Plymouth Banner, Volume 3, Number 24, Plymouth, Marshall County, 17 August 1854 — Page 1

1 ? :. 1 l Uli Ii VW A Family Newspaper- Devoted to Education, Agriculture, Commerce, Markets, General Intelligence, Foreign and Domestic News, VOL. 3. NO. 24.1 PLYMOUTH, INDIANA, THURSDAY, AUGUST 17, 1854. WHOLE NO. 128.

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MAY MAMTS, THE HONEY DIGGERS. A QUEEN UUNTAtS TALE. BY 1. r. Til OtrSON.

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companion of the road had entered the j now reeling with sweat and covered with rude plazzt which ran along the front of , sheels of foam- hegan to manifest great the hou.se and seating himself on a bench, dl3tress and Bhow cedent signs of giveat apparently scanning the different fa- lnS out- unIess speedily suffered to relax, ces around him. and listening to such re-' , l.olJ ,:P! Ashley.' exclaimed mirks as fell within his hearing, as if handle, 'this will never dowe gain no-

willing in thor lh r.iB of the mm. : motion among the people, without conJ cerning himself so far as to make any direct inquiries respecting it. He had not J.,. ! hor k,, . nompnt hnrrprr before the former rushed by him into the j

hous and hastily bespoke a fresh horse V. , , a lK" of the landlord to be saddled with all diately relaxed into a moderate trot. It possible despatch. The horse was in- had been throughout, as be ore remarked, stantly at the door; while Mundle, with da of unUBl J181 anJ Itriness -a stout assistant, who had in time got in And nw- though the sun had been for readiness fur a itart. now rode up and ?m hou" obicured by a deep haze called on Ashley to mount. A the latter i vly gathering over it the heat was wasaumt springing into his saddle his I PaJnf"n7 oppressive. The atmosphere late travelling companion stepped quickly ,nJeed "emed moment to grow .... .. 14 4 i more murkv and suffocating, riot a leaf.

up ana loucnea mm on me arm. Do you leave me, sir!' said' he with ! , i I , sorae earnestness.

t.' was the quick reply, 'I have ! f ned air whiIe sat Pli"S. Ht,..i ...?h ma ,nws and mule on boughs, scarcely mov-

I taus inct lciniHil t!m ti-hi-h vw ill uro mp to

theBcUlewcntmuchfasterthBiiyouwouldlS. the nearest approach cf man

wish to travel, but i shall see you lo-raor row, g:od day. bit.' ldj, om rv.ometit let me ask whom your unexpected intelligence concerns?' Myself.' None others!' One 'The young lady concerning whom I enquired! Most deeply. Enough I attend you landlord, my horse instantly. Cut your hors he will hardly keep pace with our fresh ones.' He hall at least try it, sir, said the stranger in a determined tone as he now received his horse from the expert waiter, and sprang into his saddle. In another moment the little cavalcade were clattering at full gallop up the road towards the settlement followed by a wagon containing another assistant and shrewd David, xv'ilh cords and iron handcuffs to bind and occurs the prisoner or prisoners.' Befor following them we will pause on instant to bring up the evnt3 of our etorj as they occurred ttt the village beforft Ashley arrived. DivIJ it seems had proceeded directly to the village on leading May that morning. On arriving there, still at a very early hour, he immediately went to eaarch Out Mundle and Johnson, the executive and judicial functionaries of the law, to whom he applied on his previous visit to the- village; but both of these gentlemen had just ridden out, and to his great vexatiou, nobody could tell where they had goae or when they would return. Without the least thought of yielding to his disappointment the trusty little messenger awaited their coining many long weary hours in an agony of impatience and anxiety. AnJ it was not till about noon that he caught sight of them approaching. He Hew to meet and detain them on the road till they listened to his whole story. Well my lad,' said Mundle afUr he had satisfied himself by many now readily answered inquiries, you have told your story this time as you should do to have U3 believe it, though I sae you were not to blame for not doing it the other day I huve had some hints of this money digging up there before; and suspected some monkery; but good God! Johnson, would you have believed there could have been found a man in Vermont guilty of the baseness of Martin towards a girl who has all the claims of a daughter? Thank heaven, however, there is time ciu ugh yet to stop all this, by Just caging my gentleman bridegroom and before they dream of such accommodations. Conti?, on to our dinners then make out a warrant, Johnson, in no tine I will be ready to take it before" U is dry; and you, my boy, come home with me you deserve a dozen dinners for your faithfulness to that girl. After an hour spent waiting for, and eating dinner, and another or two in looking up forms and writing a warrant, the dilatory justice was about bringing his labors to a clos4, when in came the merchant, holding in his hand a couple of counterfeit dollars which he said had just been passed at his store' by a man from Harwood settlement, and demanded a warrant for hi3 apprehension before he left the place. Here was an interruption that wag not tu be avoided, and David who had determined not to leave the ground till he saw the sheriff on his way, and who watched the slow progress of the justice with ths most restless impatience, us he now saw theru drop the bu siness, which was his only concern, and proceed to their new case, lost all control of his feelings and fairly cried with vex ation and disappointment. After a while however, which seemed another age to the poor boy, both warrants were finished und the sheriff dispatched to arrest in the first place the last discovered candidate for his greeting favorc. But, though Mundle performed hie duty much more expeditiously than the other, it was yet nearly five in the afternoon before he hid secured the prisoner, placed him in custody of others before the court at the tavern, and got released from his charge iu nider to proceed to the settlement which he was Just on the point of doing when Ashley rode to the door.

