Plymouth Banner, Volume 3, Number 23, Plymouth, Marshall County, 10 August 1854 — Page 1

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A Family Newspaper -Devoted to Education, Agriculture, Commerce, Markets, Goneral Intelligence, Foreign and Domestic News,' OL. 3.--NO. 23.1 PLYMOUTH, INDIANA, THURSDAY, AUGUST 10, 1854. WHOLE NO. 127.

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THE BANNER H rURMSHF.l! FVEKY TIIl'BSDAY flOKNISC BY V3I. J. BURNS.

If pli I in alv.incc, - Si 50 At the en! of six months, ----- - 200 It ' iltfl.iyui until the end of the year, 2.r0 A fitbtre to order a discontinuance at the n juration of the time subscribed for, will be eousUere t a new engagement and the paper continued. I i'.N'') pi;;r will be discontinued until.ill jur.-ir;ei.iro paid, uulessatthe option of the I'uM'uher. I -Tue ab )vc terms will be strictly adhvrcd to. ADVERTISING. A Iwrtisentents willbeconspicuouslyinsert;l, at the following prices, viz. Fjr t s i'lire (of 10 lines) 3inseltiont.:?1 00 Ktsh additional insertion, , . 2."c 1 j-.Ynythinloss than a square, villbecon t lerel a s qiare. 17A Ivertisers mast be p.irtictilarto mnrk t'io iimnSe r of insertions on the face of the adveriisemeuts, or they rtll be published Until jrl-'f'vl out, and charged accordingly. JJ liberal discount w ill be made where I . . - - , ' a iverrisiai s uone uy .ne year vertisia-.s done by .be year. Is'al a lrettisc meats must be accompanied by the evsTior secured, as we cannot always v.v lit the issue of protracted settlements for the printer's fees. j j'lll Co riinunications from & distance ;"io:il le addressed, I'ost-1'aii, to the Editor. M5.T MARTIN, OK. THE M0NE7 DIGGERS. A GUEEN MOUNTAIN TALE. BV P. F. THOMPSON. continued from last week. I They?' repeated the other with some 'tgitatiou, they! who! are there two of they' Yes, the mister, and another oldish in in who I almost thinks must be the old man himself; though for certain he aint got the sume awful queer face on now that he hail when 1 gets a peep at him one day in tn the wuodj. They've built out a sort of place with stakes and'bark right afore the cave, so as to make it all corne i.'i one room; so 1 creeps up behind, and get a Iu k at 'em through the holes.' Ah. ha!' mused May 'this old man thn wears a di?guiae; he is beyond all loubt an associate of Gor. But what is to bs done now, David?' Why I thiiiks we better creep round where i did, so as to be on the back side, cause I ezpects the mister, and miy be to'.her one, conies ibis way soon now to go down to the diggers; arid if they takes u light they sees us, but if we go round there, they won't go that way for anything 1 guee?rs; and if they do, we can slink off in the bushes, for there's a clear run that way. So we better get round there and wait till they goes, or we gives it up.' Aliy at once falling in with this advice, our adventurers proceeded with the utmost silence und caution round the pro Jected point, and immediately found themselves directly in front of, and not twenty yards from the entrance of the cavern. Voices were now distinctly heard within, and a portion of light escaped through the narrow entrance was stopped by setting a broad piece of bark upright in the inner side before it. With u slight shudder Miy obeyed the motions of her guide, and they passed ou, keeping as great u distance from the cave as the still continued precipice on the right would safely perrnitand soon reached a pptt where the offset of the ledge forming the cave seemed to terminate, leaving an opening of only a gentle rise up the mountain. Here, safe from discovery, they sat down to watch the movements uf the iumates of the cave, the new addition, or front of which, waa still iu plain sight. 'See that little streak of light through the side there. Miss May! Well there's where I gels my peep. Suppose now you creeps up and tries it, and 1 comes ufter you gets still.' Can I do it without danger of being heard?' Yes if you feels every place where you put your foot down, to see that thre6 no dry buh?s or leaves to make a noise.' Another moment and our heroine was gliding silently to the spot anotber, and she was breathlessly seeine and hearinc all that was passing within. The two worthies were seated on a rude bench .made of a cleft log, placed before a Fmall fire built just without the tntrance of the natural cave, as to afford the smoke a chance to escape through the opening left in the bark roof above. Let's see, to-day is Tuesday,' observed tht elder, a man apparently about fifty, the first to break silence after May's arrival at her loop hole. To-day is Tuesday next Tuesday evening brings your concern to a focus, hey? xt Tuesday, my old boy, is the day that gives me as smart a little jade of a wife as ever handled a broomstick together with all thtj appurtenances thereunto belonging, as my old dad's parchment used to run.' 'Ay, ay, the appurtenances after division, remember! As to the wife, she should have been named last, she is but the encumbrance.' Why as fur that. Col. she is really so smooth a piece, that I think I can stick to her, and be quite husband-like for a year or so; and by that time I intended to have all said appurtenances in the shape of cash in my pocket. After which I shall probably be ready for a little high life by way of adventures again.' Having duly and impartially divided.' What a suspicious devil you are. Col! Yci, yes, I am hcoest and honor bright

