The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1851-11-26

IoiShhSoc' fWCiO bOb WiNnSNS SSo''
almost pray for another opportunity Il
have need of my ministering angel
"Elliot!"
"Forgve me, Rose, | feel deep sens
Of gratitude for your kind attentions, ant
| know not how to express it."
81 am going to Short Creek tomorrow
TO visit a friend" said Rose, sand yol
must 20 with me-"
at is hard TO refuse you" replied Elliot
but ] may miss an opportunity Of descend
ing the river il go with you. The wate
is up now, and boats may be expected to
morrow" r
81 cannot excuse you," said Rose; "a
day or week is Of no consequence tc
you. you miss the first boat you car
wait for another" M h
"Yes, but"
"l'l listen to no more objections" in.
terrupted the maiden; "you must be my
companion to Short Creek Tomorrow"
'And why not for life?" asked Elliot.
No reply was made to this question:
Rose had not anticipated such an inter.
rogatory; nor did its meaning at first flash
upon her mind. But the sense became ap.
parent to her, thrill went to her heart,
and deep blush suffused her cheek. She
said in an altered tone, without raising
her head, which she had unwittingly cast
down
"You will 60 with met"
"Most surely, Rose," replied Elliot, who
was delighted to find that he had not Of
Tended her by the abruptness of his words.
81 can refuse you nothing" he added;
"the boats may come and go by fleets, for
all that care"
81 will depend upon you," said the
maiden, and she left him, for Roses mind
was filled with such strange ideas that she
was glad TO seek solitude.
Soon after the sun had risen on the fol.
lowing day, Elliot was before the door bu
sled in cleaning his rifle. Lewis Wetzel
just then approached him from the direc-
ton of the high hill in the rear of the fort.
"What's to be done to-day, Elliott" in
quired the hunter. as he came up to the
youth and lowered his gun 10 his feet.
81 am going to Short Creek, with Miss
Mason," said Elliot. 81 shall take my
gun along, and if ! can only get glance
at bucks tail, III bring it home as a
trophy of my skill in rife shooting"
',If ynn see deer, Elliot" said the
scout laughing, you'll be sure to get the
buck fever"
"Never fear," replied the youth.
"Such things always happen TO green
hands," said Wetzel; "but you'll get over
the fever by and by. That rifle Of yourn
aint exactly TO my liking" he continued;
and here he took the richly mounted rifle
Of the young man and deliberately exam.
med it in all parts. "It's too light, entire
|y; and as for these silver fixlns, they aint
Of any manner Of use.'
"They will not prevent it from shooting
we'll" said Elliot.
"No: nor neither they WON'T" rejoined
Wetzel, but I'll be skinned if I'D have 'em
on a gun of mine. Now, here's my old
woman, Elliot" added the hunter, as he
raised his weather beaten rifle from the
ground, "an uglier old rip you never laid
your eyes on; but there's no mistake in
,er. She always tells! Many's the red
skin she's sent to his long home"
''Il's valuable piece, without doubt"
said the youth.
"The reddogs think SO, anyhow" re-
urned Weizel | '.'.
81 suppose you are almost out Of prac-
ice in killing them"
"Well, may say you are about half
light, Elliot; haint had glimpse of one
since last fall. I've got strong notion to
,ut down to Kaintuck with you. They
,ay they aint scarce thereabouts; but !
can't agree to leave these settlements until
finish that cursed rascal, Old Cross. Fire.
The scamp has baulked me so often, that
have sworn vengeance on him. | know
,e's sneaking about these quarters, be.
cause ! come across some signs of him
every now and then. was out all last
hight and night afore in search of the old
log"
"You do not imagine" asked Elliot,
that he is lurking about here now, do
,ou!''
"That's exactly what l think" said
Wetzel
"He will not dare molest us, Lewis"
''I would not trust him."
"Lewis, how far is it to Short Creek"
at might be twelve miles by the way
,ou will have to 60. Can you keep the
rack, think you!"
"Miss Mason knows the course, she will |
lave to pilot us along"
swell, she wont lose the path, you may
lepend; she's an uncommon nice woman,
elliot, and she rides equal TO trooper, in |
he bargain. But yonder comes your
,ritters,"
+ In another moment the horses were
'rought to the door. Rose made her ap-
and was assisted into her saddle
y Elliot; whilst Wetzel held the plump
White poney by the bride.
at really does me good, child, to see
.,