We will now follow the sheritTand his

I possec proceeding on with furious speed j to a more interesting scene of actiou. 1'roceeding with all the. speed they could urge, and led on by Ashley, who was burning with impatience to reach the abode of his perilous mistress before forever too late, kept several rods in advance, calling loudly and tepeatedly to the rest to come on, they had not gone half their distance before their horses """8 ui " "3 sPetu. BU1 sucu l: 1... !. 'M .1 .; l 1stilling hea t as this. Uvo miles more and VU4 u uiup u uu u. auu jours will b. the first to fail, see! how he already falters!' A moments consideraJn convinced Ashley of the justice of , . - ... evea, f 4the e.vcr, trembling aspen responded to a sintrle vibration of the deadAnd all nature seemed sunk into one of those lethargic calms so ominous in the warmer latitudes, of the coming tempest. Nor, in tha present instance were the more palpable indications of a thunder storm much longer wanting. Every moment darker and broader sheets of vapor rose up majestically from the west, casting a deeper and more lurid shade over the earth; and soon, long deep peataof muttering thunder came booming on the ear, increasing each instant in loudness and frequeacy. The company, now beginning to be observant of the approaching shower, soon came to the top of a high knoll which gave them, over the lop of the intervening forest an open and unobstructed view of the western horizon. One broad, black mass of upheaving clouds lay directly in front, extending round on either side to the north and south as far as the eye could reach; while in the centre of this fearful rack a huge column of vapor, doubling and eddying like a 6eething caldron, wag rolling up with the blackness and rapidity of the smoke of burning pilch. Heaven and earth!' exclaimed Mundle, glancing at the scene before him, 'in fifteen minutes that terrific cloud will burst upon us in all the fury of a tornado it is but two miles now our horses will stand it in the freshning breeze let us clear the woods at least before the tempest strikes us. And they again applied whip and spur and put their horses upon a keen run. Leaving thernhere to get on as they may, we must now return to our long neglected heroine to recount the occurrence of the day at Martin's. Slowly to her passed the anxious day, which was destined to be the last of her ever being knowu by the name of May Martin. The forenoon was mostly occupied in making such scanty preparations as Mrs. Martin chose to direct for the reception of the company at the expected ceremony. in the eveniug. In all these May assisted with a sort of unnatural alacrity, but with as great a degree of composure as her troubled feelings would permit her t assume. As noon approached she expected every moment to hear the trampling of horses at the door as the fruits of the message, which she supposed must have been delivered hours before. But noon and afternoon came, and still no tidings from the village were heard; no signs of either messenger or the success of his message were discoverable. Often and vainly did she strain her aching sight towards the woods in the direction from whence she expected succor was to appear to catch a glimpse of approaching horsemen. One o'clock, two, and three passed and still they came not. Perhaps they might have been led by David round In he woods to the cave without coming into the clearing; perhaps Gow was already secured and oil his way back to the village; and the thought, this hope-grasped thought for a while relieved her. But even thi3 faint gleam of consolation soon vanquished by the appearance of Gow himself, come to dress and prepare for the ceremony. With a hint from Mrs. Martin that it was time she began to dress herself for the company. May now retired to her room, and carefully fastening the door, flung herself on her bed in au agony of grief and despair. But impelled by the painful conscientiousness that the crisis was at hand when she muat yield to her fate or do something to avert it, and now fast relinquishing all hope in the success of the plan on which she had been relying for her extrication, she soon roused herself and summoned all her energies for deciding wnai course to pursue in the fearful emergency. Could she trust herself to tarry into effect one of the alternatives she had resolved on in the failure of Gow's arrest, that of denouncing him and resisting the proceeding of the ceremony? Could she command her feelings sufficient to do this; should she not be overawed by Martin and his wife; and even should sh3 make the attempt, would her story gain credence, after keeping so long silent and suffering the affair to glide along to the very hour of consummation without making known her situation. The more she reflected on this projected theme did htr resolution wave, She had a female

