Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1847-06-18

lines Of each cheek 50 clearly marked Nish shs
settled appearance Iha bsloksns powerful ysl
suppressed emotion, the enure visage. with every
outline, shown in the boldes, relief, by the glaf.
ng light which siFeRned from the chandelier,
within the apartment seemed 50 much changed
and altered, that Harry Heh only knew his CAP.
tain, from the simple reason that IL were impossi-
bic 10 forget ore lineameut Of the face and feas
lures thai be had known and looked upon from.
earliest childhood.
Harry felt his hand grasped by thatof bis leu
der, with quick, burned but expressive moyos
men';-"As God lives, stand by mel" whispered
! the captain.
AS God lives, will, 10 deaihl" returned the
soldier in as deep "a whisper.
with this ring thee / wed''-e1claimed tho
bridegroom within the apartment, as bending a.
side with most graceful bow, he took the fair
hand Of Marian in bis own, aud with delicate
movement Of the thumb and lorehnRer of the
righ, hand, proceeded 10 place the marriage ring
on the ivory finger Of the maiden. The gold
had touched the finger of Marian, and every eve
was fixed upon the twain; Major Tracy smiled
grimly as he viewed the accomplishment of his
scheme; the invalid father looked up into the
face of his daughter; the eyes of the clariea gen.
hSl4lau MdliuGIeu lEUU HiS DOOht anu even inc
face Of the colonel with the ccrnet, betrayed
some interest in the mater-the ring, say, had
touched, but not encircled the finger, when a
rushing sound was heard, hurried iooisIep, and
the tall form Of Herbert Tracy sloed between
the bridegroom und bride, the ring was dashed
on the floor, and Welwood Tracy was hurled
aside by blow from the scabbard of the captains
sword.
"She is mnel Mine before God and Heav.
enl" exclaimed Herbert, as Marian fell in his
arms, with a shrek and glance Of wild rapture,
that told Of recognition. "Mine before God
and Heaven! This for the man who shall say
navl"
Unshealhing his sword with his good right
hand, he gathered the lainling maiden TO his boz
som with the other arm, and glanced around up
on the bridal party, like noble stag at bay, as
he retired one step toward the window.
Had some sudden and fearful spell fallen upon
the stern mlior Tracy, the invalid Wallham, the
round faced parson, the sedate colonel, the
smooth faced cornet, or the siIkcn bridegroom,
they could not, each and all Of them, have form
ed more finished and perfect statues Of surprise
than they did for single instant after Herbert
had burst into the room. Had a column Of fire
shot upwards from the floor, had thunder bolt
severed the ceiling. and scattered its rays Of
death at their feet had the mansion been rocked
by the heayings Of an earthquake, the bridal par
ty could not have been more surprised.
| Herbert Trucy took advantage Of this first in
stance Of speechless astonishment, and pressing
his berrolhed closer TO his bosom, strobe with a
hurried, Yet even step toward the window
I"Mnc she is before God aud Heavenl" he cried
-"mine BY all that is good and hallowed!-
Nine by her plghted troh-mine by her vows
Of loyc" he continued, reaching the window.
and extending his sword, while with a bitter
sneer on his lip, he glanced around the room
"And think We ! will surrender my claim to any
man that livesl Curses may be heaped upon
! my head by him, whom am bound TO name
my father, and death and ruin may stand in my
path, but stl--by the Lord that ives-Herbert
Tracy will not show himself unworthy of his
tnamel merry even 10 you, gantle-iolks!"
Emerging from the window, he rushed across
the porch, and stood beside the steeds that had
SO lately borne the colonel and the cornet to the
bridal party. but which were now held ready for
mounting, by Dennis at one bride rein, and
Harry at the other.
/ "Mount, captain, mountl'-cried Harry
"they're coming-they're coming! Mount, and
away down the paper mill run road! Push for
the Quaker's tarm-housel Mount, by the Con.
tnenal Congress, mount"
Ere Harry had finished his favorite expletiye,
Herbert had sprung upon the stoutest Of the
steeds, and with the taintng Marian in his arms,
struck for the road that led around the rock
down to the Wissahikon.
SHOWS you're time, Dennis! you've any
spirit in your lazy bones, mount that horse by
the stable wonderful mount this! Hurry, boy,
for your neck's in danger! Now lhen"-cried
the gallant trooper as he sprang upon The cornets
horse, and enveloped his form in the blanket that
hung at the saddle bow--"now then, Irish, strike
| for Rittenhouse's mill, right across the fields
they'll mistake the futering of this blanket for
the young iady's dress. Take the fields for it
and lead them on wrong SCENT By the Con-
tinenial Congress-"
"Yes, be iabersI' shouted Dennis. "Will it
plase your ladyshp to ride the laste BIT closer TO
me! Och, darling! Whoop!"
And off they went, the sound Of their horses
hoofs echoing far around, and the white blanket
Of Harry Heft futtering in the moonlight, like
the robe of an uneasy spirit, amusing itself with
midnight ride.
The sounds Of the horses hoofs reused the as.
tonshed bridal party from the spell Of surprise,
and with one ascent, they rushed out on the Por.
iico, leavingthe invalid in his armchair
"Call the servants" shouted the colonel
rI"Wilson, | say-where's the lazy rooPer!"
"Thore he goesl" muttered the enraged lieu.
fItenant Tracy with an oath. as he ran from one
end of the porch to The other; There he goes
down the Wissahikon-by the G-s!"
81 ruyther think they've taken q cut across
the fe.eid, lev'tenant," spod the cornet, smiling
at The idea of telling the whole story at the mess
table: "There they gol Hop her dress does
| fuuer," he continued, as the white blanket met
, his eye.
Without a word, without an exclamation OF
surprise, did major Tracy assemble the domes-
tics, and rouse the trooper, who was sleeping on
a wheelbarrow near the stable door, under the