The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1848-01-22

terance TO some mpoent imprecations. AM
then, having recovered aud reloaded hi,
gun rapidly departed in nm opposite direction
CHAPTER II.
we nre apt when dwelling in the sunshine
OF peuce TO look upon the season of war as
one of unmitignted horror. We forget thai
man Is puwerless effectually 10 mar the fhil
ihce Of nnthre,or intercept the smiles oflIeav-
en-. We forget that the fields still verdnnt
The streams still sparkling, tho sumlt canopy
10y day and the starry tirmument NJ night
still beautiful aud sublime, amidst all the pu-
ny temPests ofhulnan strife. The mind, loo,
buoyant and elnstic with hope, and contain
ing within itselfthe secret springs Of Joy, bids
defiance ut times 10 every peril, and often
seems least desponding when dangers and
| trials are the most numerous and severe. The
twilight hnd gradually disappeared, aud the
moon, riding high in the heavens, was illu-
ming the landscape as Dudley pursued his
homeward way. Hill, dale and stream, bath
ed in flood of slvery light, lay spread u
round him as far as the eye could reach and
for awhile engrossed his undivided attention.
But sadder themes soon pressed upon his
mind. phe massacre at Shells Bush, of
which Walden had so unleelngly spoken,
was one of many similar deeds which had al
ready been perpetraed in the valley of the
Mohawk. They were the work of savages,
aided and instiguted by some of the lowest
and West ofthe white inhabitants, who, hay
ing declared in favor of the royal cause;made
1t cover for the preparation of every enor-
nifty which either private revenge or the
most sordid cupidity could dictate. Although
these atrocities usually occurred and were
most to be dreaded in the darker nights.they
were by no means confined to such seasons
the full light ofthe moon, and the broad glare
ofday, affordng no protection to the pence
able inhabitants when the war spirit Of their
savage foes was fully aroused. On again
viewing the sky, Dudley beheId belt Of
dense clouds sklrting the western horizon,
from which detached fragments were occa-
sionally ascending zenilhward, threatening
ere long 10 obscure the whole frmament;and
he shuddered as he thought that perhaps
some fearful tragedy might be enacted upon
that very night.
Nor were these apprehensions his only
source of disquiet. Other griefs of a private
and more selfish nature also engaged his at
tention. The claim made by Walden to the
affections of Miss Weles, although a little
worthy ofcredit, was not without its effect
upon his mind. 1t had revealed to him the
state ofhis own feelings, ofwhich he had be-
fore scarcely been conscious, and had ut the
same time conjured up phantoms ofobstacles
to his hopes, (which, with all lovers variable
ness of feeling, at one moment seemed shad-
owy and at the next insuperable. Ellen
Welles was lady well calculated to inspire
affection in such heart as Dudley's. The
ordinary charms in youth and beauty were
enhanced in her person by natural grace of
manner aud an unalloyed sweetness of tenn
per. If a Judgment, just and dscriminat-
ing, was necessary 10 prevent such n charac-
ter from degenerating into insipdity, That
gift also was Elen's. Her father was mil
itary man, and had held captains COM
mission under Sir William Johnson in the
war ofl756. He had purchased at the close
of that contest a large estate in Tryou county
which the advancing settlement oilhe coun-
try had rendered highly valuable, and at the
period now spoken of was what, in more
modern parlance, would be termed Iarge
landed proprietor.
1t was no matter of surprise to Dudley that
Captain Weiles should have again offered his
services to the crown; but he wondered much
what provision he had made for the security
of Ellen who was an only child, and who had
long before been deprived other other parent.
But had he been so disposed, he might have
solved his curiosity by II direct appeal to the
Object Of il: for Ellen Weles ut thut moment
stood before him. She was accompanied by
n single domestic, who bore few articles Of
value in his hands; and her department gave
token of alarm aud agitation. Her answers
had expected to hear. Her father was absent
from home; there were rumors of expected
attacks from The lndiansand she was hasten
ing 10 place herself under the protection of IL
neighb0ring family; for although Captain
WeIles was well known to be loyal in his
sentiments, his house was too secluded and
presented too many temptations TO the plum
derers to be Il safe abode for an unprotected
female. That Dudley at once became her
lint lta tI,
her alarm, although far from considering it
unfounded, and that he promised such pro-
lection as he could give, were quite matters
of course. On arriving at the house which
Ellen had selected for refuge, its inmates
were found to be in state of alarm nearly
equal to her own. The intelligence of the
expected attack had spread like wildfire
through the little community,where the mer-
CHESS character of these onslaughts was
well understood. The owner of the house,
MIR Lee, who was well known patriot, was,
together with his sons, busily engaged in
making such hasty preparations for defence
as the time allowed. Doors and windows
were barrcaded, ammunition prepared, and
weapons put in order with all that busting
activity which such an emergency might well
be supposed to create. The panic in the vi
cinity had become general, and several 9TH
er of the immediate neighbors, whose houses
werelconsidered less defensibe than Mr. Lees
were soon seen fiocking to his little fort, with
their arms and ammunition and such oftheir
more valuable effects rs they could conven-
iently transport. Lees reputation as bold
and resolute man contributed not little to
produce this result, although it might be con-
sidered a very questionable prudence which
sought shelter under roof rendered, by the
very reputation gifts owner, so prominent
an object of hostility. The work of defence
now Suent mora rnnidlu fnrynrd A hreast-