The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1850-12-25

human demon Of Tarleton's, Captain Ell
lerslie, and you will find her you SEEK"
and the hunter strobe to his side. lsas
"Earlie, my friend, how long since this
"Not an hour since"
nThen, by the souls of my forefathers,
she shall yet be minel' and turning his
steed, he dashed rapidly from the spot,
followed by the hunter, after taking ono
lingering look at the scene of ruin he left
behind him.
Is i* ai9s* Go* ~ ~ ~ Aa
+ The beams Of the morning sun gilded
the tree tops and glanced rapidly from hill
to hill, as Capt. Ellerslie and his party
issued from the black forest, and entered
upon the more open country around il.
In the centre of the group rode the plis.
oners, and the eye Of the officer often
rested with gloating admiration upon the
fair features of the defenceless Marian, as
she silently and with downcast eyes rode
along with a sturdy trooper upon each
side, to prevent any sudden resolution she
might form to escape. The live long
night the party had travelled on with un-
wearied vigilance, and now that the ter
rors of the forest, known as the haunt Of
Marion and his men, were passed, the
Captain resolved to halt to procure some
and from the ardent glances
he had SO often cast upon her, Marian
was led to believe he meditated some act
of violence towards her, and secretly re-
solved, if an opportunity presented, to
escape. The party halted before the gate
of a large tory farm house, and one of
the men dismounted, threw it open, and
the cavalcade entered one after another
the enclosure, the space not being wide
enough TO admit Of more than one gong
in at time. Their long ride had SO
wearied the men that they hurried in as
fast as possible; and by checking the i'm
patience Of her horse, Marian remained
outside until all but her two guards had
passed in. One of these then advanced
before her, bidding the other to remain
behind her; but as he left her side, quick
as thought she turned the head Of her
steed, and applying her whip to the hanks
of the spirited animal, he sprang rapidly
off in the direction of the black forest.--
A deep curse broke from the lips Of the
remaining guard as he wheeled his steed
to follow her, and il drew the attention of
those inside, among whom was Ellerslie.
"Mount, men, and after her! thous-
and dollars to the one who secures her
alivel" he shouted in frenzied tones Of
madness, as he hastily mounted his own
steed to pursue.
noble girl! place the ,forest trees Of yon
wood around you, and I'll defy the vii
lains to find you again. On, on, grill
There is hope before, and worse than
death behind" and tears Of heartfelt joy
poured over the cheeks of Hunter, as he
gazed upon the exciting scene.
"Take that old grey-headed dog to the
nearest tree, and hang him upon the first
limb" wrathfully cried Ellerslie, as he
spurred his horse through the gate, and
urged him forward in swift pursuit.
Half a dozen men sprang forward to
obey, and the old man was soon released
from the horse; but so long had his limbs
been confined in one position, that he was
unable to walk; and his captors, brutally
seizing him by the grey hair of his head,
dragged him forward TO an oak tree
which grew in the yard, and procuring
rope, prepared to carry into execution the
last diabolical order Of the bloodthirsty
fg 9q
l.I In the meantime, the steed which bore
the flying Marian, swept rapidly onward
for the forest, and soon distanced all save
the one upon which was mounted. Ellerslie
himself, and she soon saw that the speed
Of his horse was such that she must inev-
itably be overtaken, yet she piled the
whip, and they few like the wind towards
the gloomy wood that loomed up before
them. But hundred yards intervened,
when, with q demoniac laugh, he dashed
up beside her, and seizing hold Of her
bride rein, checked by powerful effort
the gait of her horse; and by the time
they had reached the edge Of the Black
Forest, both riders had come to a halt,
and throwing his left hand around her, he
attempted to draw her to him. The ex-
citement Of the flight had brought the
warm blood to her cheek, but the insult he
offered sent it rushing back again, and
for q moment she became as pale as mar
bic; then nreoovering herself, she sen. one
wild, aheart-rending shrek through the
surrounding wood, and yainly endeayored