Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1842-07-04

so by the helpesness Of her cousin and the con-
! viction that every thing depended on her own cx
erions 1t was but the work of an instant there
I fore, for her to seize musket which depended
! on rough hoops from the ceiling, as usual in
every frontier house at that period, and present.
| ing 1t at the head Of the savage to await his en-
trance 1t was a noble sight to gaze on the beau
! tlu girl then, and notice how the peril of her sit
! uation had changed her demeanor in few mo
| ments from that of gay and reckless merriment,
! into the high resolve of Spartan woman. Her
| cheek was flushed with excitement, her dark eyes
beamed with lustre like that of stars flashing
through stormy cloud her proud form appear
! ed dilaed to the most gigantic proportions Yet
even lhen-even at the GREATNESS crisis Of her
fate, her woman's nature for second prevailed
! over stern resolve size hcsilOted, her hands fall
! tered, and the muzzle Of her piece dropped but
! as the willy savage, eager TO avail himself of her
! momentary vacilation, lenped upon the SILL with
! the intention of bounding into the room with the
| next spring, the consciousness OF her peril and
that of Helen returned her III its fu force, her
resolution returned, her hand no longer ialtered,
and raising the muske to n level with the advan-
cling head Of the savage, she pulled the trigger,
for the first time in her life, and fired. The ln-
| dian gave sharp yell, quvered in every limb,
and sprngng half way up, fell dead across the
sill But effectuny blocking up the easement,
| this provldental circumstance was for the mo
msnt overlooked in the strange feeling which, now
| that she had done the deed. came over the heart
| Of the heroic girl. Perhaps also her sudden pale
ness was attributable in measure to the wild yell
that, OH the fall OF their leader, burst from the
! voices of dozen savage outside the house.
oh! what have you done p gasped Helen, pale
as corpse, looking iearfully at Jane when that
| frightened yell had ceased.
God help me- responded Jane Il scarcely
! know. But if | had not acted as did, he would
| have been in the room in another instant, and
merciless death would have been our lot ere this,
! We are now safe for while-at least until they
force the door. Unless succor arrives before
/ they resort to that continued the maiden, her
whole nature appearing suddenly altered by the
| daring deed she had done, I'VE shall die under
! their tomahawks, for we can hope for no mercy
now. Hold this powder horn,' she continued, for
she had already seized the ammunition hanging
from the ceiling with the musket, and cOmmen-
ced re loading, but no your hand rcmhles too
much-poor girl II must do it myself There
| 1t is hnshed-cheer up sweet COZ, help may even
now be at hand Hurry cannot delay much lon
ger.
Oh! pray Heaven lhnt he may not come now
gasped Helen, 1T would be certain death. DO you
think he will come nj this late hour? Oh say he
will not. Or perhaps he is already in their hands,
and the usually mild eyes of the speaker cleaned
with strange lustre as she looked imploringy in
10 The face OF Jane.
mo, no. it is IMPOSSIBLE quickly responded her
companion, caring on y to soohe her cousin, mo,
he is detained by something that has Kept him at
the fort, and lie is skilllu forester to an
proach his own home without becoming aware of
the vicinity OF enemies.'
oh! thank you, thank you for those words
| murmured Helen. 'If am TO die let ii be, but
let not Harry fall, oh Heavenly Father, and that
too in the vain attempt to rescue me, and the
geic being, size sol.c taiscd her eyes TO lIe=v-
They were wet with tears.
Jane turned away, but though her heart was
full, no tear stood in her large dark eye. In her
mind n sense oftheirpe and their consciousness
that their only hope of life depended on her own
unasssted energies, had consumed every Other
feeling and though different emotions might
meanwhile agate her bosom they could be so
~ in secondary degree, TO that one overriding
4 sensation which now rcigned paramount in her
bosom. Her whole energies were devoted 10 the
| preservation, If possible, OF their lives While
therefore gently pressing The trembling maiden to
her bosom, Jane remained alive to the slightest
sound which might betray a renewed attack on
the part OF their foes For few moments how
ever, it seemed ms if the savages had withdrawn,
during which, Jane strove to renssure .he sens
| tive being IN her arms using thousand reasons
/ but which were alas, insufficient TO her own mind
why help must soon arrive, and why no possible
injury could tall on her brother. 1t was touch.
i ing scene ~ behold these Two young beings dur
| ing the pause in the attack the one slight and
timerous as the startled iawn the other compare.
lively bold as the antled sag-lhe one hurying her
face in her companions hosOm and seeming in
every thing to he the defenceless being whom we
love TO picture seeking our protection the 9TH
er boder aud more COMPOSED, soothiupy cnress.
! ing the ,rembler on her hoson,, Whispering word.
of comfort and hope into the ear of her friend.
and appearing in every lhing to fulfil the duties of
our sterner and more courageous sex, Or oaIier
! the figure, the one seemed like weeping seraph
seeking protection on the breast of some higher
yet not less beautiful intelligence. while the oIher
was that lot,ier spirit-some Gabriel perhaps from,
| beneath the great white throne-brealhing words
of consolation into the afflicted soul Of The mour
ner
I'm, !, WAC M, lone ,l,,, ,l,, ,,,o ,,oii.,,. ...
allowed ,hns ~ ;,S nI, ' awD ,'''uoas were
edfor sonn ,ba siIa ' ,' ihoe a,.s u''esian
Whom m ,he nnr oC ,o 49, ~ ",'1e'
can,e eyiJent ,ha, ,ba In "';" sJ'i' II no-
den,b or ,he,r co,na,i' a" ICY py we