friend who had not long since married and settled on the road a few miles north of Harwood settlement, and her resolution was soon formed to attempt to escape from the house and try to reach the residence of her friend that night. Scarcely had she formed this resolution before casting her eye on the roaJ she beheld in the distance a man approaching on horseback, whom from the color of his horse, she instantly recognized to be the minister who had been engaged to officiate on the occasion. She seen him past the preceding Saturday on his way to a town a short distance to the north, where, at stated intervals he preached; and she but too well understood the reason of his happening along on his return at this hour. Now aware that another hour; now aware that not another moment was to be lost, she seized a common bonnet and cautiously letting herself down from her window which opened into the garden, glided through the shrubbery, swift and noiseless as the wild bird stealing to its covert, slipped through the fence, and entering a field of tall grain immediately beyoud, escaped towards the woods unseen in a northerly direction. On reaching the woods ehe paused a moment to glance at the clouds which were now beginning to heave up over the tops of the mountains in heavy masses, accompanied at short intervals by the low short and scarcely perceptible rumbling of the distant thunder, afforded her abundant evidence of the approaching storm. But she hesitated not. What to her feelings were the terrors of a thunder storm to the scene she had Just left, in which, but for her fiight, she must soon be the principal actor. Pausing no longer than to decide how she should best shape her course, avoid all observation from the road and the open grounds on the right, and prevent becoming entangled and bewildered in the depths of the wilderness on the left she now plunged into the wooJs, and keeping just within their borders, pressed

