Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1824-09-23

Wofiu IOf ever!
II was some DAYS after this that as Mr..
Marston was sitting by the bedside of
his son, listening to his rawlings, and
pressing his burning forehead in his
hands, he heared the door slowly open.
and man entered, VINO seemed bent
down and wrinkled, and gray haired,
more by sorrow and dark passions than
age. He came up to the bed, and throw
ing down a packer, said. in a solemn tone,
There, brother, there is more money
than took from you. but believe what
| say, am innocent.n
"Brotberw exclaimed Mr. Marston,
"can you be Frederick"
"Yes, am Frederick; | came TO give
you your money, tell you never wrong
ed YOU, and depart"
Depart oh, brother, do not leave me
again, never believed you guilty; why
do you not stay with me;"
stay oh no, no. cannot, where
my daughter, my dearest Virginia died.
aud ne pressed bis hands on his forehead
to keep down the agony which seemed
rising.
"Vlrginia!" said Mr. Marston, "can
you be Yrginia's father?n
Yes, | an that wretched man,
How can that be; tell me dear bro
Their, why you never came to me when
YOU were here; where baye you been
si1ces''
at is long story" he said with
deep sigh, II do not know if | have
strength to tell il, but will try, sat of
with the money, with light heart, for
YOUR confidence in me, Notwithstanding
my Irregularities, was the source of
great happiness to me. One night ar
rived at the top Of one of the Allegany
Mountains which had to cross ia my
journey, and laid down to sleep, lie aving
my horse tied to a tree as usual. The
next morning awoke and he was gone;
looked for him in vain, and came back
to the path, but still he was not to be
seen; determined not to lose him, once
more plunged into the dark woods, and
traced his footsteps some distance; at
last | lost the track; wandered round
and round for hours, but could not dis
cover my horse or the road; almost dis
tracted with apprehension, | did my best
to regain the path, but in vain; wan
dered for days and weeks, but couldnot
discover it, nor WAS there human be-
ing or house in sight, Twas almost fa-
mlshed, but continued to live on roots
and berries until was nearly exhausted;
one day | emerged from the woods, and
a view burst on me which TO one at their
ease might have given pleasure; but
think, oh think, brother. what must have
been my feelings as stood on the brow
Of that wild mountain. with nothing in
view but endless tops of other mountains,
and deep dark valleys. covered with
nemlock and cedar, and nothing to be
heard but the noise of torrents, dashing
for ever, in that everlasting solitude.
And oh! the horrid feelings which came
over me, when thought, that after es-
Gaping perils by land and sea, must die
alone in that dreary wilderness, bv fa-
mine or by wild beasts. And the money
tcld me you would be.
lieve bad gone off with it. And, mad
with rage, | stamped and tore my hair,
Soon after, as | was leaning against
tree, exhausted, | heard a noise, and
the next moment fell at the foot of the
tree, wounded by musket shot. knew
nothing more, until awoke in a wig
wan, surrounded by Indian women. |
was long time recovering. They nurs-
ed me faithful y and as such a poor
wretch as was could be no assistance
to the men, they left me to help the wo-
men with their work. | learned from
them that had been wounded by par
ty of Indians who had just received some
atfront from the whites, and in conse-
quence of a VOW they had made to shoot
every white man they could find. The
hospitable people | was with, were ano-
Their tribe; one of whom had come a.
long soon after, and took me home. The
money | never heard of, afterwards.
But | must be Brief he said. languidly.
The lady there, a captive from some of
the settlements in Louisiana. che was
a French woman, and her name was
Virginia St. Victor The Indians insisted
on our marriage; and as did not wish
to come home without the monay, |
complied; and we lived happily until my
wife died. My daughter was then twelve
years old. and | determined to take her
to New York, and place her with you.
| lived there some years, before could