Plymouth banner. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1852-1855, 1854-08-17

cape from the mouse ana Try 10 reach Tue
residence OF her friend that night. Scarce
ly had she formed this resolution before
casting her eye on the road she beheld in
the distance a man approaching on horse
back. whom from the color of his horse,
she instantly recognized to be the minis.
ter who had been engaged to officiate on
the occasion. She seen him pass the
preceding Saturday on his way to a town
a short distance to the north, where, at
stated intervals he preached; and she but
too we'll understood the reason of his hap
pening along on his return at this hour.
Now aware that another hour; now aware
that not another moment was to be lost.
she seized common bonnet and eau
tiously letting herself down from her
window which opened into the garden.
glided through the shrubbery. swift and
noiseless as the wild bird stealing to its
covert, slipped through the fence, and en-.
tering q field Of tall grain Immediately
beyond. escaped towards the woods un-
seen in nor:herly direction. On reach
ing the woods she paused moment to
glance at the clouds which were now be-
ginning to heave UP over the tops of the
mountains in heavy masses. accompanied
at short intervals by the low short and
scarcely perceptible rumbling OF the dis
tant thunder, afforded her abundant evi-
dence of the approaching storm. But
she hesitated not. What to her feelings
were the terrors Of thunder storm TO the
scene she had jus. left, in which. but for
her flight. she must soon be the principal
actor. Pausing no longer than to decide
how she should best shape her course.
avoid all observation from the road and
:he open grounds on the right. and pre-
vent becoming entangled and bewildered
in the depths Of the wilderness on the left
she now plunged into the woods. and
keeping just within their borders. pressed
Oh with rapid steps towards her dest:na'
tion. She had not proceeded far, how
ever. before the occasional rushes and
cracking of sticks and brush breaking
under the tread at some distance on her
left apprised her of the presence of some
one apparently endeavoring to keep pace
with her for the purpose Of dogging her
steps. And glancing over her shoulder
as with quickened steps she pursued her
way, the alarming truth at once flashed
across her mind. 1t was the accomplice
of Cow. the Q man she had seen in the
cavern who was following her. Calcula-
ting to leave the valley that night he had
packed up. and having come from his re-
treat, was waiting at convenient stand
at the skirt Of the woods in plain sight Of
Martins a signal promised by Cow as
soon as the knot was fairly tied, intend
ing to depart secretly from the settlement I
the moment this evidence of the compile
tion of their infamous work was display.
ed. And it was while standing here con-
cealed from the view of others in q clump
OF bushes and patiently watching for the
promised signal. he caught sight of May
gliding into the woods but shor. dis
tance below him. Though soon conjec-
turing from the course she came that il
be no other than their intended victim,
he yet suspected not at first her real OBJ
ject: and thinking she might have come
to the woods for the purpose of obtaining
some favorite shrub or evergreen to deck
her room for the occasion. h. suffered
her to proceed some way before it occur
red to him that she was actually escap-
Ing from their net. Unwilling. on ac-
count of his own safety to cause an out
cry. which he was fearful she might raise
If he made amy attempt to detain her by
force, he determined to get ahead of her,
and endeavor to frighten her back TO the
house. But in this he soon found him.
self baffled; for instead of being able to
get before her, he found much difficulty,
SO rapid was her flight, even in overtak-
ing her in sight. Resolved however, not
TO lose the advantage of this, that he
might dog her to the house where she fled
for shelter for the night. and return and
apprise his accomplice of the place Of her
refuge. he redou5led his exertions and
succeeded barely in accomplishing this
part of his purpose as far as the pursued
was permitted to proceed.
But to return to the wretched fugitive.
Having been nurtured among the mount.
aims and accustomed from infancy to ex.
ercise in their invigorating breezes. her
naturally active limbs had acquired an
elasticity and capability of enduring ia.
t'gue, which are unknown to females of
older countries, and which came in good
need on the present emergency. Fleeing
like some frightened nymph of heathen
iabio before pursuing demon, her lips
parted, her hands thrust eagerly forward
and her loosened and disordered tresses
streaming wildly behind her. she bounded
along over log, rock and rivulet with a
rapidity which fear only could have Incl.
ted, and which the perilous energy of des.
peration alone could have sustained -
While every glance which at times she
hastily threw back over her shoulder at
the fearful vissage forever peering thro'
the bushes in hot pursuit behind her. ad
ded fresh impulse to her exertions and
quickened her speed. The thunder now
burst In terrific peals over her head--tall
trees were uprooted and hurled 10 the
earth by the furious blast, or shiyered in
the fiercely quivering blow of the light
ming, fell in fragments around her; yet
she paused not in her course--the rain
poured in deluging torrents over her
drenched person. yet she needed it not;
but catching the huge drops on her parch.
ed Inns as thew gratefully heat over har