Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1849-03-07

Still Ellen heard nothing of her absent
lover. Her anxiety and grief for his alb
senee, were equalled only by her joy to think
To him, Ellen told all her heart; and when
she related many actssof generosity in
Clinton, Frederick, whoE knew by experi-
ence that he was brave, only approved of
her choice, and while he forgaye his former
antagonist, regretted exceedingly that he
fled where none pursued
& Frederick was soon. able to walk about
aboh M pfsiissHa a. = ~ thepsser pal pankaasa ss
ended by prolonging gradually their walks
When the young man had regained his
strength, he either went forth alone with
his dog and gun, or accompanied by his
sister, made short excursions on horseback.
It is needless to say that Ellen, like true
maid of the prairie, rode with the utmost
grace and ease.
Frederick, notwithstanding the arrogance
of which we have seen him guilty, was nat
urally of pleasing disposition generous and
obliging. His love of satire and fun some
times carried him to extremes, and his self
will bordered on insolence; but he had
changed somewhat since his recovery
which fact was owing perhaps to the lesson
Clinton adtaught him at the inn, and the
fatal consequences Of his presumption
Two months passed by; and still no news
from Clinton Grover reached the ear of the
anxious Ellen.
Summer was gone, and autumn, with
its chilling frosts, had robbed the prairie of
its robe of green. The leaves Of the forest
had fallen to the ground, and the prairie
grass had become withered and sere.
1t was one of those days when The mel
ancholy of autumn is joined to the beauty
of summer, that Frederick and his sister
rode forth upon the prairie, and excited by
the influence of the fresh prairie breeze,
unconsciously proceeded several miles from
home.
They were upon the broad prairie. which
extended far away on every side, undu-
lating and beautiful, although covered with
dry and withered grass
The sun went down before they thought
to return; but as evening approached, and
the silent prairie became clothed in gloom,
they paused with one consent and turned
their horses homeward.
They now gallcped ON at a rapid pace
nigh. came and they were still far from
home.
-. Night, but not darkness! =
Behind them, far away on the prairie, a
broad gleam of light appeared quivering,
intenses
The prairie was on FIRE.
eHeaven'sH exclaimed Frederick -elookp ?
'The frer cried Ellen.
eYes-the prairie is burning! forward or
we are lost
The steeds needed no urging, but bound
ed away, as if conscious of the danger.
The breeze freshened, and the dry grass
was consumed like powder in the flames
which swept along the earth.
Onward, onward dashed the steeds, bear
ing their riders swiftly over the prairie; but
the flames were behind them, more swift,
more furious than they!
Onward, onward still they flew; but the
deer bounced by them in his flight, and
the futtering of wings oyer their heads,
told that the birds Of the air were more swift
than they.
Trembling with fear Ellen lashed her
steed, and kept close to her brothers. side.
Oh! that was wild spectacle-the prairie
illumed by the fierce glare of light, the rag
ing flames, and the cloud of black and dis
NAL smoke, which gave to the canopy of
heaven fearful tint of gloom!
Onward dashed the steeds, but the winds
were swifter than they; and the flames
were on the wings of the wind. Already
the hot breath of the confagration swept
over them like the Simoon of the desert!
All behind them was fierce glare of
light; all before them was darkness and
gloom. Suddenly faint light was seen
upon distant hill like a torch held by
the hand of man-and it approached way
ing to and fro. Atlast the form Of its bear
er was indistinctly visible.
sFasterr cried Frederick, Fand we are
saved! Heaven! the flames are gaining on
us ll-faster-fasterp
But to increase their speed was impossi-
BILE. The cracking flames were already
upon them, when the torch that they had
seen approaching, was suddenly plunged
into the grass hundred rods before them.
In moment the flames shot upward, and
the form of the stranger was seen, still hold
ing the flaming torch. Frederick and El-
len were between two fires, but the one was
fleeing before them, while the other was
close-close upon their backs. They saw
the form of the stranger already upon the
black space which the foremost fire had
left, and terrible was their struggle to reach
it before overtaken by the flames behind.
The smoke rolled over them--the swift
flames were already beneath the hoofs of
their steeds-they were blinded, suffocated,
burned, but they were saved!
The fire before them swept onward-on-
ward-leaving in its track the earth all
charred and bare. The flames behind died
away at the place where the stranger had
nlunged his torch into the grass, or swept
sround them in a broad eircle-a circle OF
raging fire!
the faded horses staggered and fell exhaust
ed TO the earth. Ellen uttered a cry of
alarm as her animal reeled and fell beneath
her, but as she fell, the stranger-their sa-
viour-caught her in his arms. Feeling
herself thrown headlong to the ground; she
had closed her eyes, but now she opened