The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-07-27

/ careless, and his countenance wore an expires
sion of disgust and WEAKNESS, family com
batted by some more kindly sentiment.
| DO not be unreasonable, Elvira," he sait
with an air of suppressed Impotence /" the
convoy will be ready to depart within the
hour, and you must prepare 10 accompany
left il at all: our path is hourly becoming
more dangerous, and il would be vile pro-
fanation," he continued with forced smile.
"if those glossy ringlets should be added TO
the grim trophies that adorn an Indian wig
wam."
"Alasp replied the pale and dropping
being he addressed, F" she who has nothing
Oh nothing left but life, may well meet death
without terror. Think you, Glenarvlle, l
shall quail before the glittering eye Of the In
dian when have learned to meet the cold
ness Of yours and tell me, oh tell me, can
the cleaning tomahawk effect more fearful
spoil on this faded form, than that which has
been already wrought 7"
The hitherto averted eye Of the officer in
stnctively glanced over the agitated figure Of
the speaker. CLEAN Of remorse for one
moment clouded its clear and cold light, and
he stood as one whose spirit had paused be-
fore some spectral shadow. Yes, for one
brief moment visions of other and brighter
ycars-of betrayed innocence-of injured
trust and despoiled loneliness, rose on the in
ward gaze Of the naughty spoiIer, and his
proud bearing failed beneath their rebuking
power. But il was only for moment--the
next ne stood as proudly; and the chilling
carelessness of his reply evinced how vain.
H., L., al IL
ashes Of the soul. "Nonsense Elvira, when
will you be wise enough TO cease meddIing
with the past The present is only for us,
and why bring forward the rubbish of yester-
day to muddy the current Of to-day? You
have yet enough Of beauty to secure many
gallant admirer. Go-return to the Fort, and
if you choose, you may soon find means Of
returning home."
Home--home!" she wildly repeated, as
she clasped her thin hands in ffenzied agony
"would you restore the trampled flower to its
stem among the bright and stainless ones
Oh, no, no! you can but abandon il to the
vile dust from which It is polluted; and add
not, Glcnarylle, oh add not mockery to the
ruin you may not retrieve"
"Well, well, you will at least be prevailed
upon to relinquish the rerils Of this camp
with all your contempt Of Death, you will
find him an imposing parsonage as he stalks
in these forests. have already spoke to the
leader of the escort, and
Hear me I" said Elyira, while the flush Of
excited feeling faded away, and her wrought
features became suddenly calm, like Inca
ments settling in death" hear me; and re-
member that he who hath flung from the love
of once pure heart, hath also cast away the
power by which he hath governed its pur-
poses. am content 10 bear no longer part
in thy thought, and no future upbraidings shall
again remind thee, that have ever been aught
to thee but thing Of endurance: yet, till
thou leavest these scenes Of gloom and dan
ger for the gay world where my name would
tarnish thy laurels, thou seekest vainly to urge
me from thy side"
The warlke array moved on, and still the
moonbeams, that cleaned through the thick
forest upon their mighty encampment, revealed
the fair, pale brow. and delicate form of the
frail one. But the doom of the Devoted was
at last ready for fnlilment, and the feverish
sumbers, which remorse and sorrow robbed
of their balmy influence, were broken in upon
by the strange wild shout Of an encompassing
host; fearfully deepened by a cry, in which
the mortal agony of thousands was sent forth.
Death had received his sickle, and the mighty
harvest had begun. The grey light Of break
ing day was obscured by the smoke Of battle,
and the soft sweet sounds of Weakening life.
which are wont TO announce the early morn
ing, had given place to the shout Of conflict
the clash Of arms, and the groans of the dying
I he sunken eye of Elyra beamed with
troubled light, and she stood amid that scene
Of slaughter with an unnatural calmness.---
Her eye had sought her betrayer, and she be-
held him stern and undismayed amid the
thickest Of the fght---another instance added
to the strange and countless many, Of spirit,
bent and enleebled beneath the guilty mastery
of passion, still asserting its claims to glo-
rious nature, and proudly offeringu stained
life upon the altar of virtue. The lnnguid
blood rushed with an exultng thrill through
the frame of Elvira, as the voice Of the daunt-
less Glenarville rose above the roar Of the
battle His horse had fallen under him,
shrieking out its life in sound Of unimagina-
BILE horror, but he had again risen in his
strength, and again his sword was flashing in
the morning sunlight. That fall had, how.
ever, brought Elvira To his side, and twice he
warded from her white brow the tomahawk
that glittcred over it. The conflict was Of but
short duration. The red glores Of the east
had scarcely faded away, when retreat was
sounded through the thinned and falling ranks,
and the survivors fled from scene where
resistance had become but madness. Not
however in safety: the pursuit of the victors
was now scattering death through the remote
forest, and the savage shout Of triumph, and
tho shrieks of strong men, yielding up their
souls in fierce and unnatural agony, were yet
heard in the wide distance.
Night had fallen still and holy on the scene,
and a deep quiet, as If the noise Of strife had
never profaned its sanctuary, settled on the
depths of that fair wilderness Elvira was