Plymouth banner. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1852-1855, 1854-11-30

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cautions fortunately proved superiuous
, and the night passed without furtheI
alarm. BaffleG and mortified, the sava
ges had retired. bearing with them The
bodies OF six of their fallen warriors. /;
loss which seemed to them Of almost in
appreciable magnitude Thus tn, gal
liant defence OF Fort Lee the less, as i
was subsequently termed, proved not on
" the security Of its inmates. with one
lamen'able exception, but for the time
{ at least, of the whole surrounding settle
ment.
Mutual congratulations on their es-
cape, and devotional thanksG;vinSs foI
SO signal a protection of Providence.
were among the earliest employments oil
the little party on the ensuing morning.
But the panic which had spread through
the neighborhood did not readily subside.
Some, indeed, returned Immediately TO
their homes, relying in part upon their
private means of defence, but chiefly
confident from their knowledge ofIndian
character that the enemy would not re-
new an enterprise which had proved SO
disastrous. a more vigilant police was
organized, and portion OF the citizens
nightly acted as sentiacls at all the prom
inent posts Of observation.
/ To Ellen Well es, the events which
have heen recorded had been doubly ter
rifying for cause which has as vet been
scarcely apparent. Walden had in re-
ality been rejected claimant fer her
hand. Ills pretensons had been favored
by her father, who, wrapped III his self
ish and personal schemes, was as far from
appreciating the worth of his daughter as
he was far l:om penetrating the vlllainous
character of her sutor. To his charge,
during his temporary absence from home.
Captain Weles had especially confined
his household, enjoining Ellen, ia case
OF danger, TO appeal al once TO his pro-
tection. And more recently still, Wal
don had been the bearer OF message 10
Ellen from her father. informing her that
he was engaged in raising company Of
volunteers with which he should imme
diately proceed to join Col. st. Leger un-
der the walls Of Fort S;anwix. He fur
ther Informed her that he had made suit
able provisions Ior her safety during the
perilous times that were like 10 ensue,
and directed her to accept of Waldon' 81 es
cort to the place where he was then So
! journing.
! Dreading his designs III relation to her
detesIed suitor, yet fearing to dlsobey n
parent who, though harsh was her only
[ protector, she hesltated in most painful
lncerlilude rs 10 her proper course OF ac-
ton. But when The messenger proceed
ei 10 hint that he was empowered 10 en-
force tho commands of his principle, her
terror knew no bounds. Ii she had before
/ doubted, she was now decided, and she re.
solved to brave every other peril sooner
than 10 lrus; herself in The power of her
suitor. But she did not make known her
resolution, and he, sup posing her only 10
hesitate, specified an hour Oh the next day
when he would call for her decision, and
courleously Withdrew. Ii was on that
evening that her flight 10 Leo's impelled
by double fear. had occurred. But
| Waldon had not, in reality, been parii-
cipant IN the affair of the proceeding night
and Ellens suspicious on that point had
doubtless been caused in part of her ex-
lreme dread OF falling into his hands. 1t
will be seen, therefore, that her alarm, al
though aba,ed, was sill far from being
dispelled. nor could she conceal her anxi-
ETY. from Dudley. To express her graft
tude to her defender with becoming
warmth, and yet with maidenly reserve,
was no difficult task for sensible and in
genious girl, but il was tremblIngly, pain
fully, and by slow degrees alone, that she
was able to disclose. in answers to his ear.
nest bu, respectful inquiries, the particu-
lars OF her unfortunate position. Beauti'
ful exceedingly did the tinid girl appear
as she related her griefs, and Dudley long.
ed for nothing SO much as TO throw him
self at her feet and offer her q lifelong pro-
lection. Blu, with quick disccrnment he
OF any declaration Of his feelings. 1t
should be, he thought, proudly. under 9th
er circumstances, when he was better en-
titled to ask, and she more to refuse, that
ne would seek the hand and heart of one
So peerless and so pure. At present, II
became his duty rather TO make provis-
ion Tor her safely, and on this subject he
hostened to speak. lie knew that small
volunteer companies. in resp use 10 the
earnest appeal Of Col. Gansevoort, were
daily hocking to the relief of Fort Stanvix
and had learned on inquiry. that one OF
these. en- route for that military post, was
hourly expected in the neighborhood. He
at once proposed to her to take advantage
Of such an escort 10 fly to the fort, where
she would find numbers of her own sex,
who had sought tho Same refuge, and
whence, if she should so desire, she could
AT any moment be transferred TO her faith.
or in the British camp. She could be at
tended, he said, by her maid, and he him
self, if size wonld permit, would acccmpa-
ny her and fulfil an intention that he had
long entertained Of seeking service in the
: me rican army. The proposition was
startling. but Ellen did not hesitate. A
lavorite pony which she was accustomed
10 ride, afforded her n convenient mode
of travel. and means were readily found
for the transporta ton OF her domestic and
their necessary baggage. Happier and
prouder than q monarch, Dudley rode at
the beauieous Ellens side, encouraging
Il II Il a