Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1847-09-03
WHOLE NUMBER oil.
The SaxOn's Daughter.

az AlNEo WIZ tiiE tA@u EiEs ~ fAAAAl'.f
the hawthorn was 10 foil blossom; The birds fit
ted 10 aud fro, shaking the dew IN showers from
the leaves and filling the air with their IOcund
music. The scene was picturesque glade IN
forest. All around arose gigantic OAKS, hOary
with age some even daling back 70 the DrJds.-
Here and there was vislas opened, the deer was
seen g.aucing n the distance, the sound Of tie
hidden waterfall, rose aud fell Un the wind win
a syery cadence.
Suddenly that still morning air was interrupt
ed by shreks, which, loud and frequent rose
from the edge Of the forest. At the same lime
horseman armed capspie dashed into the
glade, bearing across the saddle Of his powerful
horse a young female, whose cries nov rose
; more shrili and despainng. She was Of com.
pIexOn as delicate as a rose leai, with person
full Of yOupuOus beauIy-One VI those rare,
sweet creatures who seem rather 10 belong IN
romance than real life. But now her lovely
counlenance was distorted BY alright, and her
hair fell in disheyeled masses around her bare
shoulders and over her busI both Of which we're
partially exposed as if some rude hand had tOrn
away the dress that usually concealed them. As
the horsrnan emerged from the wood on thai
silent and sequeslered glade, he checked his
flakes over MS dark aud glossy breast, then
springingt &c the ground, he left The painting AM.
NAL 10 gruze al leisure Oh The green gEussy
; sward.
The horseman was as ruiiiauy looking an OBJ
5 ecl as even that distracted age could afford, Tor
the period Of our story is the reign Of W lam
Rufus, when power nude right, and when the
= Norman conqucrOrs daily committed the most
shameful aurocues on the deleuceless Saxons.
A face marked with the most hideous scar, and
stamped with every base passion, and person
D hard and sinewy characterised The horscman,
D who, in olher respects, as he wore the knghtly
. garj Of The day, was not distingushabic from
any Of the thousand mailed adycnlurcrs, who
: like locusls. followed the conqueror TO England
. TO prey on The miserable inhabitants.
As the rutfianlv soldier leaped 10 the ground.
still bearing The girl in his arms, she suddenly
slid from his grasp and prosuated herself at his
feel.
"Oh, let-let me return," she cried imploring.
ly, and looking up with an expression oi suppl.
cation in her dark blue eyes, such as would have
moved heart of steel. "By your knighIhood,
noble Norman, conjure you 10 release me-"
The ruiiian looked down on that beautiful face,
uub WIN uO VI Pl'Ns oA VT NNh'tHi ~
S his licentOus gaze rested on that bosom, that,
d heaving with emotion, seemed more beautiful
: than ever. he said:
= NAY! by heaven, that were TOO much 10 ask,
D fair Saxon. Have not marked you for months!
$ Have not sought 10 WOO you by gentle words!
5 But you have scorned my suit, choosing rather
] to love hearllcsS boy who left you for Paes.
tine years ago, and who before This. has been
impaled BY the Saracenes, and MS flesh eaten by
vullurcs-aS the fool should be. You preferred
: his memory 10 my ohcrs-and now, by my pat
ron saint that have YOU in my power, you
shall be mine On my own terms. heard you
went with your maids TO the spring in the woods;
wayad you-and you must either 60 quietly
, to my castle, or will on this very spot make
5 YOU such a sCorn and shame 10 your father 5
house that you will be glad to follow me even as
$ slave"
At these words threatening such foul outrage,
j the Saxon girl started 10 her feet and stood be.
fore her capior transformed for The moment into
r an indignant fury. Her fine eyes flashed. her
. bosom sweIled, her person appeared 10 rise 10 a
. gigantic size.
J Base wretch" she said. "you dare not do
a this foul wrong. Know that | am a thane' S
;. daughter and that my father, though now strip
o ped of his title is not wholly without friends Ur
: means 10 avenge me. At King Edword's Courl.
}, as well as Herold's, he was one Of England
y proudest peers, when you false miscrcant as YOU
o are, was only hired robber 10 William the
:, Norman. You threaten outrage-by all the
: saints in Heaven, if you dare 10 do this your
. bones shall bleach higher than yonder tree top.
= For moment the ruffan had slvrled back
thundersruck al this torrent of words, and at the
j. rank of his victim, which he had not suspected;
d but his etirontery soon came 10 his aid and re-
e membering that he was favored mnon with
e the tyrant Rufus, he no longer stood in awe Of
II the girls threats.
e "Will you be rcvenged!" said he advancing
and seizing her by the wrist. which he almos
d crushed in his rude grasp. 81 would have you
e know if you are thames daughter, | arm 9
s. kings companion; if you are the child 10 a Sax
II on hound, | am free Norman knight, and by
l. my hadom | will not only have you for my le
e eman, but will hang your sire's head higher
e than you threaten 10 place mine, aud that, 100
f. in spite of his power. No, no, my pretty one
y the Saxon rule has gone BY, and that of the
}. Norman has succeeded. Your houses, youl
If lands, aye, and your charms" he added with
sneer, as he would have drawn his prisoner &c
e him, "are all our own"
e But at that movement the girl made sudder
ID effort, and loosng herself from his grasp, sPrans
S. back. She looked around as ii tor some means
a 10 escape. A sudden thought seemed 10 strike
,e her and she DARED off towards The horse, which
in was hard by; daring leap and she was on hi
Of back; then turning half round she cast look o
~ ,r;rn,nb st the hafled Norman
g But the ruffian stood unmoved, with sardonit
i. grin on his connlenance. He had rushed for
,r ward a few steps but seeing the girls aim
e checked himself. Here he remained until sht
n attempted to put his seed in motion, when quiet
e ly calling the animal by name, it stood still, like
n well trained dog.