The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1837-06-24

ley became almost desperate. His whole
amount ofearthly good seemed to be cut Off
at one stroke.-He made several attempts
to answer the letter, but found it impos-
sibe to write on such a painful subject
He became a solitary man-being in land
! of strangers-he had no person to whom he
could unbosom himself; and though grief is
fond of company, yet he had to share his
alone. The thought ofreturning to the place
where he had so often beheld the face and
lovely form of his now lost Mary, without
being able to see her, he could not bear;
and having left but little behind, save his
companion, tina, was of any consequence to
him, he gave up the idea of returning. Nci-
ther had he any disposition to settle himself,
and finding that he could sustain his grief
better, when travelling, than in any other
way, he wandered of without any settled
poiht of destination. At length he found
himself at the lead mines in Missouri. But
he yet beheld objects that reminded him of
his loss, which induced him to sink still
deeper into the bosom of the great forest
so he Joined himself to a company of fur ira
ders, and shaped his course to the Rocky
Mountains.
1t was the custom of the company to post
watch at night, which was agreed to be
taken by turns-yet, for some time, Lossley
volunteered his services every night, so
that when his companions were asleep, he
would look upon the moon and stars, which
once shown on him, when he, with his fair
one hanging on his arm, used to take their
little evening excursions. The scream of
panthers did not interrupt him, while for the
lamentations off the owl, he had particular
| fondness, and rarely for months, did he take
his departure from a camping place, with
out leaving the letters, M. L. on some of
| the hitherto undisturbed trees of the forest.
He passed nearly two years among the
North Western Indians, The hardships he
endured--the dangers through which he
|
mind from former sorrows, and the females
which he somtmes looked upon, were so
unlike his Mary, that by the time he had
returned to Missouri he had in some degree,
obtained his former cheerlulness. But nc
sooner did he enter the former settlements
where he again beheld the fair faces and
graceful forms, than recollection of his
departed Mary returned. But the roll ol
years at length wore away his grief, and
finding at last an object of which he could
place his affection, he again entered into a
married Connection: From the time that he
left his companion in Georgia, till he marri-
ed his second wife, IL aCds about fUe gears!
But what shall we say about Mrs. Lossley
for strange to tell, she yet lived! Weeks,
months, and years passed by, but had
brought her no tidings of her absent hus-
band. Post offices were cxamined-but no
letter came. His name was looked for in
the public prints-but could not be found.
Travellers were inquired of-but of no avail!
nota word could she hear of him. Atlengtll
she gave him up as dead, and conceived OF
his death in many ways; at one time she
would fancy she could see his bones at the
bottom of some stream. in which he had
been drowned, by attempting to cross; again
she would see him in some lonely spot
murdered by robbers, or destroyed by In
dian violence; & at other times she would
fancy she saw him languish on some foreign
bed and after long and lingering illness,
fall into the grave among strangers!-A
thousand times she looked outthe way she
saw him depart, and mourned him dead till
time dried up her tears.
After lapse ofseven long years and more
since the departure of Mr.. Lossley, Mr..
Starks offered his hand in marriage to Mrs.
Lossey; and-as it was firmly believed by
herself and friends that he was dead-Mr.
Starks being gentleman worthy of her,
she accepted the offer, and they were mar
ried.