in this business, de pen J i n't.' , grotesque ami hideous as well could be Really! you well know buw I can help ' imagined. Having thus completed h'i3 myself; if you don't walk straight, my equipment, he lit his lamp, and carefully conscientious lad.' j raking up the fire, departed to be ready Come, none of your threatenings I . for the performance with which the reocan do as much at that even as you can.! der has already been made acquainted. I am thinking. But as to this affair, 1 1 'Oh, lightning!' exclaimed David, ns freely say you will bo entitled to share ' soon " the receding footsteps of the the plunder', let it be os much as it may; ' man had died upon his ear, 'the very dogfor you first started the project and gave i 2 If til tll&t I 56 s lilt? 0( 3i 1 me the chmice. But how. Col. did you knows him the minute he gets his queer happen to find out that the old man made j face on. Well, if I . did'nt think all the such a will? You never told me exactly! time he must be the old one! Cut now I think.' j wheugh! he's no more devil than 1 be.' Why, hearing that the old man was' I far he is David in wickedness.1 confined, and all others there, who for- "O, he's as bad as the old one, may be merly knew me drad or removed, I ven-jbut what thinks you he's going to do, tured to spend some months in to wn; Miss M iy?' and remaining there till after the old fei-1 l have learned their whole plot. You low popped off, when the subject of his . were right in your suspicions. These family and estate vias a good deal talked deliberate villains are about to defraud of, 1 happened one day to overhear a these men, whom they have duped with lawyer who tlrew the will, telling a friend j the idea of finding a treasur, out of a all the particulars. He said Frank had large sum of money, and are expecting to written home a penitent letter, informing get hold of it to-night. 1 have also heard his father of his rrivate marriage in the , some very strange things about myself, I

days of his wild oats, long before he went abroad, and that although his wife died i j b- fc f j f .j, J ai uw uiuuui un mh un u, "4ll ft ti ll. ! I I I ? f I I

criuu prouauiy was eutt living, naTing; wi. ..c.v.ni. ..uu ih-uj been left with some family in the north j driven it from my mind. If you will part of -New Hampshire, and finding offi atch at the point of rocks yonder, to by asking the old man's forgiveness, trd Sire me notice, should either of them rehoping he would provide for his child, a mm, 1 will go in myself, and see what

daughter he was told. On which the old man forgot all his temper threw the old will, cutting Frank off, into the fire j made a new one. giving him all his ; property except those legacies in case the girl was alive. I afterwards went to the Register's ollice myself, and. under some pretence or other got a peep at the will

and found it as 1 heard. It was then tended victims, a poor unfriended girl, knowing Frank would come home from; had already fathomed their villainous deFrance as soon as he heard of hs father's j sig"5, ant was rapidly preparing a mine death to take possession of his estate. I j soon and fatally to explode beneath their hunted you up and putyou on this scheme j !"eet. On entering the cabin, May kinso as to have all done be.'ore his return. died a bright fire and proceeded to the And all shall be done my precious old search. Going at once into tho interior match-maker; but my very good friends the rock, she came to a ru le shelf on

