The Illinois free trader and LaSalle County commercial advertiser. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1841-1843, 1841-12-17
NUMBER so.


obscure and narrow entrance of this cave,
she found that after winding along for
some rods, it expanded into a spacious
room and then terminated in en- opening
at an inaccessible height on the face of
the Bluff. With her head avered and
cIimsoned with bushes, she informed the
young Outlaw of this cavern, and propos-
ed that he should remain IN his present
retreat tll a late hour at night and then
repair TO well known tree near her
fathers house, when, she would meet
hun, and conduct him TO the cave, where
he would he secure. Without waiting
for his reply, she turned the head Of her
horse in the direction OF home and bound
ed rapidly over the smooth green prairie.
Once, when at distance from the place
OF their interview, she looked back, and
seeing Elwood still standing on the same
spot, she beckoned TO him to conceal
himself, and then pursued her way home
ward
Had she asked herself with what OBJ
ject she proposed TO conduct him to the
cavern, she would have answered, 'to
save the life of an injured, prosecuted
fellow being"
Beyond the present moment she hard
! ly extended thought. Every faculty of
her mind was concentrated upon the sin
gle idea that the life Of the Outlaw, de
pended solely upon her. Fortunately for
Caiharinc, on her return home, MAJOR
Clifton was employed in his library, and
contrary TO his usual custom. on that eve
ming retired early to rest. For the first
time in her life, Miss Clifton avoided the
presence Of her father, She SHRINK even
from the eyes Of the servants, for it seem
ed to her excited Imagination that they
might easily read in her deep bushes,
and confusion, the secret upon which her
own happiness as well as the life Of FL
wood depended.
Weak from suffering, exhausted with
empowering emotions, the young Out
law threw himself once more upon his
grassy couch, to await the hour of night,
when he should repair to the place ap-
pointed for his meeting with Catherine.
But an hour since and every OBJECT around
him wore the dark hue of despair. Now,
all was changed The smooth green
prairie, the long line OF bluffs with their
towering ellis, seemed to his enraptured
fancy, glowing with the bright hues OF
pgra1isn \rypr before had he hphell
with so much admiration the glorious
scene Of sunset ON the PraIr'es. dense
mass OF clouds, OF the deepest crimson,
hung like curtain along the western
horizon. Slowly and mpesucaiiy they
rose higher IN the heavens, ana gradually
separating, assumed thousand fantastic
shapes, OF castles, towers, Islands, and
continents. As he gazed upon thIs NOV
ing panorama, how ardenuy dId he wish
That these gorgeous forms were rf0L ana
that he and Catharne were the sole nina
bIiants OF that bright REGION Whcfe 'hcy
cOUld san away OH mo inc realms OF I'M
known space, and live only lor each
other.
As the evening advanced too impatient
to wait longer, with feeble steps he bent
ms way to the place OF meeting Arrived
at the well known spot nc listened ahN-
lous'y to every sound ana gazed lnien''y
INTO the surrounding darkness. ne out
line OF MD"Ch mansion was d'miy
visible but all IT'S inmates n'd apparently
retired to rest. lie waited long, ana
thousand tears began 10 torture num- Wheh
the signal light appeared At Ca'harLne
window ana was instantly eNVngnlshcu'
IN lie" moments more hcr form was
seen approaching lhelr meeung was
lent Tor pom were 100 fearful oil uIsco'-
Iefy TO utter worn' even IN whisper
she made sign Tor nm to follow her'
and conducted HIM, nearly NAN mlIe' to
a narrow but steep pam 'i'a' aScehdeu
the Blutl, paUSlng frequently 10 listen.