“’Tis he—’tis he! ’tis Eddy! my own, my long–lost brother!” cried the maiden aloud, as she threw herself into his arms; and looking up into his face, she felt his cheek as if to assure herself that all was not a dream, and poured out her grateful heart in tears upon his bosom. She did remember her promise, and even in the first tumult of her happiness, she sought and derived from him to whom she owed it, strength to endure its sudden and overwhelming excess.
“’Tis even so,” said the missionary, grasping the astonished Reginald’s arm; “for some time I had suspected that such was the case; Prairie–bird, my beloved pupil, and your betrothed bride, is no other than Evelyn Ethelston, the sister of your friend. My suspicions were confirmed and almost reduced to certainty, during the first conversations that I held with him in St. Louis; for he, being several years older than you, remembered many of the circumstances attending the disappearance and supposed destruction of his little sister by the Indians, when his father’s house was ravaged and burnt. I foresaw that they must meet when he left the settlements in search of you, and though I prepared him for the interview, I thought it better to say nothing to her or to you, but to leave the recognition to the powerful voice of Nature. You see the result in that fraternal embrace, and I have in a little bag, given to me by Tamenund when at the point of death, proofs of her identity that would convince a sceptic, were you disposed to be one—the cover of a child’s spelling–book, in which her name is written at length (possibly by Ethelston), and a little kerchief, with the initials E. E. in the corner, both of which were in her hand when she was carried off by the Indian who spared and preserved her!”
While the missionary felt beneath the folds of his dark serge robe for the bag which he had always carefully kept suspended by a ribbon from his neck, Reginald’s memory was busy in recalling a thousand indistinct recollections of early days, and in comparing them with those of a more recent date.
“Well do I remember,” he exclaimed, “missing my sweet little playmate in childhood; and how all allusion to the terrible calamity that befel our nearest neighbour and friend, was forbid in our family! Scarcely ever, even in later years, have I touched upon the subject with Ethelston, for I saw that it gave him pain, and brought a cloud over his brow. Now, I can understand the wild and troubled expression that came across her countenance when she first saw me near the Osage camp, and first heard my voice, and how she started, and afterwards recovered herself, when I told her of Mooshanne! How blind have I now been to every thing save her endearing qualities, and the ten thousand graces that wait upon her angelic form! See how like they are, now that a tide of feeling is poured into the countenance of my steady and composed friend. Jealous as I am of her time, and of every grain of her affection, I must not grudge them a few minutes of undisturbed intercourse after a separation of so many years! Come, worthy Father, let us employ ourselves in tending and ministering to War–Eagle and Wingenund, and let us not forget that to them, next to Heaven, we are indebted for the life and happiness of every single member of our miraculously reunited circle.”
“You have a warm and a kindly heart, my young friend,” said the missionary, “and that is a blessing without which all the other blessings of Heaven may fall like showers upon the Lybian desert. I know how you must long to pour out your feelings of affection on this occasion to your friend, and to your betrothed; but believe me, you will not have done amiss by following the first promptings of your heart. Let us, as you propose, endeavour to soothe and comfort the sufferers; Wingenund is now sufficiently recovered to listen while you relate to him these strange occurrences; only caution him not to speak too much at present. I will return to the side of War–Eagle, and although it be too late now for us to attempt any remedy for his bodily pains, who shall limit the power of the Almighty, or circumscribe the operation of his hands? Who knows whether He may not think fit, even at the eleventh hour, to touch that stern and obdurate heart with a coal from His altar? And, oh! my dear young friend, if such be His blessed purpose, I would not forego the privilege of being the humble instrument in effecting it for all the wealth, the honours, the happiness, that earth can bestow.”
Reginald looked after the worthy missionary until he disappeared within the tent, then sighing heavily, he said to himself, “If zeal, honesty, and true piety can render any human means available, assuredly that excellent and holy man’s attempt will not be made in vain; and yet I fear that nothing short of a miracle can soften or subdue the stern pride of War–Eagle’s spirit. How deeply anxious do I feel for the issue! for I cannot forget that it was in defence of Prairie–bird that he incurred this fearful torture, ending in an untimely death! His life sacrificed that mine might be happy with her! Where, where, my generous Indian brother, shall I find, among the cities and crowded haunts of civilized man, truth, self–denial, and devoted affection like thine? At least I will strive to fulfil the wish that I know to be nearest thy heart, by cherishing in my bosom’s core thy beloved brother Wingenund!”
Thus meditating, Reginald sat down by the young Delaware, and strove, by awakening his interest in the strange events lately brought to light respecting Prairie–bird, to wean him from the deep dejection caused by his brother’s hopeless plight.