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93 (66. MALAESICAY «> >
.
up and ‘down the stream, then back into the shadow again, with
folded arms, continued her “watch as before.
At length a slight sound came from the opposite side; she sprang
forward, ¢ and supporting herself by a sapling, bent over the stream,
with one foot just touching the verge of the projection, her lip slight-
ly parted, and her left hand holding back the hair from her temples,
cager to ascertain the nature of the sound. ‘The sapling bent and°*
almost snapped beneath her hold, but she remained. motionless, ‘her
eyes shining in the moonlight: with a.strange, uncertain luster and
keenly fixed on the place whence the sound proceeded. . “
A canoe cut out into the river, aud made toward | the spot where
she was standing. ‘
_ “It is he!’ broke from her par ted lips, as the ‘moonlight fell on
the-clear forehead and graceful form of 2 young man who stood up-
right in the little » ‘shallop, and drawing (a deep breath, she settled
back, folded her arms, and. waited his. approach. %
The sapling had scarcely: swayed back to its position, when. the
youth: curved his canoe round to a hollow in the bank,and climbing
along the ascent, he drew himself up the steep side of the Hoppy
Nose” by the brushy;ood, and sprang to the Indian woman’s side.
. * Malaeska,’? he said, extending his hand with’ a manner and
voice of kindly recoznition; “6 ‘my “good, kind, nurse, believe me; I
am rejoiced to have found you again.’’
Malaeska did not take his hand, but after an. intense and eager.
gaze into his face, flung herself on his bosom, sobbing. aloud, mur-
muring soft, broken w words of endearment, and. trembling all over
with a “push of unconquerable tenderness.
The youth started back, and a frown. gathered 0 on “his ‘haughty
forchead. His prejudices were offended, and he strove to put her
‘from his bosom; even gratitude for all her goodness could not con-
quer the disgust with which he recoiled from the embrace of a savage.
ss Malaesla,?? he said, almost sternly, attempting to.unclasp her
arms from his neck, ‘* You forget—I am no longer a boy — be com-
posed, and say what I can do for you?.?.
But she clung to him the more passionately, and. ‘answered, with
an appeal that thrilled to his very heart. we ete
‘* Put not your mother ‘away — she has. waited. long — my son. 1
my son !”?-
The youth did not comprehend the whole. meaning of her words.
They were more energetic and full of pathos than he had ever wit>~
~nessed before; but she had been his nurse, and he had: been long |
absent from her, and the strength of her attachment made him for
a moment forgetful of her race. Ie was affected almost to tcars.
8 Malaeska,??. he said kindly, ‘I did not know tiil now how much
you loved me. Yet it is not strange —I can remember, when you
Were almost a-mother to me.’?
_ & Almost !?? she. exclaimed, throwing. pack. her. head till the
‘moonlight revealed her. face.‘ Almost! ‘William Danforth, >
Burely, as there i Is a God to witness my words, you are my,own son !
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