Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1851-08-13

john Wilton and his three sons were
just returning from the clearing, when
Susan ran into theip comfortable
kitchen; her long black hair stream
ing on her shoulders, and her wild
and bloodshot eyes gave her the ap-
pearance of a maniac. In few un-
connected words she explained tc
them the cause of her terror, and i'm
plored them to set off Immediately in
serach other husband. It was in vain
thatthey told her Of the nselessness
of going at that time-of the impos-
sibility of following a trailin the dark,
She said she would go herself, she
felt sure Of finding him; and at las,
they were obliged to use force to pre-
vent her leaving the house.
The next morning at day break,
Wilton and his two sons were noun
ted, and ready to set out intending ia
take Nero with; them but nothing
could induce him to leave his mis-
tress; he resisted passively for some
time; until one of the young men at
tempted to pass a rope round his
neck, to drag him away: then his for
bearance vanished; he sprAng upon
his tormenter, threw him down and
would have strangled. him had not
Susan been present. Finding it i'm
possible to make Nero accompany
them, they left without him, but had
not proceed many miles beforehe and
his mistress were beside them. They
begged Susan to return, told her Of
the hardships she must endure, and
Of the inconvenience she you'd be ia
sas9; ass ~ n Rs tes t4 ess sssf RS' y!
ter and a hunters wifT She told
them that knowing how ussful Nero
would be to them in their search, she
had secretly taken a horse and fol.
lowed them.
The party rode first 10 Tom Coop
er's hut, and there having dismoun-
ted, leading their horses through the
forrest, followed the trail, as only men
long accustomed to savage life can
do. At night they laid on the ground,
covered with their bear-skin cloaks;
for Susan only they heaped up bed
of dried leaves, but she refused to oc-
cupy it, saying it was her duty to bear
the same hardships they did. Ever
since their departureshe had shown no
sign of sorrow. Although slight and
delicately formed, she never appeared
fatigued; her whole soul was absorbed
in one longing desire to find her hus-
bands body; for from the first she
had abandoned the hope of ever see-
ing him again in life. The desire
supported her through everything
Early the next morning they were
again on the trail. About noon, as
they were crossing q small brook, the
hound suddenly dashed away from
them and was lost in thicket. At first
they fancied they might have eros
sed the track Of a deer or wolf; but
a long, and mournfhl howl soon told
the sad truth; for not far from the
brook lay the faithful dog, on the dead
body of his master, which was pier.
ced to the heart by an Indian arrow.
The murderer had g karently been
afraid to approach q \punt Of the
dogs, for the body as it had
fallen-nOt even = gone.
No sign Of r. nov-
ofa sqOl
at the sight 1T
tanned the same u ,Ss, and
seemed comforted )4s found.
Old Wilton stayed "A II to remove
all that now remained j her darling
husband, and his two Sons again set
out on the trail, which soon led them
in the open prairie, where it was cas-
lily traced through the thick grass
They continued riding all that after
noon, and the next morning by day
break, were again on the track, which
they followed to the banks of wide
but shallow stream. There they saw
the remains of q fire. One Of the
brothers thrust his hand among the
ashes, which were still warm. They
crossed the river, and in the soft sand
on the opposite bank, saw again the
print of a small moccasin ed footstep.
Here they were at a loss; for the rank
prairie grass had been consumed by
one of those fearful fires 30 common
on the prairies, and in its place grew
short sweet herbage, where even an
Indians eye could observe no trace,
They were on the point Of abandon.
ing the pursuit, when Richard, the
younger brother, called the others at.
tention to Nero, who had, of his own
accord, left his mistress to accompa-
ny them, as if he now understood what
they were about. The hound was
froffino fr ord fro with his nosa IN ~ q