps, a daughter of fashion in the gay and polished circles of civilization the latter among barbari ans, a prominent member of a roving tribe of savages."
" But you overlook that she could not be bred among savages."
" And why not ?"
" Because her English education, man ners and accomplishments, all belie such a supposition. I admit with you, that the suggestion advanced by yourself look* highly improbable at the same time 1 contend, as before, it is not impossible."
" Well, at all events, Charles, you musl
74
THE PRAIRIE FLOWER: OR
admit it utterly useless to argue a point founded solely upon speculation on both sides. We have not even the history of Prairie Flower to go upon, setting aside entirely that of the other party, and con sequently must come out exacll} where we started, neither of us the wiser for the dis cussion."
"Nothing more true," answered my friend, musingly. "I would to Heaven I could learn the history of Prairie Flower ! Can she be an Indian ? "
" I think not."
"What a perfect creature ! and with a name as beautiful as her own fair self. Do you know, Frank, I "
" Well, speak out ! "
" You will not ridicule me ? "
"No."
" I am half in love."
" With whom ? "
" Prairie Flower."
" Indeed ! Well, that is nothing strange for you. I feel grateful enough to love her myself. But, Charley, you did not
allow her to perceive any symptoms of your pas sion ? "
" Not that I am aware of. But why do you ask ? "
" Because it would offend her."
" Do you think so ? "
" I am sure of it."
" And wherefore, Frank ? " asked my friend, rather anxiously.
" Wherefore, Charley ? Why, I believe you are in love in earnest."
" Have I not admitted it ? "
" Only partially."
" Then I acknowledge it fully."
" But how about the unknown ? "
" I am in love with her too."
" Ay, and with every pretty face you meet. But surely you are not serious in this matter?"
" I fear I am," sighed Huntly.
" But you cannot love either much, when you acknowledge to loving both."
" You forget the resemblance between the two. I could love any being methinks, in the absence of the unknown, who bore her likeness."
" But, for heaven's sake, Charley, do not let Prairie Flower know of this ! for it would omy be to make her avoid us and per haps result in unpleasant Consequences."
" And yet, Frank, at the risk of beiag | thought egotistical, I must own I have rea sons for thinking my passion returned."
" Returned, say you? Why, are yon dreaming ? "
"No, in my sober senses."
" And what reasons, I pray ? "
"Her manner toward me wheneverm meet, and whenever I speak to her. Sure ly you must have noticed her embarrass ment and change of countenance when 1 addressed her last, ere her hasty depar ture."
" I did but attributed it, as I told you then, to a dislike of flattery or praise to the face."
Bennett, Emerson - Prairie Flower 01 Page 16
