Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1847-04-02

f-..'- att~~Af aAfe way aS Wlcu uogA ~ aneNu
hy before the onset u on angry wolf-Only sas
man attempting 10 stop his progress. Bat, Wiib.
oul so ineeh a. being wounded, The trooper went
down headlong' ovsrlhroSnby the shock Of Pres.
IONS powerful charger and our hero. yisldineto
an uncomfortable impulse, as hesuw shsway thus
cleared before him. Fose IN bis stirrups, and -
wing hisarn on high, looked back and gave us.sr
shee 10 3 shout thar long after he bed vsnishsd.
Ike bot shot from some huge eataguli, echosd
and Te-echOcd in The startled woods. -
"Heis Of, by God, 7" said the orderly, "saw you
ever the likeld
For 4 second thedragoons stood stupidly look.
ing al each olher then al at once dozen pistols
we're snapped 81 the fugniye, and dozen steeds
POT 70 the pursuit. Moreover, Major Lindsav.
though his head sill swan from that tremendous
blow, had recovered sufficiently 70 understand whaf
was passing, and now he lent his voice TO eucou.
rage the chase, aad himself pressed forward =.
mong the Grsi.
All this had occupied less time than /, has n.
ken Us to relate IL. The attack, the fight, the 81.
cape succeeded each oihsr like flashes Of sum.
mer lightning, and when Preston, adroity turn.
ing his horse into the narrow and winding road
where his foes had lain in ambush, passed mo.
tlEAitt NAh VI NuudEUllQ w tHE 1uOlt tnnt
whisiled pas, III seemed TO him almost as II he
were in dream. But the shouts Of pursuers,
and the rapid tread Of hoofs, speedily convinced
him Of the reality, and plying voice and spur, he
went onward ata slashing pace. now andihenlook-
ing behind 70 see If the Dragons gained on him.
There is something inexpressiby sill and re.
lreshing in an old, deserted road winding through
cool pine-forest. The tall trees tapping over.
head, the thick carpet Of splin,ering leaves be.
low, and the delicious fragrance all around, have
always had charm FOR US; and Preston felt so,
especially atter the fierce excitement Of that lifa
aud death struggle; 80 that when he came to q
little dark stream, gliding softly across the road,
belonged tostOp and bathe his throbbing TEMPLES,
and take one long, sweet draught as he had often
done upon hot day in the forest when boy
But the red foe was behind him, and he shot on
like an arrow.
Presently he came 10 an old clearing, which
had long been abandoned. Here, for about a
quarter Of a mile, anopen space, where plow.
ed fields had once been, but the furrows of which
now were overgrown with dry, stunted grass.
/ He would have preferred the winding forest road,
/ but there was no alternative, and on he dashed.
( lie had nearly regained the shelter Of the forest
on the other side, when he heard wild burst Of
cheering, and looking back, he saw the dragoons,
with Major Lindsay and one other in advance, en-
terng on the open space. They had caught sight
Of him for the first lime since he entered the old
road, and their shouts beiokened renewed hope
and determination on their part.
Breathlessly Preston kept on, but with less as.
surance than before, for his horse was already
hard worked, and he soon saw with dismay that
blood was flowing from his lore-shoulder freely
from a wound. half mile further on the poor
animal began to flag sensibly; yet, cruel as it see-
med, and much as il panied his generous nature,
/ Preston was forced TO urge on the dying steed.
/ He knew that al the distance Of mile and half
ahead was a swamp, into the recesses of which,
if he could once plunge, he would be safe. But
now he heard behind him rapid hoof. 1t camo
nearer and nearer, though still out Of sight. One,
if not more, of his pursuers was gaining upon
him. Again he spurred his steed, and encoura-
ged him with words. The noble animal answer
ed with feeble cry, and staggered on. Scarce.
ly half mile now remained 10 gain the swamp.
If he could only reach il. Preston knew all dan.
ger would be past. But this was impossible.
That rapid gaop came nearer and nearer, like
The clock thar ticks The hour Of the criminals
fate. lie heard shout behind him, and looking
ovel his shoulder saw the trooper, whom he had
/ last noticed side by side with Major Lindsay,
come thunderingon. Hecheered his dying steed
10 a last effort-but il was in vain; the dragoon
made two strides 10 his one. A few PAGES only
now separated them; the swamp lay thrice the dis.
tance before. Already the trooper had risen in
/ his strrups, broadsword in hand. Preston had
no such weapon. Suddenly he recollected the
pistol in his other holster, and drawing it with the
velocity Of thought, he turned half around in his
saddle and fired. With unerring aim the ball
entered the brain Of the dragoon, who fell dead
10 the earth.
! 1t was the work Of moment to leap 10 the
ground and catch the fallen soldiers horse, on
which Preston sprang. Poor Thunderer was al.
ready dead; he had sunk 10 the earth as his mas.
ter fired the last shot.
Thus fate interposed 10 prevent an interview
between Preston and our heroine at time when
il would have been Of incalculabe advantage TO
both, and have circumvented plot as base and
cruel as il was now certain of success. At the
very hour when Preston, after having ridden over
thirty miles from the spot where he was attacked,
threw himself wearied from his horse, in one OF
the most secret recesses of the forest, Kate and
her aunt were setting forth for Georgetown, where
they arrived on the succeeding day.
Never was human creature in more isolated
and mournful situation than Kate now found her.
, self. Indulgingi in what she thought hopeless
passion, every motive of delicacy forbade her re-
yealinp it 10 those who alone could befriend her
: She well knew that if her father became aware
= how much her marriage with Major Lindsay was
against her inclinations, he would interpose ever
at the very altar and ascend the scafold 10 save
. her. Neither would it do to let her aunt guess
: her adherence at this union. Both her fathei
and Mrs. BIakeley had, indeed at one time hoped
that matrimonial connection would be formed
between her and Preston, but the mutual coldnes.
of the parties had long since dssiPated this ex