oii with rapid steps towards her destlS tion. She had not proceeded far, however, before the occasional rushes and crackling of sticks and brush breaking under the tread at some distance on her left apprised her of the presence- of some one apparently endeavoring to keep pace with her for the purpose of dogging her steps. And glancing over her shoulder as with quickened steps she pursued her way, the alarming truth at once flashed across her mi d. It was the accomplice of Gow, the i 'd man she had seen in the cavern who was following her. Calculating to leave the valley that night he had packed up, and having come from his retreat, was waiting at a convenient stand at the skirt of the woods in plain sight of Martin's a signal promised by Gow as soon as the knot was fairly tied, intending to depart secretly from the settlement the moment this evidence of the completion of their infamous work was displayed. And it wft3 while standing here concoaled from the view of others in a clump of bushes and patiently watching for the promised signal, he caught sight of May gliding into the woods but a short distance below him. Though soon conjecturing from the course she came that it be no other than their intended victim, he yet auspected not at first her real object; and thinking she might have come to the woods for the purpose of obtaining some favorite shrub or evergreen to deck her room for the occasion, h suffered her to proceed some way beforo it occurred to him that she was actually escaping from their net. Unwilling, on account of his own safety to cause an outcry, which he was fearful she might raise if he made any attempt to detain her by fo rce, he determined to get ahead of her, and endeavor to frighton her back to the house. But in this he soon found himself baffled; for instead of beingable to get before her, he found much difficulty, so rapid was her flight, even in overtaking her iu sight, liesolvcd however, not to lose the advantage of this, that he might dog her to the house where she fled for shelter for the night, and return and apprise his accomplice of the place of her refuge, he redoubled his exertions and succeeded barely in accomplishing this part of his purpose as far as the pursued was permitted to proceed. But to return to the wretched fugitive. Having been nurtured among the mountains and accustomed from infancy to exercise in their invigorating breezes, her naturally active limbs had acquired an elasticity and capability of enduring fatigue, which are unknown to females of older countries, and which came in good need on the present emergency. Fleeing like some frightened nymph of heathen fable before a pursuing demon, her lips parted, her hands thrust eagerly forward and her loosened and disordered tresses streaming wildly behind aer, she bounded along over log, rock and rivulet with a rapidity which fear only could have iucited, and which the perilous energy of desperation alone could have sustained. While every glance which at times she hastily threw back over her shoulder at the fearful vissage forever peering thro the bushes in hot pursuit behind her. ad ded a fresh impulse to her exertions and quickened her speed. The thunder now burst in terrific peals over her head tall trees were uprooted and hurled to the earth by the furious blast, or shivered in the fiercely quivering blow of the lightning, fell in fragments around her; yet she paused not in her course the rain poured in deluging torrents over her drenched person, yet she heeded it not; but catching the huge drops on her parched lips as they gratefully beat over her fevered and curving - brow, she fled-on on, regardless of exposure, and forgetful . f all dangers but one. Having now passed the last house of

the settlement, she Just as the night and cIouJs were fast combining to spread their dark mantle over the earth, varied her course, and struck obliquely into the road. Here, pausing an inBtant in doubt whether to fly to the nearest house, or go on in pursuance of her origiuil determination, she indistinctly caught the form of her pursuer, who had struck into the road some distance below her, and thus cut off her chance of return. Nerving herself once more for the trial, she passed on up the road for her first destination, now about two miles distant, with no other means of distinguishing her way than what the occasional flashes of lightning afforded. Although the rain immediately overhead had now sensibly abated, yet the deep earth jarring roar on the left, as if from the incessant pouring of a cataract, plainly told that the storm was still spending its force with unexampled fury on the moutains. And the proof of this soon became visible lo our heroine in the rapidly increasing torrents that came rushing down the steep acclivties, overflowing the road and threatening at every step to put an entire stop to her progress. Arriving at length at the northerly outlet ol the valley where the mountains shut down so close to the pond as to leave little more than space for the road to pass between them, 6he came abreast of one of the mountain ravines where at ordinary times a small brook crossed the road. It was now swollen to a rushing river before which no human strength could have stood an instant. To attempt to pas3 this she saw was madness; and as she heard the splashing footsteps of her pursuer but a short distance behind her, despair now for the first time sent its chill to her heart. But while standing on the brink of the dashing flood, which at every moment rose higher and higher, hesitating whether to commit herself to the raging element, or the scarcely less dreaded power of her pursuer, a flash ef lightning revealed to her sight a shelving rock, jut-

