The White Doe Part 4

[Footnote P: See Appendix, Note _m_.]

[Footnote Q: Eleanor Dare.]

[Footnote R: See Appendix, Note _k_.]

[Footnote S: See Appendix, Note _k_.]

[Footnote T: See Appendix, Note _k_.]

[Footnote U: Tobacco.]

II

THE PALE-FACE MAIDEN

Nature feels no throb of pity, Makes no pause for human heartbreak; Though with agony we quiver, She gives forth no sign of feeling.

Waxed and waned the moon, in season, Ebbed and flowed the tides obedient; Summers filled the land with plenty, Winters chilled the summers' ardor.

No winged s.h.i.+ps gleamed in the offing; No Pale-Faces sought their kindred; In the Land-of-Wind-and-Water Roamed the Red Man unmolested.

While the babe of Ro-a-no-ak Grew in strength and wondrous beauty; Like a flower of the wildwood, Bloomed beside the Indian maidens.

And Wi-no-na Ska[V] they called her, She of all the maidens fairest.

In the tangles of her tresses Sunbeams lingered, pale and yellow; In her eyes the limpid blueness Of the noonday sky was mirrored.

And the squaws of darksome features Smiled upon her fair young beauty; Felt their woman hearts within them Warming to the Pale-Face maiden.

And the braves, who scorned all weakness, Listened to her artless prattle, While their savage natures softened, Of the change themselves unconscious.

Like the light of summer morning Beaming on a world in slumber Was the face of young Wi-no-na To the Cro-a-to-ans who loved her.

She, whose mind bore in its dawning Impress of developed races, To the rude, untutored savage Seemed divinely 'dowed with reason.

She, the heir of civilization, They, the slaves of superst.i.tion, Gave to her a silent rev'rence, Growing better with such giving.

Oft she told them that the Cross-Sign, Made by Man-te-o before them When he talked to his own nation, Was the symbol of a Spirit Great, and good, and wise, and loving; He who kept the maize-fields fruitful, He who filled the sea with fishes, He who made the sun to warm them And sent game to feed His children.

If, when in their games or councils, They grew quarrelsome and angry, Suddenly among them standing Was a maiden like the sunrise, Making with her taper finger This strange sign which they respected; And without a word of pleading Strife and wrath would no more vex them, While the influence of her presence Lingered 'round them like enchantment.

Thus the babe of Ro-a-no-ak Grew to be the joy and teacher Of a tribe of native heathen In the land which gave her shelter.

And the tide of her affections Flowed to those who gave her friends.h.i.+p; Whom alone she knew as human, Whom to her became as kindred.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote V: Literally, "first-born white daughter."]

III

SAVAGE SORCERY

Man-to-ac, the Mighty Father, When he filled the earth with blessings, Deep within the heart of Woman Hid the burning Need-of-Loving; Which through her should warm the ages With a flame of mutual feeling, Throbbing through her sons and daughters With a force beyond their power.

And this law of human loving, Changeless through unending changes, Fills each living heart with yearning For another heart to love it; And against this ceaseless craving Creed, nor clime, nor color standeth; Heart to heart all nature crieth That the earth may thrill with gladness.

So the young braves of the nation, Thrilled with love for fair Wi-no-na, Made rude ornaments to please her, Laid the red deer at her wigwam.

Brought her skins of furry rabbits Soft and white as her own skin was; Robbed the black bear and the otter That her bed might soft and warm be.

And the children of the forest Were uplifted by such loving Of a higher type of being, Who yet throbbed with human instincts.

Brave O-kis-ko loved the maiden With a love which made him n.o.ble; With the love that self-forgetting Fills the soul with higher impulse.

As the sun with constant fervor, Heat and light to earth bestowing, Seeks for no return of blessing, Feels no loss for all his giving, So O-kis-ko loved Wi-no-na, Gave her all his heart's rude homage, Felt no loss for all his giving, Loved her for the joy of loving.

Scorned he all fatigue and danger Which would bring her food or pleasure; And each day brought proof of fealty, For his deeds were more than language.

For her sake he tried to fasten To his rude canoe white pinions Like the winged s.h.i.+ps of the white man, That with her he might sail boldly Out towards the rosy sunrise, Seeking for her lost grandsire[W]

For whose coming her heart saddened.

Though his red companions mocked him, His endeavor pleased the maiden, And her eyes beamed kindly on him, Though no pa.s.sion stirred her pulses.

For sweet maiden hopes and fancies Filled her life with happy dreaming Ere her woman's heart awakened To O-kis-ko's patient waiting.

Waiting for her eyes to brighten 'Neath the ardor of his glances; Waiting for her soul to quicken With the answer to his longing; Finding sweet content in silence, Glad each day to see and serve her.

Now old Chi-co, the Magician, Also loved the fair Wi-no-na, All his youth to him returning As he gazed upon her beauty.

In his wigwam pelt of gray wolf, Antlers of the deer and bison, Hung to prove his deeds of valor; And he wooed the gentle maiden With his cunning tales of prowess.

She would not rebuke his boasting, Fearful lest her words offend him; For her nature kind and loving Could not scorn the vaunting Chi-co.

When he walked among the maidens, Gay with paint and decked with feathers, She would look on him with kindness That the others might not scoff him; She would smile upon his weakness, Though she did not wish to wed him.

Chi-co's love was fierce as fire Which from flame yields only ashes; Which gives not for joy of giving, But demands unceasing tribute, More and more to feed its craving.

He grew eager and impatient, He would share with none her favor; All for him her eyes must brighten, Else his frown would blight her pleasure.

When the young men played or wrestled, If O-kis-ko came out victor; Or returning with the hunters He it was who bore the stag home; If with eyes abrim with pleasure Sweet Wi-no-na smiled upon him, Or with timid maiden shyness Drooped her eyes beneath his glances, Then old Chi-co's heart would wither With the fire of jealous fury, Till at length in bitter anger He determined none should win her, As from him she turned in coldness.

Wrapped in silence grim and sullen, Much he wandered near the water; With his soul he took dark counsel, Seeking for devices cruel For the torture of his rival And destruction of the maiden.

Though he rarely used his power, Chi-co was a great magician.

He knew all the spells of starlight And the link 'tween moon and water; Knew the language of lost spirits And the secret of their power; Knew the magic words and symbols Whereby man may conquer nature.

Long he plotted,--much he brooded, While he gathered from the water Mussel-pearls all streaked and pieded,[X]

All with rays like purple halos.

Such pearls are the souls of Naiads Who have disobeyed the Sea-King, And in mussel-sh.e.l.ls are prisoned For this taint of human frailty.

When by man released from durance These souls, grateful for their freedom, Are his slaves, and ever render Good or evil at his bidding.

Chi-co steeped each one he gathered In a bath of mystic brewing; Told each purple, pieded pearl-drop What the evil was he plotted.

Never once his purpose wavered, Never once his fury lessened; Nursing vengeance as a guerdon While the mussel-pearls he polished.

Then a new canoe he fas.h.i.+oned, Safe, and strong, and deep he made it;[Y]