the money diggers are by this time on the ground below, and doubtless impatient at my coming I must be off. Let's see. how many of your salt and water rusted dollars did we bury there?' Just thirty, I believe.' Five apiece, hey? Zounds! how the fellows will jump at the sight of 'em. it they are of domestic manufacture! that 16 if my very worthy friend the devil, don't frighten 'em out of their senses.' Yes, but you had better have heard to me, Gow, und put them off till the night before or after you are married. The fools, I am afraid, will go und pass some of their 'dollars; and tbeu we stand an even chance to get blown np before you bring your affair loa point.' lilown up! how? We get five hundred dollars of the 'real' to-night, and s for what they dug up, we shall not pass it, arid who can know where it comes from.' No, no, but they will some way or other connect it with you, and if they do suspect you, I tell you again, ten to one if it don't blow your marriage into moonshine.' They won't pass it our plan of secrecy, till they fairly gel hold of the treasure, and the next day, under pretence of a short journey, 1 am off with my wife, you bee; and you the same night as roon as you find me fairly buckled 1 suppose. But I must go have your disguise ready the phosphorus for the eyes and mouth of your mask? Well, then come on pretty soon get a good position in the bushes near, and when I sing out 'There's the money seize it' . then you but you will know how to manage.' With this, Gow, lighting a small pocket lantern with which both now seemed to be provided, left the cabin, and May who sat trembling with apprehension lest he should come around the corner and discover her, aoon, to her great relief, heard him let down the ladder and descend. David, after Gow's departure came crawling to the side of his companion and now shared with her the crevice in observing the movements within. The old man, on being left alono, soon sunk into a deep reverie, and sat so long in his mute and motionless abstraction that his silent and unsuspected observers be gan to fear that he intended to remain, or that he would fall asleep and thus defeat their purpose of searching the inte rior. At last however, rousing up and shaking off his seeming lethargy, he rose, went back into the cave, and brought out the different articles of his disguise for the part he was about. to enact in the scene below. He then, taking up and fitting on a frightful looking mask, turning round, protruding his long neck forward, first on one side and then on the other, as if practicing attitudes and trying the most hideous.' Wheugh! whu went David, forcing out his breath in a sort of half whistle, and then suddenly checking himself and relapsing into silence. The old man next took from a little box and rubbed round the small outlets for tha eyes and mouth what appeared to be a whitish substance, but which as the shade occasionally fell on the face, shone like fire. Then taking off his coat, rolling his shirt sleeves up to his shoulders and baring his neck, he drew some bright red ochre several times from ear to ear, giving his throat the appearance of having been cut across in a long bloody gash. After which he put on a sleeveless shirt, apparently besmeared in spots with gore, and then surmounted his dress with a white horse hair wig, rising stiff and bristly on the top of the head like a tuft of porcupine quills, and flowing down in long snaky ringlets over his neck and shoulders below, making the whole as

