Arkansas intelligencer., 1849-10-13
From the Columbia Spy.l
L IL E F A I AL SHOT.
Il Legend of the Patton Boys.
Iegend oT the PdStOn b
BY S. c. 4

b1 - u a
"Back back, oh horrid spectre will you
never allow me moments respite never one
moment depart from my presence %
These words were uttered by young man
vino did not appear 10 have passed his two and
twentieth summer, and yet you would think upon
a close scrutiny, that he far beyond the mort
dian of mans allotted time on earth-for there
was leaden appeara nee in his pale countenance
that would escape the notice Of the careless OBJ
server.
As he stood, on that lovely night, beside the
banks of the murmurug Conestoga-,he full light
OF the moon beams playing upon his ma rbe brow ,
he presented an interesting spectacle TO the be-
holder There was an air of melancholy loveli.
ness and grim despair in his aspect. Suddenly he
started from his musing position if stung by
conscience Conscience Oh thou vcegerent of
Heaven ; thou cans't penetrate the soul of man
and wound the heart deeper than the shafts of
mortais.
at must be thus; better suffer the torments of
the damned, than live more wretched than the
iends of Hell.''
Then. drawing pistol from his pocket. he de-
berately placed the muzzie to his head and pulled
the trigger. There report that echoed
among The hill and woods that skirt the borders
of the history famed Conestoga-aud the wretch.
ed man died suicides death.
We must go back several years to discover
the reason why creature thus rashy rushed un-
called for. into the presence of his Maker. 1t
will be necessary 10 leave our happy land and 90
among the rugged mountains of Scotland in order
| to understand the full history.
1t was somewhere about the year 1745. when
the son of the banished King of England Charles
Stuart, attempted to regain the throne of his fa.
theirs, that Hugh M'Donald is Introduced 10 the
reader. Any person looking the annals OF
Scotland during the years "A. As, '46, will per-
ceive the wild enthusiasm with which the hardy
2 j - l. Ill al -
and the re-esta bishment of the House of Stuart.
Par.akng of this feeling Hugh M'DonaId joined
his clan when i; marched 10 join the forces of
Prince Charles. in which also, his father was an
officer. Ii would require too much space to fol-
low him through all the privations attendant on
the rebellion suffice it TO say, that for his gall
lantry, at the battle of Falkirl, he was comp-
menteG by his Prince. On the bloody field of
Culloden, when M'Donald refused 10 charge the
enemy on account of being placed on the left
wing of the army. Hugh and his father, waving
all thoughts Of charging, joined the Camerons and
| rushed into the thickest of the fight but after
/ doing all that men could do. they were forced by
superior numbers to retreat. Hugh's father
never returned from that field of strife-for he
| had fallen n victim to the fire of the British.
| Hugh was placed in position Of being the
only support of his mother nd sister. After seeing
that the hopes of Prince Charles irretriev-
ably lost he returned TO his home 10 endeavor
with all his heart 10 support his surviving parent.
He did not find her depriye of reason nor labor
| ing under any dreadful affection of the nervous
system-for the difference between the Scottish
| lady of that day, and the American of this, was
s,rikingIy manifested in their actions. Her mind
| had risen superior to her mis- fortunes, and she
represented TO Hugh the mpossibiliiy of remain
| ing any longer in Scotland, whose inhabitants
were groaning under the torments invented by
! the cruel Duke of CumberIand-and informed
! him thai to young America she had directed her
eyes, as the place here 10 close her earthly ca
reer.
| Being Of good family they had more worldly
means at their disposal than sufficient 10 de.
| fray the expenses. With what they were able to
collect, after their determination had been taken.
by disposing of some property, they had sufficient
to purchase comfortable home in the land whith.
er they we're going.
| On fine morning in May IT. they sailed
| from - and bid final adieu 10 Scotland's Isle
"a land whose every hill and stream is rendered
sacred by the sweet melodies of Burns, and
which are associated with the memory of many
chivalric deeds of Wallace and Bruce, and in la
ter days by the invincible Montrose. They ar
rived at Philadelphia after tedious voyage OF
three months, where Hugh secured lodgings for
| his mother and sister until he could purchase q
! permanent home. He was advised by a gentle.
man, with whom he had become acquainted, to
visit the country lying around the Conestoga-
which he represented the most productive in
the state. Hugh, accordingly, visited and pur-
chased some land between the Indian village of
Conestoga and the Susquehanna, where, after
erecting substantial building. he brought his re.
Iatlyes to reside. Hi, farm adjoining tire
pIa ntation of an old farmer, whom shall call
! ESQUIRE Dunford. The M'Donalds and Dunfords
were soon on terms of inlimacy-both having
come from Scotland. it was but natural that a
! lasting friendship should bind them closely to-
gether. Esquire Dunford's family consisted of
his Iady and Two chidren-a and daughter,
whom / will call Robert and Mary. The former
was young man of some twenty summers. He
had The 5old determined countenance Of the hardy
Scot blended with the softer aspect of his mothers
race who was the daughter of an English gentle
man. ... ... .- .......
Mary was indeed lovely creature. II would
fill the soul with thrilling sensations TO gaze into
her large dark eyo or view the marble whiteness
of her broad forehead.
Her finely formed shoulders were overhung
with clusters of ringlets of raven backness.--
When Hugh first beheld her he gazed with speech
less admiration, upon her whom he esteemed the
most beautiful woman he had ever seen. He
was thrown into her company-and tits needless
TO say they loved for, in creatures formed by
God with natures SO congenial, it would be idle