Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1850-05-31
Legends of the Santee,
OR,
MARION AND HIS MEN.
M'DONALDS RESCUE.
BY H. c. cHIPMAN.

The old man and Marion were soon
brought forth, and Hunter was strapped
upon SADDLE, and his daughter rested
upon palfry between two stout troopers.
and the coward set off at gallop into the
wood, leaving the remainder TO carry out
the orders of their captain. And well
did they obey him, 70. of the company
gathered at the house that night, but few
escaped to tell the tale, and the redden-
ing glow that liz up the surrounding dark
ness, and glimmered afar through nook
and dell, until its rays were reflected by
the dashing waters Of the Santee, told
that the building was fired, and was fast
sinking beneath theeffecis Of this consul
ming element Of destruction.
The heavy tread of horse echoed out
upon the air, as solitary horseman rode
along the banks OF the river, andtook his
way in the direction of the house of Eli
hu Hunter. He was about twenty-five
years Of age, and was dressed in the uni
form of Marion's men. He rode tall,
coal black steed, was completely armed
for offensive or defensive operations.-
He had evidently been belated, and was
now wishing to make up for the lost
time, for his noble stced was urged for
ward at rapid gallop, and his eye wan
dered anxiousIy and warrily around him.
Suddenly a bright red light broke upon
the forest, and far down the stream he
saw the lrrid sparks ascend into the air,
and beheld the redeemed glow painted
upon the clouds by the confagration be-
low. Hastily rising in the siirrup, he
gazed for an instant upon the scene, and
then exclaiming:
"My God! 1t is the house of Hunter!
away, away" he struck his spurs deep
into the sides Of his horse, who giving a
wild snort, sped like an arrow from a
powerful bow through the wilds Of the
forest. a
The red glow of the fire cast an un-
earthly glow upon surrounding objects,
and revealed with fearful distinctness the
feature Of strong man who had emer-
ged from the depth of the wood, and
stood leaning upon his rife gazing at the
glowing embers. His lips quivered with
emotion, and tear started inyoluntarily
TO his eye-but brushing aside this evi-
dence Of his weakness, ii weakness 1t
may be called, he strolled TO where The
form Of female lay stretched out upon
the earth and STOPPING down, he scrulini-
zed with one deep long glance those pa
lid features, and parted the matted locks
aside from her CORY brow where the fa-
tai missile had forced it's entrance and
deprived her of life; and then, raising
himself to his fullest height he grasped
his rifle with spasmodic clutch, and
breathed forth in fervid tone the single
word
aVengeance;"
And turning round, was about leaving
the spot. as the sound OF horses gal
lop fell upon his ear.
.Poor NJ Donald" he multered, she
comes TO find his affianced brides house
in ruins, and her in the hands of his mos,
limplacable foe. .
/ The rush of steed was heard, the
underwood parted in twain, and with Q
single bound horseman bolted in from,
of the burning mansion, and glanced with
an unea rihly stare around him. 1t was
Med Donald, the affianced Of Marian
Hunter. His lofty brow was as paid
as that Of the dead female who lay be,
meath his horses hoofs and his cheeks
as pale as the white rose Of Sharon
while every limb of the strong man
trembled like an aspen leaf, and his bo.
SON heaved almost TO bursting with force
of his emotion, as he shouted forth in
the agony of Lis heart
sMy Marian! my Marian! oh, where
art thou!'' -
"Go seek the enemy Of our land, tha
|humandemon Of Tarlton'r, Captain Eller
slie, and you will find her you SEEK and
the hunter strolled 10 his side. ss
"Earlis, my friend, how long since thi.
happened" $3.50
"'Tis not an hour since asa