j 'h'""1 t 'ust be which I may sometime tell J'ou- But ow. David, let us pro-

ceeil to lne business for which we came; , . , ,. . ' ivrmf I nlo Koa ri ictDninr, f r hail noarli can be round. The boy readily complying May now unhesitatingly entered the plate just left by the unsuspecting foes of her happi ness, who were little dreaming that while with such confidence of success, they were weaving the meshes of their toils fr others, the least suspected of their in whicn was placed some articles of pro vision, among which was a part of a loaf of bread of her own baking, while beneath on the smooth stone floor, were ranged a plate or two, a few knives and forks, ana the scanty utensils with which they prepared their food. Pausing a moment over these with womanly curiosity and criticism, she passed on and soon came across sundry tools, the use of which she at first was at a loss to understand. A few imperfectly formed dollars, how ever lying near and now catching her eye, at once explained the mystery they were u die and the other implements for COIUIU". And she went on prying in vain into every place and corner for the main object of her search, till che had nearly given up all hope of success. Turning to take one look more, however, before she went out of the door she espied a pocket inkstand on the corner of some writing paper protruding from a small opening or crevice iu the rock over the fire, which ws not observable from other parts of the room. She flew to the spot, and by the aid of a bench placed slantingly against the rock, made shift to draw out the loose paper, among the leaves of which wasa crumpled and soiled letter. Hastily descending and holding it to the fire, she looked at the superscription ran her eyes over a few lines here and there glanced at the signature at the bottom, and with an ejaculated 'Thank Heaven!' eagerly thrust the precious prize iuto that female 'receptacle of things lost on earth,' the trusty bosom. Carefully replacing every thing as 6he found it, she hurriedly left the cave, and in another moment had announced her success and her discoveries to her companion and with him was on her way homeward. Another half hour found our heroine standing on the spot at the garden where she started, safe returned from the exciting and perilous adventures of the night, and giving directions to her trusty little friend to be there the next morning to take a letter to the village to her betrothed, to whom she could now pour out her soul with confidence as undoubting as the fresh lit flame of he: love was unquenchable. We will not attempt to analyze or de scribe the tumultuous and mingled feelings that agitated the bosom of May after she found her head safely resting on her pillow on that eventful night. Now prayers of thankfulness at her timely discovery of the plots of her enemies were moving her lips now tears of joy at the possession of a prize bringing such happiness to her heart were suffusing her sleepless eyes, and now various and tantalizing conjectures were racking her mind as she deeply pondered on the vague and partial intelligence she had obtained concerning her own history, hitherto a blank to her, but now connected, she no longer doubted, with her present misfortunes, and giv ing rise to the motives of her tormentor's anxiety to force her into marriage till her busy thoughts and variant emotions gradually fading and sinking into chaos, became mingled and lost in the black ob livion of the living death which 'nature's great restorer, balmy sleep, brings to the disturbed and weary. The first dawning light of the next morning, found May eagtrly pouring over the letter she had last night so luckily obtained, and all that her heart desired. It told glowingly of his unabated affections of his anxiety to clapp her in his arms, and wound off, by expressing his hope and expectation of being able to return some weeks sooner than he told her at nartine. After she had finished the j perusal, and before any one was stirring in the house, she seized her pen and wrote ' a hasty letter to Ashley, briefly relating all that had occurred since his departure

and imploring him, as he loved, ajl.e would save her, to fW to her relief. Soon after breakfast, May caught c glance of her new ally, coming, punctual to Iiis appointment, cirelessly fishing along up the brook to the old place of rendezvous, where he patiently awaited, behind the intervening shrubbery, the coming of his mistress, who soon found an opportunity to steal away unobserved and approached him. Entrusting her letter to his care, to be given into the postmaster's own hand, she informed Oivid that she had determined to get a delay of the time set for the wedding-, long enough to allow Ashley to reach there previous to the day to which she was in hopes of getting the wedding postpone!. This was her first resort; and if this failed, she must make use of the means which last nights adventures had given her, for, as much as the delicucv of her feelin-is recoiled at becoming the public accuser of Gow, of a crime of which she was fearful that Martin and perhaps others would be implicated, she believed this the only way left her of averting the now doubly revolting destiny that awaited her. With this, and commissioning him to get some trifling articles at the village store, she dismissed her messenger with direc tions to return to the same spot on his return. At Martin's return to the house for his noon meal, May feeling herself impelled by the necessity of immediate action, and making no effort to overcome her reluctance to any further negotiation with one who had acted so treacherously towards her, gave Li in to understand that she was acquainted with all the steps he had taken as preliminary to his bestowing her on Gow, and besought him and hia wife in the most moving terms, to relinquish their cruel purpose. Dut she besought them in vain. They replied only, as she had anticipated, by now pleading not only her conditional promise, but Martin tanned her after consent, and insisted on her yielding without further ado. Tcrceiviug any more entreaty on this point useless, she then begg d a postponement for a few weeks. Bui this request received even less favor than the former; and although they had manifested no surprise when she apprised them of her knowledge of her publishment and the appointment of the day of the wedding, believing doubtless, she had heard it from some neighbor, and being well pleased probably, that they had thus been saved the ta5k of making to her an announcement which they must soon make, and which thev could hardly jiutou the fuce to make; although they had shown no surprise in this or her subseqvent request, yet the moment she spoke of delay, they started, exchanged glances of suspicion, and without assigning the least reason for refusing to listen to what would have been, on their assumption of Ashley's desertion, neither dangerous to their purposes, nor unreasonable in itself, pointedly denied her re