ling out from the side of the hill a few rods back, and so aloof from the road and screened from it by intersecting boughs, as to afford her, she believed, if cached unseen, a good concealment from her indefatigable enemy, and a safe retreat from the waters which were now rising around her with the most frightful rapidity. Making directly for the hill and scrambling up the slanting rocks at the foot with the inspiring energy of despair, she gained the place and dropped down exhausted on the spot, just as another flash partially Tevealed to her sight the form of the old man hurrying by, and rushing to the brink of the stream she had left an iuslant before. Recoiling from the view of the threatening and impassable torrent, and throwing one wild glance around him, in which horror for the supposed fate of his victim, and alarm for his own safety seemed equally mingled, he hastily retreated back long the road Butbefore he had proceeded many rods, the gathering and pent waters above, as if suddenly bursting through their opposing barriers, in mighty torrents came rushing down a corresponding ravine beyond the ridge at a little distmce to the south, and wholly cut off his retreat. Meanwhile the noise on the mountain every moment grew louder. The deep, distant roar, as of pouring torrents, which had for some time been heard, now became mingled with the tumultuous crashing of falling forests, the hissing washing sounds of disturbed and changing volumes of water, and the slow, heavy, intermitting jar of vast bodies of matter just beginning to move. Nearer and nearer it came and now the earth 6hook seemingly to its lowest foundations, as with gathering impetus, the mighty mass came rolling down the steep sides of the mountain directly towards the spot where the terror struck girl lay concealed, and her no less affrighted pursuer, a few yards below was running to and fro, vainly looking for some chance to escape. Now it became rapidly light, as from some steady kindling blaze above, which growing more luminous and dazxlirg every instant, soon gleamed fiercely along the surface of the bubbling pond, and flashing broad and bright over the opposite mountains, lit up the ampitheatrc of encircling hills, from the darkness of miduight to the splendors of noon day. Starting to her feet May looked around her in mute consternation. Nearer and more deafening ro3e the tremenduous din above roaring, crashing! grinding along, with concussions that made the solid earth bound beneath her feet, down came the avalanch with fearful velocity towards her. In an other instant the. mighty mass, dividiug on the solid ledge beneath which she stood, began to rush by her on either side, in two vast high turbid volumes, revolving monstrous stones, and hurling trees over trees in their progress, and like some huge launch, driving with am&zip forc into the receding waters of the pond; while at the same time, the forest around and above her, waved, shook, topled and fell in uwful crash on the rocks over her bead. She saw, she heard no more, but sank stunned and senseless on the ground. And, passing from the iusensibility occasioned by the shock into a profound sleep which without a full recovering of her consciousness, immediately stole over her the moment her over-strained faculties ceased their exertion. She lay till the great struggle of the elements was over, and the storm passed by. At Itngth, however, she slowly awoke. The dreadful tumult that last assailed ' her conscious ear was hushed, and all was still save the steady rushing of tha diminished waters. The stars shone brightly .giving her a dim view of the wild scenes of havoc upd desolation which tho

