The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1848-01-29
Miscellaneous.
ELLEN WELLES; OR, THE
SIEGE OF FORT sTANWIX.
A Tale of the Revolution.
BY p. HAMILTON MYERS, ESQ.
Concluded

Il fgntpHlgBHCO was ICGGlNCh Ut OH lJuylOll
1yns felt by no one so much as Dudley, who
with Col. Wett Immediately hastened TO
4 reion and congratulate their friends. But
the happiness of the former was destined TO
y O sad and sudden reverse. Beguiled by II
cOunterfeited letter purporting TO have come
from himself, MS n prisoner, wounded and
dying in the British camp, Ellen had left the
N fort under the charge of an e., ssary of Wal
DON, who had not hesitn'ei I'D Iesecrate the
scred character Of IA is. % vile II purpose.
"A Ts affecting news was rendered still more
W rming by the additional intelligence that
Captain Welles was dangerously i'll from the
effects of n wound received in the battle of
9riskany. The privations Incident to n trav-
aiiing camp would of course diminish
the chances of his recovery, and in
;he event of his death, Ellen would
be left, remote from her fiiends, 10 the ten
der mercies of Walden, unshielded even by
the slight protection which such n parent
would have afforded
Still another startling item of news, which
was disclosed to Dudley on his arrival, was
that Rogers, his faithful friend and ally in the
affair at Lees had deserted to the enemy; an
eveEt so incredible that when forced reluc-
tantly to believe its truth, Inc for moment
lost all faith in human integrity. The desert
er had been as remarkable for his honesty
and fiankness as for sagucity, and his person
al attachment to Dudley was matter of gen.
eral observation. There was no time, how
ever, for rejecting on this secondary caami-
ty. To pursue the retreating army, to keep
in the neighborhood of Ellen, and watch the
chances which fortune might throw in his
way for her rescue, was his immediate and
promp; resolve. Among the few Indians in
the fort he found two only whom he was able
prevail upon to accompany him. They
ho,. 81 4
his hopes of success must depend less upon
force than skill, the small number ofhis con-
iederates was perhaps scarcely matter of
regret.
CHAPTER VIII.
When Ellen arrived in the British camp,
her delight at finding the story of her lovers
captivity and wounds untrue, scarcely left
room. either for Indignation Mt the fraud
which had been praclised upon her, or for
alarm at her personal peril Her fathers
extreme illness also Immediately cngrossed
herattenlOn, until the day before the flight
otthe army, when it terminated in his death.
When this melancholy event had occurred
and the retreat was about to commence, she
applied 10 sir John johnson for pernssisn to
remain behind, and enforced her appeal with
every argument that fear or hope could die
tate. But the artfil Walden had anticipated
this movement. Captain Wees, entertain
ing the strongest prejudice both against Dud-
ley and the American cause, and still repos-
ing mistaken confidence in Walden, had
been prevailed upon in his last hours to con-
situte the latter the guardian ofhis child,and
had enjoned upon him to see her removed to
some more loyal district. He also expressed
strong desire that, at fitting time, the
guardian and ward might assume the rea-
tlonship of husband and wife. 1t was not
fLara f,rn tI,nt 10
turned deaf ear to the entreaties of Ellen,
as Sir John would scarcely have required so
good an excuse either for rewarding friend
or furnishing political enemy. He did not
even hesitate to assert that he hoped, within
few weeks, to see the guardians power
transformed into that martial authority which
the late Captain WelIes had evidently been
so anxious should he established. 'That C.
VENT he continued with lofty air and in an
unteeling tone, will effec;ually put an end to
any pueriIe attachments which you may fam
cy tina; you have formed, and to those equally
puerile but more perncious political senti-
ments which you seem to have imbibed'
Convinced that all effort in this quarter
was useless, she next resolved to appeal TO
The generosity of Walden himself But she
IIttIe knew the nature of the man into whose
foils she had fallen. He openly exuIted in
the power which he possessed over both the
person and property of his unfortunate ward.
Circumstances he said. with cool sarcasm,
required their immediate departure for Os-
'wego, at which place he hoped for leisure
and means to effect change in her views.-
The arguments which she undervaued in n
rover would be more potent, he thought, from
the Ups ola husband, in which light he beg
ged Miss Welles, from the inevitable neces-
slty OF the cuseto accustom herself TO look
upon him in future. The nuptiais indeed,
he said, were already arranged; and Sir John
had himself promised to give away the bride.
Miss Welles, will not hatter herself he
concluded in severe tone, that any contin-
gency can prevent this result. Contumncy
might indeed prevent any public ceremony,
but would secure to her no further immuni
ty'
Astounded and maddencd by these fearful
threats, Ellen, nearly in n state of uncon-
seriousness, continued sitting in the tent which
had been allotted 10 her use, long after Wal
don's departure. When she revived she was
startled to perceive that she had another com
Pnnon who bore the appearance of private
so'G'er; nut her alarm was quickly changed
20 ueiiSht as she recognized in the intruder's
IN Tue FAMILIAR and welcome countenance
of Rogers.
d, Lnlo'ning the strictost secrecy, the sergeant
nasteneG 10 inform Ellen that he knew her
danger, and that his only business in The
Drl'ish camp was to attempt her rescue. AT
Inc same time he assured her that there was
no present prospect for relief and that all he
should probably be enabled to do would he
70 second such efforts as Dudley would IN
uoubtedly make in her BEHALF He also re-
minded her that not only his ability 10 aid her,
nut his life itself depended upon her discre
non: The Interview was necessarily brief.
nut 1t resulted in partial renovation of Ell
S ;ens spirits, and committing her cares and