made no noise. Her skirt and bodice 

 were bright with a pattern of porcu- 

 pine quills, woven in the shape of 

 roses. She reached the side of a small 

 stream, and, as she paused, from the 

 tall reeds near its edge rose a youth 

 who called her " Little Rosebud," and 

 spoke to her of love. 



They whispered long, and finally he 

 persuaded her to come next night and 

 fly with him into the wilderness, for 

 the Lenape do not let their maidens wed 

 with braves from other tribes, and this 

 warrior came from the far south. 



When Little Rosebud reached her 

 tepee in safety, Merope sighed, and 

 wished that she, too, had a lover so 

 stalwart and strong. When the next 

 evening came Merope was ready with 

 her torch, and, as before, Alcyone held 

 her hand as she leaned far out over 

 the bar of heaven. 



She saw the lovers meet, she saw him 

 83 