a valanche had spread around her. Th

irunK oi a large tree lay directly across the rocks within a few feet of her head cue saw now narrowly she had escaped death, and she devotedly thanked heaven for the preservation. A faint groan is suing lrom the ruins a short distance from where she lay, now reached her. It was the poor wretch who had caused all her trials, now lying wounded and buried beneath the top of the same tree that had spared his intended victim. but before she had time to indulge in the mingled emotions which this was bring ing over her. she heard voices. Presentl) lights appeared on the pond, and a boat with several men shot alone the shore directly against her. It now paus eu in its course, ana some one repeated loudly her name. Did she hear rightly? hlsQ why did the tones of that voice thrill through every fibre of her frame? She shrieked in reply, and tried to move. but her benumbed and worn limbs refused their office. The call came asain. -May! May!" "Oh, Ashley, Ashley," she articulated in broken and agonized utterance. The men sprang on tho shore and in a moment more she was clasped in the mute embrace if her lover. Onco more and for the last time change wo the scene ot our eventful story to the place where we commenced ;t, at the dwelling of the heartless, despicable, but nowadetected and self-abased Martin. Need we attempt to describe tho disappointment of tho excited lover, osburst- ; : ,. , i . i. i. l c t.:. mti uuu kiiu uuuau aw wie iicau ut ills companions just as the tempest struck it, he made the discovery which the inmates ma la but a moment before, that his affiance was missing. Tho utter discomfeiture of .Martin and his congeniel helpmate at this uulooked for interruption of their plans, and detected at the eve of consummating baseness! The consternation of Gow at being seized nd secretly ironed on the spot? the bitter upbraidings of Ashley on the heads of the guilty and shrinking pair for their treachery towards him, and their oppressive cruelty and wickedness towards the unprotected child of their adoption? The feverish impatience with vhich he paced the floor till the storm should abate that he might fly to the neighbors, to some of whom it was supposed the poor girl had fled for refuge. The hot haste with which he mounted his horse the first moment of the fury of the tempest would permit, and rodo from house to house a the eager search? the blank dismay and agony of heart that overwhelmed him on finding that no one had seen her, and that she was sheltered by no honse in tho settlement! the prompt rallying of the startled inhabitants the dancing of lights In every direction, as they anxiously continued the search, in house and barn, field and forest, through the gloomy hours of that dreadful night! Tho consternation of the distracted lover, on coming to the fearful ruins of the avalanche, at the maddening though: she might be buried beneath them his hasty return and procurement of a boat to paes round the insurmountable mass that blocked up the road the extra joy that thrilled his bosom at the discovery of tho lost one, and the exulting throb of the heart-gushing happiness with which he and hi3 companions bore back the living prize, together with the dying wretch who had caused her misfortunes, to the nearest house for resuscitation and refreshmant before pro ceeding homeward. Need we attempt to detail this? What reader of imagination so dull that he cannot better fill up for himself, a picture so difficult for pen to delineate? It was daylight, and a beautiful balmy morning. The scene from Martin's presented in every direction a gloomy picture of the desolating ravages of the tempest. Fields of grass and grain lay prostrate with the earth. Fences had been swent awav bv the unexampled rise of the mountain rivulets, and their materials lay strewn at random over the blackened herbage of the vale. Each solitary track of the open grounds, left for 6hade or ornament had been hurled to the earth in the fury of the blast. And many a veteran hemlock and princely pine of the surrounding forests, whose giant forms had withstood the power of the elements for centuries and whose towering tops had served from time immemorial as the familiar guides of the wodsmen starting from their homes, had been rent by the lightnings or overthrown by the winds, and were no longer to be seen while far in the distance at the north a broad whitish belt markfd the fearful track of the avalanch down the mountain. Within the walls of th homo was as sembled a group of persons as variant and dissimilar, in character and feelings, as the singular causes that brought them together. On a low bench in one coris tier of the room, sullen and 'silent sat Gow, heavily ironed und closely guarded by one of the stout athletic assistants of the sheriff. In another place sat Martin and his wife; with their eyes cast dejectedly on the floor, listening meekly with deep debaseness of demeanor to the remarks of the clergyman, who, having remained through tho night, was now mildly netting before them, not only the wrong of the deception which had been practiced on him in hiding the circums tances of the projected marriage, iu the advancement of which, he had been unwittingly enlisted, but the great heniousness of using such arts to compel a poor unfriended orphan under their protection, to violate those vows to her lover which they themselves had sanctioned, and wed a man so abhorrent to her feelings that she praved, and but too probably met death iu trying to avoid the fate, Lconing peu3ivcly ogaiast the window,

stood the handsome stranger, who yesterday joined Ashley on the road, and who, though no one yet knew his business, nor even his name, had through the whole night taken a deep and active search for the lost favorite of the valley, now listening to the words of the minister addressed to the dupes of the man in irons before them, and now casting uneasy glances through the window towards the north, in which direction he, a3 well as the rest of the company, supposed the search was still going on. Presently a distant hum, as if the min