quest and in such bitterness of expression and unfeeling abuse, as drove her again iu tears from the room. He will have it so,' said May, after sitting awhile alone, indulging in grief, and revolving in her mind the different chances now left for her escape from the threatened fate, 'there is no other way short of exposing Gow and bringing him to justice, and :f it involves Martin, the fault is not mine, gladly for all his baseness and cruelty, gladly would I save him from disgrace, and perhaps a prison, for having given me a home, onco a kind home, however, the bad passion may have twisted his heart. But he will have it so; and now for the speediest method of bringing the character and crimes of that dark villain, Gow, to light,' Such was the stern resolution to which our heroine had reluctantly arrived. Gladly, as she said, would she, in remembrance of the past, and even in forgetfulness of the present, have averted from the htad of the foster lather the infamy which she had reason to believe would fall upon him in consequence of the. measure that she had now been driven to the alternative of adopting joyfully have flown on his return from the mountain imparted her discoveries, and thus have saved him and herself from the consequences of Gow's villainy, had she believed him only to be the innocent dupe of the other's artifice. But this she could scarcely believe, for from the great intimacy obviously existing between the two, from the part Martin had taken relative to the forged letter, and from his character for intrigue, low cunning and avarice, which she knew to be his leading traits, 6he. drew the partially erroneous conclusions, that they were confederate, not only in entrapping her, but in coining money and duping their other associates. Under these circumstances, therefore, every measure of this kind, she supposed would be uselefs, and might perhaps, be the means of defeating her own objects. Towards nigh: shrewd David returned from the village, and his employer again met him alone at the usual place. Well, David, I have had more troubles since I saw you I have entirely failed in my attempt to gain time but you delivered the letter and there wai nothing iu the office for me?' Yes! No!' O, if there could have been one! I did not much expect one however but did you remember my little errand!' The silk thread? Y'es, Miss May, here it is in the paper.' May took the parcel from the bag, and opening it, disengaged the silk from the wrapper the latter was a printed paper and she listlessly began running over the contents, when 6he soon started as if finding something that had caused her some sudden emotion. Where did you get this paper, David?

