Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1850-03-16

the crimson flush on her round cheeks.
Months before handsome, but deprayed,
man had been added TO the garrison of the
Fort, and attracted by the extreme beauty OF
Sybel Gray, he had left no art untried TO
win her love. Immured like vestai nun in
| the gloomy fort, she s,on learned TO listen
for the music. of his, footsteps, TO iremble
when his whispered We is fell as spell upon
her, and thongh the prudent Mother fathom-
ing at once his character, had forbidden all
| intercourse with the handsome stranger, not
day passed, as the last CLEAN, of sunset
trembled on the hills, that her daughter failed
TO seek shadow of an old chesnut tree below
the Fort which they had chosen for their
meeting place. "a .....,. -.-,..t ,..f...
That afternoon, ere she sought her Mothers
presence, with the CONSCIOUSNESS ofguilt pres
sing down her pure eye'ids, she had consen-
| ted TO leave forever the quiet nook which had
sheltered her childhood, with one who had
fled from his native land to the wilds of Ame-
| rica 10 escape the gallows, and who, now
grown weary of the monotonous life of the
fort had resolved TO escape with his fair VIC
tim. The utmost secrecy was necessary;
Sybel had grown to girlhood The idol of the
garrison, gleam of sunshine iluming their
rude home, and the toughest among them
would have perled life to shield her from
harm. -..-......
! Long after the moonlight cast broad bars
| of slver-lght over the little cottage, Mrs.
Gray strove to free the spirit of her child
from the unholy influences that were shadow
ing it; and, though, Sybel's face grew palid
with agony, the tears lay like crushed pearls
beneath her long lashes and the small hands
trembled like the wings of a wounded bird,
she had promised to silence forever, the love
which was even then murmuring like fairy
bells in every recess of her throbbing heart
having pressed her goodnight kiss upon her
mothers forehead she sought her chamber
The cool night air toyed with the light
curtains which shaded the window seats,
CLEANS Of pale light fell over the antique
chairs and the little bed with its pure white
drapery, here falling on her knees the weep;
ing girl prayed for strength to resist tempta-
tion
Long and fervenily her soft voice arose
until the bowed head was raised and the
fearful eyes glowed with holy fervor; but
even while she prayed, low warble like the
fain,es, trill Of bird music, arrested The plead
ing words upon her lips, and spread bright
glow over her pale face and neck. One mo
ment of irresoluiion, one short struggle with
the thronging memories of childhood that
pressed like a chain upon her, and she had
thrown cloak around her slight form, glided
like spirit down the narrow staircase, and
stood for the last lime upon the threshold,
gazing upon the peaceful home of her child
hood. .
The branches or the old trees waved Ia
and fro in the dim light, the breeze parting
her clustering hair, swept off in dirge-like
tones through the arcades of the forest, rose
tree clung 10 the lattice near her. and its
pale leaves fell like coronal of pearls around
her head. What train of sweet emotions
those fair petals awaken how often had she
twined its buds amid her tresses, or wound
them in garlands round her baby brothers
and laying her hand upon the slight latch
she would have stolen TO her Mothers bosom
when her lovers signal again trembled on the
air, and emerging from the shadow of the
wall, he gathered back the long curls ,ha
shadowed her like pail and bore hel STEALTH
ly 10 the rivers edge.
little boat rose and fell like wild birc
with the waves and placing the trembling
girl in il they were soon ahoat on the broac
river. Sybel sat watching the wake OF the lgh
; bark which seemed, as the moonlight fel
upon it like chain of brilliants, and, as
} heightened and the fort became indstnct II
the distance, self reproach started up; like
hideous spectre, in her hitherto happy heart
5 but the Prov of the boat striking against tn
4 opposite bank, warned het that repentanc,
2 came too late, and changed for time tn
current Of her thoughts.
. They had gained the rock before mention
4 ed and found one awaiting them, whom 70
!, the time was invested with the dignity O
9 chaplain. Ii was strange bridal for one s
2 gentle A torch held by the bridegroom I
e enable the clergyman 10 read the service
e with which even to the unsnspecting Sybe
e he appeared strangely unfamiliar, threw fiji
ful CLEANS of light over the trees behn
: them, and bird they had startled, fluttere
It round uttering mottnfhl cries.
= Yet the voice of the maiden was clear an
n firm as she repeated the beautiful marriag
service, and confding happy light trembe j
!, her downcast eyes, when slight crash DIRE,
d their attention 10 tie trees behind them
n where they saw hundred savage eyes CLEAN
e ing upon them from among the leaves, and
5 score of tomahawks flashed like circles G
i fame around their heads.
When sybel awoke from the death-lik
swoon into which terror had thrown her, tn
: sun was Frightening the tops the forest trees
y the twitteiing of birds; and the sound Of falin
It waters mingled their light harmony, dusk
), forms We're gliding around, and beantfr
g Indian girl was bathing her temples, an
/ chafing her cold hands She was captive {