gled voices of many persons approaching with rapid steps do wn the road reached the ears of the company. It came near er and nearer; and all except Gow and his guard, now hastily rose and went out in the yard. A baud of all ages and sex es scattered confused along the road, ac cording to different powers and dispositions for speed, were flying towards the house; shrewd David many rod9 in ad vance, exultingiy shouting with all his might. "May is found! May is found! Thev are coming! they are coming!" And the little fellow now reaching the anxiously expectant group at the door, and pointing to two approaching wagons in the distance, fell down in utter exhaus tion, and gave vent to overflowing emotions in a burst of tears. Thank God!' exclaimed the strangnr, the first to find utterance in the general emotion that seemed to spread sympathet ically from tho boy to every person present. 'Amen and to Him be the praise! re sponded the minister in the deep and rev erential tones of his office. The foremost wagon travelled much faster than the other, and being consid erably forward of it, had by this time approached to within a short distance of the assembled company, now composed of nearly all the inhabitants of the settlement awaiting its arrival in breathless silence. And now it turned into the yard. It contained Ashley and the recovered fair one. She looked worn and much paler than usual, otherwise calm though thoughtful. Her lover lifted her form from the carriage, and advancing with her at his side, would have spoken but his lip began to quiver, and waving his hand ha mutely presented her to the company. The temales rushed round and by turns convulsively clasped her in their arms or buried their faces in her bo som, with no other utterance than their violent sobbing as they held her in the mute embrace or turned awav to hide their streaming tears the men stood and ooked on with less boistrous manifesta tions of emotion, though the big tears were seen starling in many an eye, and coursing down many a manly cheek, as hey silently gazed on the moving scene before them. While this scene was acling, the other wagon driven oy iviunuie and containing tho wounded man stretched on a bed in the bottom of the vehicle he latter person haying been brought here by his own earnest request, now slowly passed into the yard. Bring out a pillow, or something to make a bolster,' said the 6Qeriff, in the one of one accustomed to command. this poor wretch is evidently near his ast breath and has something to say be fore he leaves the world forever. Here, help to lift him out, bed and all. And bring out likewise the prisoner, Gow, hat they may be confronted together. These orders being promptly attended to the wounded mau was carefully lifted from the wagon and placed in an easy position in the open air. He first pressed his hand to his forehead and then opening his eyes and looking slowly round on the countenances of those standing immediately about him, said faintly 'I heard them say there was a stranger here, who inquired for May Martin, and Rp.pmed to take interest in her fate. Is he now present?' The gentleman thus inquired for, who had hitherto stood back a silent though atteutive spectator ol all that had passed now stepped forward. It is so,' said the former after letting his languid eye rest for a moment on the face of the stranger, it is even as I suspected, Mr. Harwood Frank Harwood!' You call my name, sir, replied the stranger, closely scanning tho pale and livid features of the man lying before him you call me rightly but 1 do not reccollect when, or where I may have met with you.' Do you not remember your father's former agent for this settlement, and the adviser aud assistant of your youthful errors.' Colvin,' exclaimed the stranger in surprise. Colvin!--Can this be Richard Colvinr At the mention of that name oldest settler stepped up and over the man, looked intently all the bending iu his face. It is, they presently exclaimed. It

is Colvin, but oh how changed! You say truly,' rejoined the old man, after a pause iu which he seemed to be collecting his failing energies to speak further. You say truly of tho wretched object before you; changed indeed, but less changed in person than in guilt! Franklin Harwood, in May Martin, the girl before you, behold you? own daughter!' My father?' uttered May in surprise. Her father!' exclaimed many voices at once, Her father! Frank Harwood, only son of the old proprietor her father' almost shrieked both Martin and his wife at the same instant. Can this gentleraan be my father?' again timidly-as3tcd.-My, looking up inquiringly to Ashley. It is tho-genileman of whom I spake, as

wo camo along, May,' ropliod th latter. I thought 1 half suspected something liko this. And why not so near a tie? Soel'hn continued with animation, waiving his hand to the spectator.", and pointing from tho features cf tho father to those of thedanghter. See! did over mirror that mellows while it truly refloats the landscape did ever mirror throw back the softened picturo more faithfully?" It is even bo,' said Harwood, now stopping and taking tho hand cf tho unresisting and pleased girl. 'It is even sd it can bo no other than the too long neglected child of a much injured, though Itnv-

