Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1841-04-05
MIsCELLANY.
From The Lady's Book.
THE MAIDEN'S ADVENTURE.
a Tale ofihe Earil Settlers Of Yirginin.

eron, tne CLOUDS look very threatening, ana you
know II is said to be an unucky omen for ones
wedding night to he stormy"
| "Psllaw, Lucy, would you brighten me with
some old grandmothcr'st tale, us If were child?
believe not IN omcns, and shall forget all I'M.
lucky presages, when the wife of Richard Gas
TOM answered the lovely and smiling bride.
" You treat it lightly, aud | trust it in1y not be
oninous OF your conjuga life" resumed Lucy
but my Aunt Kitty says that's the reason she
never married because il was raining 10 torrents
tie day she was to have been welded, MD she
discarded her lover because it was unucky."
"Ah, Lucy do not mean to doubt your good
aunl's worl; but there must have been some
moro serious cause linked with the one you have
mentioned. Ny life on it, do not lose husband
for so light cnCse. Ii must be something more
than a common occurrence, that shall now break
off the match between Dick and myseS But see,
| the company Nre beginning TO arrive" said Kate,
as she looked from the window Of her ROOM and
| | must prepare for the ceremony"
The morning Of the day of which we have spo-
ken, had opened in unclouded slj!cndor, and all
seemed propilious to the nuptials that were to he
soemniZeh IN the evening. The inmates Of the
cabin in which the preceding conversation bad
been carried Oh, had arisen cheeruy with the
first notes Of the early robin to prepare for the
festival, to which the whole neighborhooh con-
sistmg of all within fifteen twenty miles, TOR
neighborhoods were then large, aud habitations
scarce,) wer, indiscrmipately invited.
Kate Lee was the only child of her parents,
and bad been born and raised IN the humble cot
tage which her father had assisted to construct
with his own bands. Mr. Lee had moved to his
present residence when few veutured thus far in
to the Indian territory and by his own labors, and
that Oils two servants, had erected double cab
in, and cleared about fifty acres of land, upon
rich piece of high ground mile and half from
The James River. BY his urbaunity and Kindness
he had gained the confidence of the indians and
IN all their depredalions 50 far, lie had gone I'M
scahed. He was of good birth and education, and
the most hospitahc man in the settlement. The
property which bG heidi and the style in which he
lived, together with his superior knowledge, gave
him II standing among The settlers superior 10 ALL
Ever ready 10 assist the needy, and always just in
his opinions aud actions, he was looked 10 for
council, rather than treated as an equal.
AS we said before, Kate was his only child and
had been the solnce of her parents for nineteen
years. She had now attained to midtown wo
nIaEho0d and, from beauty and intelligence, her
hand had often been asked, by the hardy sous of
the pioneers. Her heart untouched, nutii
young CASTOR laid siege 10 it, To his eloquent
appeals size lent willing ear, and promised 10 be
his bride.
As Kate was the lovelicst girl in ,he country, so
was Richard CASTOR the most 10 he enved among
the youths OF fine, manly stature, superior in
teIlect and unAageing energy, lac was the best
match in the settlement. He cultivated liltle
itfH on the Ocf SHE OF Inc TlVtl dni Nncu OCci-
sion offered, engaged in the practice Of law, for
which both education and nature fitted him. he
had been in the settlement about seven years, aud
from his open and conclliatory manners, his bold
and manly hearing, had become favor:e with
all around him tie was always the first to take
up his rifle, ana sally against the hostile Indians,
when necessity required it, and from his uadoub-
ted courage was always chosen leader Of the
little bands, formed to repel the savage foe.
When the tolls of the week hal passed, CASTOR
might be seen, with his rifle on his shoulder, NOV
ing toward the river where his canoe was fasten-
ed, and springng lightly into it, dashing through
the foaining waters, and among the rocks ms safe
~ and rheerfnlly MS if passing over smooth and
CLASSY lake E; and on the following evening, he
might be seen again, Drawing the rushing current
with the same careless ease but more lhonghi flu
brow; ioY whoever parted with the girl oths hear
with the same JOY iul aspect, which he wore wher
going TO meet her? Let US now return TO the wed
ding day.
" Have you beard OF the Indian that was fount
murdered OH the bank of the creek this morning !!
said young man, after the company had assem-
bled to Mr.. Lee
NO." answered Mr.. Lee with surprise, 81 la,
hoped from the long peace that has regued, w
sbonld have no more such outragcs against il
poor Indians. But how is it possible sir, if the,
are thus shot down, that we expect them Il
be quiet %
" The body continued the first speaker "wa
found by some OF his tribe aud they immediael,
lhratened Vengeance il the murderers were no
given NJ. But that is impossible; because we dc
not know them"
At This moment a loud crash Of thunder echoed
through the woods, SO suddenly as 10 make al
Start from their seats.
"We my friends" asked Mr.. Lee, ns soon rs
all was again quiet, "we shall he rs likely to suf-
fer from this raslness as the offender, and mus
be prepared. am glad YOU have brought your
| for. I,,Ia thptyo in Ioru
u body we shall be able to hold out against Them
This was said with That calmness which a fire.
lqnent recurrence of such circumstances will -
duce and as he rehung his rifle, after prepai g
it for immediate use, the bride entered the ROOM
in all the loneliness of graceful beauty. Few or :
naments decked her person, because none could
add TO her natural grace and elegance. Her hair
jet black, was simply parted in front, drawn
back, and fastened behind, displaying forehead
OF marble whieness wreath, minglIng the wild
rose with other forest flowers was The only orna-
ment on her head. Her skin was of transparent
wilderness. Her large black eyes peering through
their long lashes spoke Il playful mischief in ev-
cry glance. A perfectly Grecian nose; cherry
lips, beautiful row OF pearly teeth diilplc dis.
playing itself in each cheek whenever n smile diff
fused itself over her features, and II complexion
richer than the soft red Of the tulip, completed Il
picture such as the MUD can rarely nIaglne Her
neck aud arms were perfectly bare, and seemed
hs u lcys Wild HeT sinai ldrV Iee anu le rest oil
her figure, had been made in naturcs most perfect
mould.
The Storm, which had before been heard but al
II distance, seemed now TO have attained its great
est violence end to he concentrated over The house
Peal inter peal OF thunder came ringing through
the holIows, each succeeding one apparently loud
or and more crashing than the former. Flash up
on ilash of the quick and vivid lightning, stream
ed out, resting awhile upon the surrounding scene
ry, aud striking terror iD,o the hears of the more
snperslilous guests. The rain, which al hrst fen
in large drops, that could be distinctly heard, a
mid the awful silence, save when The lhunders
echoed, now came down IN torrents; and The
thunder pealed out, louder and louder, quicker
and quicker leaving scarcely inlermission enough
for tho voice of Richard CASTOR to he heard by
his beautiful bride lie had impa,enlly awaited
the invitation OF Mr.. Lee TO meet his daughter,