Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1841-11-25

a. @e JAooo Toe amy
hais dad not attempt 10 dissusds me iron
the sct-ihs rather loved ee the more
ior 1t. Though her woman nature esus.
Cd her 10 shed tears st my departure. her
res'on told her wss right, and she bid
me God speed.
Heaven bless you, Harry che said,
and bring this unnatural war 10 . eonelu-
sion. I cannot bid you stay, but I pray
,oat TIE necessity for your absence may
be short.
Time rolled blythe American cause
was shll doubtful. and the war bid fair 10
be Proiraeied into years. | bs5 risen to
be captain In the regiment when
received information that the tories aud
Indians intended making . descent on
The valley OF :he Wyoming. I knew
,he unprotected situation Of my adopted
district. and l irembled for the lives Of
those Iheld most dear. AT 6rst 1 discr,d.
lied The ruu.oT-ehAnee, however, threw
In my way an opportunity Of asce rtain.
ing the reality OF the reported descent
and became convinced that not a mo-
meut was 10 be lost IL | would save the
lives OF those | loved al home. NV de.
termination was al once takeu-I solicit.
ed Tor leave Of sbsence-it wa, refused !:
| then resigned my Commission, aud set
forth 10 Wyoming.
81 never shall forget nv emotions
when ! drew near the III. faied place: n
Was on the very day OF the massacre-
and the hrst inhmHtioo | hsd Of the ca
lamity was the mangled body Of one Of
the inhabitants, whom had known.
floating down the stream. A cold shiver
ran through every vein as gszed on the
terrible sight, and q thousand fears aRi,at
ed my bosom; but my worst surmise fell
lar short Of the truth. Wien, hours af-
ter, | met some fugilives, and they re.
hearsed TO me that tale OF horror, I stood
taunderstruok refusing TO believe that
beings 10 human form could psrpetrats
such deeds-but IL was all too true.
Almost my hrs: inquiry was for Kate.
No one knew. slasl what had become Of
Der. One Of those who had escaped the
fight. told me that her father had been
killed al the beginning Of the conflict
and that, deprived OF a protector, she
had probably fallen 4 victim 10 the iufu.
rated savsges. while the other inhabitants
were severally engaged In protecting
themselves. How cursed them for this
selhshness And could expect aught
else OF human nature. than that each one
should protect those dearest 10 them,
even to the deSeTtion Of otherss
but my mind was soon made up.
resolved, coma what might, 10 ascertain
clearly the tate Of Kate-sO that il dead
l might revenge her, and IL living. might
h., a.,
ing group, l shouldsred my rife and
struck boldly into the forest, trusting in
the guidance OF that God who never de-
serts uS 10 our extremities.
81 will not tire you with a prolTacled
narrative: | will only say that. after MI.
merouS inquiries from tho iuziiives met,
learned that Kate had been last seen in
the hands Of party Of savSges,-ihis was
sufficient for q CLUE once more began
10 hope. | waited Until nightfsll, ~hen
| sought the spot which had been descTib.
ed TO me ~ the one where Kate had been
last sssn--snd, never shall ! forget my
feelings Of almost ra2tuFous pleasurs,
Whsn found IN the BsighboEinR forest
fragmsnt OF hes dress sticking CO .
bush. BY Which il had, doubtless, bssn
wiz HOm net ~ passing.
] Was nov satisfied that Kate bad been
carried OF captive. Foriuosisly / he'd
met, IN the group Of fugiiives. q hunter
who bad been Ua3eF some obligaiions 10
her family. and be vas easily persuaded
TO JOIN me in my search. Together We
nov began pursuit Of :hs ssvagss He
vas al adept IN forest waTfaTe-eo0ld
follow trail As hound the chGse--kns "
the course which would be most likely TO
be chosen by a GyiDg party Of Indisns.
and WItbal, was one Of the keenest shots
Who bad carried = rife on the border.
IFsmy opinion. said. he, that these
varmints did not belong 10 the regular
body Of Indians who followed Butler.
though even they were bad enough. ]
think, however. he would at suffer . deed
like this. These Villains seem 10 have
acted on their own bebalf-and. II 90.
they would hy 10 the back country as
soon - possible. You msy depend upon
u we shall overiaks them IL ve pursue
that way
/ felt the truth Of these remarks, sad
ssssnted 10 them q once. ia less than =
quarter Of an hour after first discovering
the trail, we were threading The forest 10
Pursui, Of The savsgss.
Let me hasten 10 the close. Hour
after hour, Ell through the hvelonR dsy.
Ws pursued the Aying lndisns-efossisg
sEamPs. clamberbg ever rocks, loreing
streams. sod picking Our way through The
lsbynnihlsn woods, unti, iow ards nisht.
iali, We feached The edge 81 81 open spscs.
o., e q we're. . meadow, shut ~ 81 esn-
ily sloping bills
Hist. esd ny eompanion, zee are
upon them. Do you not zee that tina
thread ofsmoke curling upv ard over tie
top II yoBder eyed hsmlockP
Ay-ii must Be ihem-lsi uu on.
Softly o. Ne lose ell Ws know
NOT, certainly that tbs 70 the party re
seek let W Tecoanoiifs.
"Slouly and stsslihily. trembling lee,
even . tuig should ersekis under osr
feet, Vo erspi up towards tie edge 81 =
meadov - add peepiag cauiiously ihroash
HNm Naan~a...N knt.NN 4