Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1847-07-07

since he fell there,-l remember it we'll
twas when the yengeful Indian built his
council fire, and talked Of cruel wrongs
when fever in his blood was stirred, and
he swore destruction to the pale race-then
my Gilbert felt the plunge of the. cursed
steel that sent many to their long home
All! | remember it well-I remember when
the cold earth drank up. the sreddened cur
rent of his lite--and he sunk down, and
rested his pallid cheek upon my hand, and
.,rillikpered ii bis ear. andkried to have him
look upon me- but his eye was glazed and
leaden, and he looked no more, nor spoke,
nor smiled again-and then they laid him
beneath this branching elm, and put the
green. turf above hinl--and now / come
when the winds howl, and when spirits are
abroad, to watch his slumbering dust.' AS
these last words. which were pronounced
with fearful emphasis burst from her lips,
the low marmer of distant thunder fell up
on my ear. looked around in mute aston
ishment, but not a cloud was to be seen.
The sleeping winds were reposing in their
airy caves. Not breath shook the tender
blossom, and there were no apparent signs
of an approaching change. But it came.
A few moments elapsed, and that low NUT.
tering thunder again rolled up from the
west. Dark shadows foated above the ho-
rizon, and then came the whispering winds
like innumerable voices from the spirit
land. AS they shook the branches of the
old elm above us; the poor maniac seemed
thrown into an extacy ofjoy, and uttering
aloud laugh knelt down by the side of the
grave. felt that it was fearful place.
Before me was the wreck of lovely be.
ing awfully frantic; around me was fast
gathering the gloomy darkness Of a terrific
storm. AS the bowling winds swept on
from the frowning west, her delirious raw.
ings became more furious and incessant-
With cry which is still ringing in my
ears, she hurled defiance at the spirits
which she said were lowering around her.
1t at once entered my mind to retrace my
steps, but / paused irresolute and undeter-
mined. Soon the roar Of the deafening
thunder cane in successive peals, and the
black volume ofthe avenging tempest rear
ed its stupendous front. Columns Of massy
clouds borne on the flying winds shut out
the moons pale light, and all was pitchy
blackness, save when the lurid glare of the
swift lightning streamed along the sky.
Torrents of rain poured upon the earth.
The tiny rivuletthat wound its way through
the deep ravine, became swollen to rush
ing food. . Still fingered to the dreadful
spot, as if bound to it by some fatal spell.
By the lightning's ftful blaze,I could clear
perceive the poor victim clinging in phren.
zy to the grave while her unearthly scream
which arose above the bowling Of the storm,
went to my very SOUL. began to feel ap-
prehensions for her immediate safety, for
feared that she could not survive the terri
BILE storm which continued to rage with
violence. While reAecting for some
time upon what course to pursue, e,the clouds
gradually rolled away,and the pale moons
momentary CLEAN broke in upon the sur
rounding darkness. But little time, how
ever, was left for reflection; for when the
echo Of the last thunder peal had died away
in the mountain gorges, she started to her
feet, and uttering a piercing cry, rushed
down the steep declivity toward the foam
ing river, and saw her no more. Fearing
that by some fatal hallucination she had
plunged into the sweeping current / groped
my way down. to it in the darkness, but
could see nothing but the black heaving
waters. Perhaps, thought to myself, her
disenthralled spirit is now in the realms of
light, mingling with her departed Gilbert's.
With such thoughts I turned away, and
slowly returned 10 the hotel.
The stern events of that night made a
deep impression upon my youthful mind.
While life lasts shall never forget them.
When the ills Of this life have crowded a.
round me, when misfortune has threatened,
and adversely poured out the vials of its
wrath, then one thought of the poor maniac
was sufficient to silence my murmuring,
and make me contented. With the Illus
trious Byron could say, .
"Upon such a shrine .f1.a.
What are our petty griefs2 1 will not number
mine" z... -..,.-
Upon inquiry found that many mur-
ders had been committed by the Indians two
years before, and that among the victims,
was a young man of great promise by the
name of Gilbert Leslie. At the time of
his death he was betrothed to beautiful
girl, by the name Of Emily Lawson, a por-
tfon of whose history you have already
heard. And sad and mournful indeed is
that history. Its pages are not written in
the steady changes of revolving years, in
the S0rrowc oc S;oL