Plymouth banner. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1852-1855, 1854-11-16
CHATTER III.

We are apt, when dwelling in the sun
slime Of peace, 10 look upon the season
Of wars one of unmitiga,ed horror.
We forget that man is powerless effect
ually TO mar the face OF nature. or inter
cept the smiles of Heaven. We forget
that the fields still are verdant. the
streams still sparkling the suni: canopy
by day and the starry armament a. night
still beautiful and sublime, amidst all the
puny tempesis of human strife. The
mind. too. buoyan: and elastic with hope.
and containing within itself she secret
springs of joy. bids defiance at times to
every peril. and often seems least des-
ponding when dangers and trials are the
most numerous and severe. The twilight
had gradually Disappeared and the moon.
riding high in the heavens. was illuming
the landscape. as Dddley pureued his
downward way. Hill dale and stream
/ balhed in flood Of silvery light, lay
spread around him far as the eye could
reach and for while engrossed his un.
divided attention. But sadder themes
soon pressed upon his mind. The mas.
sacse at Shells Bush. of which Walden
had so unfreliagly spoken, was one Of
many similar deeds which bad already
been perpetrated in the valley of Moha wk. .
They were the work of savages. aided
and stigated by some Of the lowest and
vi.est Of the white nha bitants, who. hav-
ing declared in favor OF the royal cause.
made 1t a cover for the preparation of
every enormity which either private re-
venge or the mos: sordid cupidity could
dictate. Although these atrocities usual
ly occurred and were most to be dreaded
in the darker nights. they were by no
means confined to such seasons; the full
ligh. of the moon. and broad glare OF day
aifording no protection to the peaceable
habltants when the war spirit of their
savage foes was fully aroused, On again
Tiewing the sky. Dudley beheld belt Of
deLse clouds skirtiDg the western horizon,
from which detached fragments were oc-
casionally nsce ending zenithward. threat
ening ere longto obscure the whole frna-
i1ent; and he shuddered as he thought
that perhaps some fearful tragedy might
be enacted upon that very night.
Nor were these apprehensions his only
source OF disquiet. Other gr.efs of pri-
vate and more selfish nature also engaged
his attention. The claim made bv Wal
don to the affections of Miss Welles. al
though little worthy of credit, was no,
without its effect upon his mind. II had
revealed to him the state of his own feel
ings. OF which he had be fore scarcely been
conscious, and at the ame time had con-
jured up phantoms Of obstacles to his
hopes, which. with all lovers yariab BILE
ness OF feeling. at one moment. seemed
shadowy and at the next insuperable.
ellen Welles was a lady we'll calculated
to inspire affection in such a heart as
Dudiey's. The ordinary charms Of youth
and beauty were enchanted in her person
oy natural grace Of manner and an un-
ai'oyed sweetness of temper. Ifa judg-
ment just and discriminating. was neces
sary to prevent such a character from de.
gene rating into insipidiiy, that gift also
was Ellens Her father was a military
man. and had held a captains commission
under Sir William Johnson in the war of
1856. He had purchased at the close of
that contest large estate in Tryon coun-
ty, which the advancing settlement of
the country had rendered highly valuable,
at the period now spoken of was what, in
more modern paElance, would be termed
a large landed proprietor.