Fremont weekly freeman. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1850-1853, 1852-02-28
MisreIIanruns.
THE HEROINE OF THE BORDER.
BY CHARLES J. PETERSON.

II was a lovely night in August. seventy
years ago. The sky had not cloud; the air
was soft and balmy; and the moon, sailing
silently on high, flooded wood and field and
river with her calm, pure light. Never, since
the last evening in Eden, had mother earth
worn an aspect so like Paradise.
At the gate of mansion in the newly set
lied town of Wheeling stood two lovers about
to part The solemn spell of the hour. COM
bined with the farewell they were about to
take, had cast sweet sadness over both.
1t is loEg ride to Shepherds Fort, and
voice. as the fair speaker looked up into the
face Of her companion. Cannot you put off
this departure, Francis?'
The bold VirginiAn gazed tsnderly down at
his beautiful companion, and then, as if in
stinctively, drew her to him, imprinting kiss
upon her forehead, as be answered:
You were not always thus timid, Lizzy. I
remember, before you went to Philadelphia,
that you were the boldest girl of all the bor-
der; but tonight your as fearful as young
dee. You have come back accomplished as
queen, but as nervous too. A fine lady, he
continued, laughingly, is not fit fer bride on
the frontier
4 am not naturally tinid, as you know,
earnestly replied his companion. blushing at
his raillery, but these terrible Indians appal
me. You tell me that they have held great
council at Chillicothe and resolved to take up
the hatchet again. What if band of them
should waylay you to night?
Never fear ii, dearest; they are far enough
asyet Ny information is in advance of them,
aud we shall probably net see them for
weeks, even if at all thought il my duty
TO ride over and Gell your father, however;
though he added, archly, perhaps there
were other reasons which made me only too
ready to find an excuse for visiting Colonel
Zane
1 suppose my fears are foo!ish;' answered
his companion, but with woman, instinct
they say, sometimes takes the place of reason,
and I feel as if some great danger surround
ed u.s.
1t is the moonlight Li5zy, nothing else.'
gaily replied the lover. i always feel touch
Of sadness myself, on an evening like this
Cheer up, dearest; these are idle fancies. l
must, however, make the most Of this moen-
light or it will be dark before reach the fort.
God bless you,' he added, as he kissed her
again, adding bravely, if peril should assail
you, not ten thousand times ten thousand OF
those red skins shall prevent Francis Duke
flying to your aid.
In another moment he had leaped upon his
horse, which stood hard BY, and, with part
ing waive of the hand, dashed of at swing
ing trot. His setrothed watched him till he
disappeared in the gloom of the forest; then,
with sigh, she rs-entersd her fathers house.
The family were abou: retiring. and, reveT-
emily kissing her parents, the beautiful girl as
cended to her chamber. But she could not
sleep. An inde6nable sense of danger pressed
upon her spirits, and, throwing aside the cur
tain of her window, she sat down and gazed
without. AS she looked, a vision rose before
her of her lover hurrying along the forest
depths while a savage ambuscade waited to
receive him, and so vivid was the picture that
! she rose witA start of terror, and could
scarcely repress a cry. But, the next instant
the illusion faded, the serene moonlight calm
ed her soul, and she resumed Ter seat, asham-
ed of her idle terrors.
Thus hour after hour passed. her fancy con
tinuslly eonjuring up new Perils for her lover,
and her sober reason as constantly overcoming
these visionary fears Her slesplessness still
continued. AT last the moon began to sink
below the western forest Slowly she watch
ed the lengtheniNg shadows as il disappeared,
until the landscape was almost entirely
shrOuded in gloom; and then, with last
prayer for her lovers safety, she was about
to retire from the window, when her attention
was suddenly attracted toward what seemed a
dark moving mass on the edge OF thsneigh-
boring wood I'd
What could it be? The cattle of ths set
clement were all carefully housed. she knew,
and it was an hour at which no human being
would be likely to be abroad. Her indefna-
bic fears again returned. Her heart fluttered
with nameless dread. She concealed her.
SELF ins,inctively behind the window curtain,
and watched this dark, moving object for sew