&i
ai\ my philosophy and sober reasoning, I felt myself in a fair way of becoming his rival.
"God bless you, Prairie Flower!" I exclaimed from my very heart. " If Heav en holds many like you, no wonder it is a paradise beyond mortal conception."
"0, do not compare me with those who dwell in that bright realm," she quickly rejoined ;" for I at best am only a poor sinful mortal."
"Then God help me!" I ejaculated "if you are considered a sinner."
"But your your friend?" she said, hesitatingly. " Is he anxious to leave us?"
She strove to assume an indifference as she said this, but the effort to do so only the more exposed her feelings, of which becoming aware, she blushed deeply, and on the conclusion hung her head in real embarrassment.
"No, dear Prairie Flower, " I said, ap pearing not to notice her confusion; " my friend is not anxious to leave; on the con trary, it was with much difficulty I could convince him of the necessity of our im- mucliau} departure, and gain his consent to set forth."
"And wherefore, do you think, is he loth to go?" she asked, carelessly turn ing her head aside, and stooping to pick a beautiful flower that was growing at her feet.
"Because sweet Prairie Flower goes not with him," I answered, rather abrupt ly, curious to see what effect such infor mation would produce.
The next moment I regretted I had not hinted, rather than spoken, this important truth. As I pronounced the sentence, the hand of Prairie Flower, which already clasped the stem of the flower in the act of breaking it, became violently agitated and relaxed its hold; while its owner, raising her face, as pale as death, stag gered back, and, but for my support, would have fallen to the ground.
"Good Heavens! Prairie Flower," I exclaimed, throwing an arm around her lendei waist, and feigning ignorance of
the cause of her agitation; " what LM happened? Are you bit, or stung? Speak! quick! tell me!"
"A-a-little weakness a-a-sudden weak ness a-a-kind of faintness," she stam mered, endeavoring to recover her compo- . sure, and evidently relieved that I had not imputed her agitation to the right cause. "I don't know that I ever was so affeqted before," she continued, smiling faintly. "But I think it will soon pass away. I feel much relieved now. There, there thank you! that will do. Quite sudden, was it not?"
"Quite, indeed!" I replied, adding mentally, " Poor, poor girl! how I pity thee! thy peace of mind is gone for ever."
"But you spoke of leaving immediate ly," she resumed. "What day have you set for your departure?"
"This."
"Not to-day, surely!" she exclaimed, in surprise.
"So had we determined."
"But you must not go to-day!"
"And why not? "
"0, it is not right to leave us so ab ruptly; and besides, I have reasons for wishing you to delay three days at least 1 "
"What reasons ?"
"I cannot tell you now; but remain, and you shall know."
"Anything to please you, swe>t Prairi* Flower."
"Then I have your promise?"
"You have."
"Thank you! thank you! yi will not regret it. But come, let us return to the village, for I see the sun is three good hours above the hills, and I have * long journey before me."
"What! are you going to leave, thn?"
"I must! I have important business. But ask me no questions, and do not de part till I return."
Half an hour later, Prairie Flower mounted on her beautiful Indian pony, a* I had first beheld her at Fort Laramie, rode swiftly out of the village, unattended, and disappeared down the