earnestly usked fhe, her eyes still rivited on the words bv fore her. Why, the storekeeper puts i. around the silk." 'Did he say wi;ere he obtained it. This is not such as they usually wrap their goods iu it is a printed handbill. Yes, I remember now; ha first cays his wrapping paper's all out then he goes to ihe door swinging back inside, and tears down a paper and says, this has been here long enough, and wraps the silk in it.' Do you know how it read?, David?' No! I never opens it What is it Miss May, what makes you look so queer about it?' Now, David,' she continued after reading the description of the thief's person, and the horse he had abducted; 'now tell me have you ever seen such a person as here described.' Why,' replied the boy after dropping his head for a moment in thought, 'why 1 thinks he must be that mister's own brother, it's ßo much like him. 'Nea rer home than that it is Gow himself.' 'By zounds!' Yes. I know more than you do about this.' And she related the 6cene that she and her lover witnessed on Gow's first coming into the settlement.' Sure it is then,' taid the boy musingly after she had ended, 'but does them what tells where is got the money?' Some of it, I presume, but this is little of my concern those, who will take him away shall be welcome to the reward, and as much more if I had it to give them. No, no, not for the reward, but to get rid of him is my anxiety. and I should prefer this way to any other of doing it, as it will take him 8t one' out of the country, and involve nobody else. David will you go again to the village to-morrow; take this to Mr Mundle the sheriff, and without making use of my name, inform him the thief is here and tell him where a how ho may be taken?' 'I does it, by the pipers!' 'And if they do not come on immediately after him, come here to-morrow night after dark to inform of your success.' The active little messenger, faithful to his trust, was at the villiage at an early hour thrt. next day, and seeking out Mundlegave him the handbill accompauying it with the information he was directed to give; but his communication was not received by the weary dealer of rogues with suck cordiality and such ready confidence as he and his mistress had anticipated. The sheriff being one of those siirewd and cautious men who must understand the motives, and see himself all the springs of action producing any given measure before they make up any decided opinion concerning it, questioned the boy very closely relative to the cause of the coming, whether somebody had not put him up to this through enmity to the accused; thinking it rather strange that this discovery should not have been made before concerning a man who had been in the settlement so many weeks, and who was, as the publishment the preceding Sunday at the villiage apprised hin about to bo married into one of the principal families of tho former place, and deeming a knowledge of ull this essential to any reliance on the lady's story, he himself never seen Gow: and Ashley, the only witness referred to being absent. But in endeavoring to conceal the name of his employer, as she directed, and disdaining to misrepresent David s answers became confused to Teply to any more questions, still reiterating however, that he knew Gow to be the villain and the oue who stole the horse which having been to the spot on his way to the vililage. ho said might still be seen in the bed of the brook where the body was thrown in such a state of preserva lion as to enable one to identify sundry marks described in the handbill. 1 wish you would tell me my lad, said the sheriff.musingly, who is at the bottom of this; but you may have good reasons after all for your conduct, for 1 have often heard of you when I ha7e been up in the neighborhood as an honest capable boy; and iu a day or two 1 will inquire into this affair.' But David was not to be put off in this way. He still hung around the sheriffand continued to urge his request to have something done immediately. Well, well, boy,' said Mundle atlength wearied by the importunity of the former, we may as well see what steps can be taken if your story is true, now as ever, so o with me to squire Johnson's.' They occordingly proceeded to the villiage justice, where the sheriff made known David's story, and the boy was again subjected to a close scrutiny by his honor, resulting however much the same as his previous examination. Tbe justice and sheriff then held a consultation apart. After which the latter came and told David that as Gow had never been arrested in New Hampshire where the horse was stolen, it was their opinion, that they had no authority to take him till they had written on and obtained a warrant there; but that, as the justice thought he had once seen Gow iu passing by Martin's some weeks before, and believed he would answer th discription of the handbill, they had concluded to go on with the business which, if every thing was kept still, might be brought about in a week or ten days, and that therefore he had better now go home, and saying a syllable to no one en the 6ubjtvct, wait patiently for their movemcnt3. 'A whole week!' exclaimed David with

