The Mohegan Maiden — page 74: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

16, 2 THE MOHEGAN MAIDEN. word or sigh broke from her lips, and only did she’ shrink from the coming fate as youth and health must ever shrink from death. Then, too, there was the brave stranger, wounded in battling for her people, and whose health and well-being ‘had been her especial care. He would then be left to the un- certain care of her jealous executioners, and she shrunk from the thought that he might be driven forth at any time, or executed by a fancy of theirs. | Pained at this thought, more than at the idea of death for herself, the maiden forgot her sex and weakness, forgot all save rm unjustness of herdoom. Rising to her feet, she gave an earnést, truthful history of the transaction, so clear, 80 vivid and eloquent that many of the council began to doubt her guilt. But all that she had said proved nothing; her word was unsupported, and when the brother of the murdered man rose, and in vehement tones denounced her for scandalizing the honor of his dead brother, who was a brave and warrior, he carried back again all the maiden’s influence, and she was solemnly adjudged to death ! 7 Then it was that she was taken back again to the wigwam, ass the last night of her decreed life under guard. And as the reason of the strange scene within that Indian At length all became quiet within the tent, and after some time spent in composing her feelings, the maiden arose and approached the couch whefe the young man was lying, fol- lowed by the stealthy guard, who maintained his position be- tween her and escape. She had hoped to find the sufferer sleeping, and to watch beside him through the last hours of her life, but it was not so; the dark mystery going on about “him had been quite sufficient to keep the young man awake. As Shining Star took a position beside him, he turned some- what, and in a low tone asked, “ What is it? What is the meaning of all this?” The dark-featured maiden did not reply for some mo- ments. She had not prepared herself to reveal the cause of her sadness, and the strict watch kept over her. But now that the request was made, she had no idea of evading it, and after a short silence she said : ; ZOMMICIOOKS COM § .