small trees, around whose delicate branches clustered the luxuriant tendrils of that small vine peculiar to the West. "He is here !" he repeated ; " one who loves you, who has long, long loved you-one whom you must love." "Never !" and she recognized Charles Grayson. "Never ? I have sworn it !" "Am I bound by your unholy oath ?" cried Mary, "I, the betrothed of another ! Away ! away, sir ! your rashness and villainy may yet remain undiscovered." 66 Mary Alton," said Grayson, in those low, deep, half-articulated tones- which ever speak wild and uncontrollable passion,-" Mary Alton, I have watched you for months-I have watched you at noon , at eve, at night I have kissed the very flowers your fingers have touched- I have stood for hours on the blessed spot your feet have pressed -will you not ? Cannot you return my love ?" Grayson knelt and suddenly seized her hand. Mary stood pale and motionless with fear and astonishment. " Answer! I implore you," he continued. "Traitoress ! wretch !" shrieked rather than spoke Yantee, as she rushed into the scene, with a dagger brandished aloft-"Traitoress ! this-this will revenge the daughter of a chief!" The knife suddenly descended, and would inevitably have proved fatal, had not Grayson sprang to his feet and struck the instrument from the hand of the infuriated girl. "What means this ?" and Henry Segard joined the group. 66 Grayson-Yantee-here ! and that knife ? Explain !" He turned to Mary, who attempted to speak, but from tears and trembling was unable to utter a word. Segard, seeing her ineffectual attempt to answer him, turned to Grayson, and said, "What, sir, do you here? What does that Indian girl here ?" " You-no one shall question me. What do you here ? Ha ha !" Grayson exclaimed, with a wild, mocking laugh ; " you need not answer me either. Yantee !" The girl gazed at him without replying. " Yantee ! away !" The girl silently departed ; but after proceeding a few steps, turned around, and glaring upon Mary, exclaimed, 'Daughter of the pale face beware !" and the boughs soon hid her from sight. Segard, finding Mary insensible, turned to his antagonist. "Grayson, we shall meet again." "Whenever you please," was the laconic, but bitter reply, and he strode firmly away. Mary, in a few minutes having recovered, slowly and
| painfully answered the questions of her lover. When she finished, Henry arose from the spot where he had been kneeling over her, and said in a low, but firm voice, " He dies the death !" "No ! no ! stain not your hand, Segard, the hand betrothed to me, with blood." "I have said it," was his reply. Silently they pursued their way homeward. Neither spoke. Thoughts of sadness with her-thoughts of revenge with him, were too busy for any conversation.
And Yantee still ministered to the wants of her faithless lord. But there was a settled fierceness in her dark eye, at once strange and dreadful. Grayson, however, did not observe it. Like many others he underrated a woman's heart, mind, and courage.
Brave men are too often imprudent, and Henry, notwithstanding his marriage should have produced caution, where it never before existed- was one of the number. He related the transaction, which we have described, to several of his companions- swearing revenge against Grayson. They, as usual, urged him on. A few evenings after the scene in the forest, he carefully examined his hunting-knife and gun, and informing Mary and the family (he resided with his father, ) that he should be absent for some time on a night-hunt, with some comrades, left the house. But murder was in his heart, and he directed his course to Grayson's lodge. When about half way, he was met by Yantee, who uttered an exclamation of surprise and delight at the recounter. "The brave of a pale face caresses a tainted fawn," said she. Segard felt the sarcasm, and replied in her own style. "The fawn is pure as the snow on the mountains, and she scorns the Black Eagle." Such was the subriquet of Grayson. "Ha ! how knowest the brave that ? A lie is on the pale face's lip, and his heart nurses the serpent of deceit." Fire flashed from the eyes of Segard, but remembering, that the speaker was a woman, he scornfully smiled and replied, "Would the fawn mate for life with the brave, did she love the cagle ?" An indescribable expression passed over the face of Yantee, and she asked in a half-joyful, half-sorrowful tone, " Has she ?" " Yes !" "Will the brave swear it ?" " I do !" "Tell her then, that, Yantee buries the knife. The white bosom of the fawn shall not bleed." The information of Segard relative to his marriage was a con-