a look of disappointment and regret, 'it will then be too' late -tether must be done.' 'Why too late, my lad.' asked both gentlemen at once, 'why too late, and what other tiling do yon mean?' Why I gues?es I won't tell now net till I sees first.' And so sajing the boy turned on his heel and vanished, leaving his auditors greatly puzzled to understand his singular conduct, and more than half inclined to believe his whole story a sheer fabrication. Our heroine, v ho had hailed with pleasure this last measure which had so unexpectedly opened fur accomplishing in the least objectional way her purpose;?, and who confidently relying on its success, had waited all day with trembling solicitude for the effect which she expected the communication of her messenger wo'd immediately produce, listened with no small degree of pain and disappointment to the account which David gave her that night after his return, of tha fiilure of hi3 mission, for failure it was, to all that regarded the main object she had in view. Deeply did she regret, that not seeing the possibility of such a result, she had restricted the boy whose prudence ane segacity, would have otherwise have prompted him to adopt her other measure in reserve; and bitterly d:d she now denounce that hesitation and false delicacy which had prevented her after her visit to the cavern from immediately taking the most efficient measures within their reach for effecting a purpose which she more became convinced her duty to herself, her lover, and th5 public, a!i!:a loudly demanded her hinds; an I she trembled to think tint only one more business day intervened before the dreaded Tuesd-iy, which she began to fear .va to seal the doom of her wretchedness. Go. David,' she said, 'go early Monday morning agnin to the village, there is now no more time for doubts or delays go, go seek out Mundle and Johnson tell them all, tell them that May Martiu has been in the very den of these villains, ove.heard their plot3 seen and handled their tools for counterfeiting even found the false dollars they had made with them, and that she will not hesitate to swear to it all tell them this, and whatever else they require, and you know, and see if that will not arouse them to action go my friend, everything now depends ou you I know you will not desert mc, go now, and may heaven speed you. The next day, it being Sunday, Gow visited Martin's. It being the first time May had seen him since her visit to the cavern, and she recoiled from his touch as she would of a viper, while she could scarcely keep her tongua from giving expression to the feo'.ings of indignation and abhorrence with which his presence now more than ever filled his bosom. He did not long remain to add to her distress by his hated presence: for, after a few fruitless attempts to reconcile her to his attention he pctulently gave up the attempt aud departed to join his more congenial companion in their mountain retreat, leaving his intended victim, whom he now considered already secure in his toils without further effort, to count the slow and lingering hours which must pass before she could bo cheered with the consciousness that something was doing to snatch her from her impending fate. Monday at lust came, but with it, to the utter discomfciture of May, came a drenching rain storm, which she knew would prevent her. messenger from proceeding on her mission. Often and vainly during this gloom) day did she strain her anxious eyes iu g?zing at the dark and impenetrable clouds, to catch some sign of the storm's abating. But no such appearanco greeted her sight. Tho rain continuod to pour in ceasless torrents till, night, closing in, with Egyptian darkness, cut off all hopo for the efforts of that day, and sent her once moro to a chcjrlc9s pillow, dejected and fast beginning to despond of her extraction from tho fato to which the current of ovents, in spite of her resisting it, appoarod sweeping her on, and, which lho very elements themselves seemed combined to fix upon her. Sho did not however despair. She knew if David could go to the villngo in the morning, and succood in rousing them thcro to immodiate action they would reach thasettlment time enough for her rescue. ,At lho worst she determined either to proclaim Gow 's villainy beforo tho clergyman and assembled company, if matters came to that pass, and ros-ist the proceeding of tho ceremony on tho spoi, or secretly elope from tho house and fly to some friendly roof for protection. After a night of inexprossiblo anxiety and wretchodnes sho started at tho first faint dawning of tho morning light, from her perturbod slumbers, hastily roso and went to tho window. To hor great joy tho rain had wholly ceased, and tho clouds, that yesterday enveloped tho earth likon shroud of mantling blackness having now broken away and disappeared, had given placo to a cloar sky and bland atmosphere After standing awhilo to let tho soft and balmy brceao fan her feverish brow, sho dressod herself and wont down into tho yard. Knowing it would bo Hometimo boloro the inmates of tho houso would bo likely to riso, and fearing that hor littlo friend might notprocood on hcr mission without a frosh bidding, sho slowly proceeded up tho roud towards his residence which was in plain sight about a quarter of a inilo distant, with the hopo that sho mightteo him round tho door to beckon him 1o meet her. Sho had proceodod but a few rods . howover, before sho unexpectedly encounterd him npproachiim. Whcro now, David.' daid bho, 'I can hardly expect you have started out ou niy business so carl v I was foarful you had

forgotten it, and was coming to eco if I could get a word with you before tho folks voro up.' Forgets! hat ain't David Butler but how it rained yesterday! I ached all day to bo going.' 'But have you really Etartod for the village?' How did you get away so very carlyf "What, I tells you how it was, mother haunts mo all tho time, to know what for 1 goes all these limoi, and last night she promises to eay nothing about it, so I tells her all well then she ge!3 into a talking; says Miss May is a poor injured orphan and God will protect her. Then