fully wodded mother, who, I trust, nt this auspicious moment, is looking dovn from her place in heaven to forgivo and biers, in tho pleased witnessing of this lato union of father and daughter. And if she, ho continued, 'of Heaven, can do this, what say my fair child cf earth?' A sweet smilo broke through t'..o starting toars of May on reply. 'Lot mo proceed,' gnid the wounded penitent, know I feci that I havo but a moment left, and I would improvo it C8 far aa I can, tho mischief I havo deliberately dono.' You men and owners as you have thought yourselves, of this seltlcmeLt, havo I injured. Under prote nded ownership cf this valley, I gave you false lilies to ihe-:o lands which, till within a fc- months, belonged to this gentloman'ri father, who, having becomo apprised of his cn'i former clandestine marricco and a living offspring 8omewhore in Vermont, bequeathx . 1 II . .1 cq mom an to mis persecuted gin. ict content with once having defrauded you aud proved treacherous Id my put-on, to whom I reprc3cnto d tho lands to bo so worthless, that ho cn his account never af-. terwards inquirod after them, I laid n plan to rob you of all thcs3 farms nt a blow, by gelling them into tho possession of my associate, yon prisoner, by means of cheating the owner, into a marriaga with him, before tho willhould be known horo and thus inflict anöth er irrcparablo injury on tho family of my early patron. Nor was this enough; I must filch a largo cum of money from a number of vou, in making you pay my associate and wicked sharer in all tho booty to bo gained by cur wicked plots, for his pretended skill in discovering a fancied treasure, to effect which I scrupled not to expose yea to tha law by burying for your finding a few counterfeited dollars of my o wn miko. And now, having freely confessed all, tho cn!y atonoment I can offer for my aggravated injuries is in declaring tho innocence of theso deluded men in possecair. tho coin, and restoring tho good mjr.ey tr.kcn fron them my share of which you will find in my pockets, tho rest about lhopcr:cr.cf tho prisoner, who I hepo will rp?cdi!y forgot tho lessons of wickedness I havo taught him; and learn wisdom from my melancholy fate. As to your land I can only recommend you to tho mercy ofthoir now rightful owner, Mr. Harwood, her natural fnacrdian,or' he continued, glancing at Ashley, or him, who I suppose, is soon to bo her legal protector.' 'It is but right,' said Ashley stammer ing and confused at tho evident allusion of the last speaker, and endeavoring to withdraw his am from his fair partner, 'It is but right but honorable, that, in this strangely altered aspect ofaffair, I should relinquish to Miss Harwood, as wo must now call her, all claims sho may havo giv en mo as May A'artin.' But, supposing replied May, still clirging to the arm of her lover, with a countenance radiant with 6milcs and blush c.;, 'b'.-t supposing Miss Harwood should notchoosr. to release Mr. Ashley from his engagements to May Martin?, At least May rejoined tho lover with a starting tear and graceful milo, ct least May, we have a new consent to ask and obtain now, "And it will not long ho withhold said Harwood, with a gratified look. Your manly conduct now, Mr. Arhley has confirmed mo in tho highly favoialls preposessions I had conceived of your character, and oven without this I know not that I nhoiild ever havo attempted to sunder those whom God has evidently put togeher. While th?s tender scene was tua-;t:nj most of the settlers, astonished and dismayed fit the unexpected intelligence they had just heard had withdrawn from the spot in silence, and wer standing in the back ground, viiL blink and disconcerted countenances, leaviatl o happy littla group of father, daughter, bwr, parson, sheriff, and little David, abouttheonly persons whose interetJ oru not unfavorably affected by the develop u.neut by theirüclves indulging in the joyoui t motions tj which tho occasion gave rise, and the three last aared ospecially, giving vent to their foiling in pious ejaculations, hearty congratulations, and half suppressed exclamations cf unbounded delight, according to their respective characters. Their attention now was crresteJ, however by a faint groan fro;:i the cid man. They turned, he had just breathed his lait. The falling of somebody, followed by a loud shriek of a female io the Louse now suddenly truck on their startled tars. All rushed to o;en tho door. Martin lay weltering in t! e bDodon the floor with Ma throat cui fro:.i ear to ear. and writhing in the agonies of death, which in the paroxism of rercoTe, sfiaine a::i despcia-i tion, his own hand Lai iiiXiictucl. ' Ten years had rolled awny, when one Cay a meek looking and plainly dressed Ptranger on horseback was seen, with an hcsitat'HiT air, turning into the same yard where the closing scene of our tale took place. A large Uostory builJin with corresponding oul-liouses, now occupied the s.le of Martin's dvlh:i. ' A sturdy young farmer of perhaps twenty-live, was in the now unproved and handsome ytid teaching two ruddy t oys of the prolaMe acej of six and eight years, how to shoot With bow and arrow.. "May I ask who at the pretext res.d.shcref timidly asked the stranger. Judge Ashley,' was the reply. And these pretty boys are they hisl' 'They are sir.'1 once knew something of ttu people of this valley, and trust shall Lo .acused lor leaking inquiries concerning thtrj. How is Mr. ALlty astccxacd in the wuild?'