Quick as thought, Waunangee, who had now
his whole attention bent upon the passing scene, stooped,
picked it up, and attempted to place it on the finger,
still extended, for which it was designed.
"Gently, Waunangee, my good fellow," said the officer,
piqued not less at his own awkwardness at such a moment,
than at the outre act of the youth, from whom he rather
unceremoniously took it--"the husband only does this."
"Wah!" involuntarily exclaimed the other, his cheek
becoming brighter, and his eyes kindling into sudden
fierceness, while his hand intuitively clutched the handle
of his knife--yet the moment afterwards relinquished it.
The motion had been so quick, indeed, that only Mr.
Headley and the bride herself had noticed it.
Still fascinated as it were by the novel scene, Waunangee
moved not away, but the expression of his eyes had wholly
changed. There was no longer to be remarked there the
great melancholy of the past--but the wild restless,
flashing glance that told of strong excitement within.
When immediately afterwards they knelt, and had their
hands joined by Captain Headley, Waunangee bent eagerly
forward, as if apprehensive of losing the slightest part
of the ceremonial, but when at the conclusion, Ronayne
saluted his wife in the usual manner, his cheek became
suddenly pale as its native hue would permit, and with
folded arms and proud attitude he withdrew slowly from
the place he had hitherto occupied, to mingle more with
the crowd behind.
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