: after sho goes to bed, 1 hears her in tho nighi crying about it, and praying liko. Then she gets up nforo day and eays sho can't sleep, m cho gels me soma breakfast and tells mo to go right off.' It was right, perhaps, David, that you should tell your mother, and I feel very grateful for her sympathy,' said May, brushing away tho tears that had started during this simplo recital of tho interest of her wrongs had awakened in lho bosom of her pious and unpretending neighbor, "out do you still feel willing to go and do ns I last directed you' I goes till I wears my foot olTto my knees to savo MitJs May for Mi. Ashley, was the heroic reply. Go then thero may bo lino enough yet for all, go my littlo friend and may kind heaven grant ycu success.' Wo will now chango tho sccno of our little story, which tho even's of this day worodestinod to bring to a fearful termination. On a road deeply cmbo;7orcd in lho hoavy forest, about fifteen rnilea south of tho Ilnrwood seHlornen!, and half that distance from the village beforo mentioned, a solitary horseman in tho afternoon of tho day so momentous to the fortunes cl our heroine, was pursuing his lonely way towards tho cccncs wo havo just left. Tho day was ono of uncommon sultriness even for the sultry month of August, rand tho traveller, occasionally plucking a fresh bough from the overhanging branches to keep off the flies that were swarming around his vexed horso, and stinging hini at limes to madness, seemed to look with compassion on tho foamy sides of tho suffering animal, and often appeared to repress the involuntary motion which hrt frequently mado to urgo him forward nt a quicker paco. 'It is creel' at length said lho ridor seemingly addressing his horso, 'it is cruel in me to thus force you on at this rato in this suffocating air morely to satisfy my selfish feelings you havo no loving and lovod ono in prospect to incito your steps to speed.' Lo saying ho threw tho reins looslv on the dripping mano of tho horso, and for tho next inilo amused himself with watching tho flies and endeavoiing with a sort of malicious plca?uro to striko down lho most dcterminod of their band, as theso littlo winged tormentors wero settling on thair wincing victim, and oficn goading him into a Irot. Arriving now to whero another road from tho eastward fell into tho cno ho waa travelling, Ashley for such tho reader has doubtless already anticipated, was our travollor, making his way to lho settlement intending to tako his mistress by an agreeable surprise, it being considi rablo Booncr than ßho had reason to expect his return Ashley, wo sa7i at this point ofintarscction wni' joined Ly another horseman. Tho man wn3 considerably past tho prime of life, and his hair, indood, hognn lo bo slightly sprinkled by tho frost cf time; whilo his features really handsome and commanding, worn something of tho pensivo and thoughtful cast. Bowing with respectful easo peculiar to the well bred, a clas to which from both Ins dress and demonnor, ho very cvidontly belonged he foil in by the cido of of Ashley. 'Our travelling fortuno9 seem to unito here,' said the lho stranger as a languid simlo played gontly on his lips. That smilo thought Ashley, and lliono foaturos too, 3eem familiar to mo I must have seen them, or something liko them somewhere, though certainly I know not this man;' nnd ho mused awhile, but vainly, in trying to recall somo moro defmita remembrance, or to account for lho impression thus received. After somo common place conversation about roads, distances and the liko, tho stranger observed: From somo of your remarks sir, 1 am led to conclude that you aro n resident somewhorc in tho vicinity may I ask how far you proceed in this direction!' I am going to Ilarwood settlement, as lho placo is " called it is my residence, now something near twolvo miles distant,' replied Ashley. Indeod'said tho stranger, with evident interest, I do too, propose going to that place,' Do you?' asked tho other, throwing an enquiiing glanco on hia companion os if conjecturing his probable business,' n proprietor of lands in tho neighborhood, I concludo wo may call you, perhaps about to become a purchaser?' Or perhaps a curious traveller in search of the novel and picturesquo among your wild mountains,' OTasivoly said lho stranger with a good natured smilo. That smile again! said Ashley to himself; and ho began to feci an unJc finable interost growing in his bosom towards his now acquaintance. Do you know,' rpsumou tho cider traveller after a few moments silence, do you know a family in your sottlomeiit by tho namo of Martin?' 'Intimately,' replied Ashloy nilh a look in which some surprise as well as inquiry was cxhibitod. - 'Has ho much of a family f Rather small I khoul I call it sir. 'lias lv no children of 1Ü3 own?' 'Ut his own? ho hus thjjo uf others living wiih him.' . .

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