Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1848-10-11
woman prepared some venison which was
to furnish forth the repast. .-. -..
CHAPTER LII.


h CHAPTER III.
b And she who climed the storm swept Steep
$ She whom the foaming wave would dare,
So oft loves vigil here to keep,
Stranger, albeit thou think!st dote;
: h L know, know she watches there-HoFFMAN
! That night the men sat long around the
fire, and talked of a deadly feud and a dead
Ily prospect Of revenge. Ascashe listened
and counselled, and her suggestions were
often hailed with intilnotions of approva
for the woman was possessed of keer
4 and penetrating mind, heightened oy@epass
ions at once powerful and ma1evolent. Hae
, the group observed. the White Occupant o.
the skins, they would have seen a pail
of dark brigh, eyes peering through those
snowy locks, and red lips parted, in the
eagerness of the intenv ear.
s'How far distant ard they nowl' asked
the woman.
ga three hours wrlk down stream,'
, was the answer. "rc-morrow they will
ascend the falls to surprise the people, and
burnt the village. Tonight when the
moon is down. we aye to light fire at still
water abore the falls, and the Terrenlines
will join US al the signal, leave their ca
noes in the care of the women, and descend
upon our foes. The fire will warn our
people how near to approach the falls, for
the night will be da:k" This was told at
intervals, and to the questionngs Of the
woman.
"Where is the Sycamore Of Saco, ask
ed Ascashe.
"John Bonyton heads our foes, but TO-
night is the last one to Sycamore"
At this name the white hair stirred vio-
lently, and then low wall escaped from
beneath. The group started, and one of
the men, with Ascashc, scanned the face OF
the girl, who seemed to sleep in perfect ua-
consciousness: but the panther rolled itself
over, stretched out It's claws, and threw
back his head, showed his long, red tongue,
and uttered a yawn SO nearly howl that
the woman declared the sounds must be the
same.
Presently the group disposed themselves
to sleep till the moon should set, when they
must once more be upon the trail. Previous
to this, many were the charges enjoined up
on the woman in regard to Bird -.et
"Guard her well,'' said the leader of the
band. "In few suns more she will be a
great medicine woman, foretelling things
that shall come to the tribes
We must now visit the eacampment of
John Bopyton, where he and his followers
slept,wating till the first dawn cf day should
Sc nd them on their deadly path. The moon
had set; the night was intensely dark, for
clouds fitted over the sky, now and then
disburdening themselves with gusts of wind,
which swayed the old woods to aid fro,
while big drops of raia fell amid the leaves
and were hushed.
Suddenly white figure stood over the
sleeping chief, SO slight, so unearthly in its
shroud of wet white hair, that one might
well be pa-doned superstitious tremor
She wrung her hands and Eept bitterly as
she gazed = then she knelt down and looked
more closely; then with quick cry, she
flung herself into his bosom.
ooh, John Bonyton, did [ not tell YOU
this! Did not tell you, years ago that lit
tie Hope stood in my path, with hair white
as snow?"
The man raised himself up, he gathered
the slight figure in his arms he uncovered
a torch and held it to her face.
ooh, my God? my God!" he cried
and his strength departed, and he Was help
less as child This years of agony, the
lapse of thirty years were concentrated in
that fearful moment. Bridget, too, lay mo-
tionless and silent, clinging to his neck
Long, long was the hour of suffering to the
two What was life to them! stricken and
changed, living and breathing, they only
felt that they lived and breath by the
pangs that betrayed the beating pulse. Oh,
life! life! thou art fearful boon, and thy
love not the least fearful of thy gifts.
At length Bridget raised herself up, and
would have left his arms but John Bonyton
held her fast.
@Nay, Hope, never again. My tender,
my beautiful bird, it has Jared ill with thee,
and smoothing her white locks, the tears
gushed to the eyes of the strong man. In
deed, he, in his full strength and manhood,
she, diminutive and bleached by solitude
and grief, contrasted so powerfully in his
mind, that paternal tenderness grew upon
him, and he kissed her brow reverentlv say
ing:
SHow have I searched for thee, my bir-
die, nv child: l have been haunted by the
furies, and goaded well-nigh to murder
but thou art here-yet not thou. Oh, Hope!
Hope!"
The girl listened, intent and breathless.
II knew it would be so, John Bony ton;
knew if parted, we would never be the same
a.ain-the same cloud returns not to the
sfy; the same blossom blooms not twice
human faces never wear twice the same
look: and, alas alas! the heart Of to-day is
not that of tomorrow"
sSay on, Hope years are annihilated,
and we are children again, hoping, loving
children"
But the girl only buried her face in his
bosom, weeping and sobbing. At this mo-
ment red glare of light shot up into the
sky, and Bridget sprung to her feet:
Il had forgotten. Come, John Bonyton,
come and see the only work that poor little
Hope could do to save thee, and she dart
ed forward with the eager step which John
Bonyton so well remembered. AS they ap-
proached the falls, the light of the burning
tree. kindled by the hand of Bridget bsloa0
the falls, aickerad and glared upon the wa
ters: the winds had died away, the stars
beamed forth, and nothing mingled with