Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1854-08-16
CHAPTER II.

" WISH to know" said the captain Of
the dotachment, with the voice of Sen
ator, while fierce and ugly frown was
the predominant expression his countcn-
ance wore, ard after he had halted his
men near by" | wish to know, old wo
man, if you have seen aught of young
man in this ncighborhood, dressed in
peasants garb-quite youthful in appear
ance, with quite good looking physiog
nomy-and one, | think, who might APP
pear very mucl fa'igued, as we have pur
sued him for upwards of six miles, with
out, as yet, being able to overtakc him"
=" Persons frequently pass along the
road, but [ seldom notice or scrutinize
them closely enough to be enabled to as
certain whether they are old or young
handsome or ugly" was the answer of the
mother of Mariana, but little pleased
with the style of the captains address,
and resolving that he should by no means
be outdone in his want of politeness or
courtesy.
But, madam interrogated the cap
tain again, have you seen any person
whatever in the neighborhood. within the
last ten minutes-one, as [ said, appar-
emily very much fatigued, who has recent
ly eludcd our grasp, although we have
several times very nearly captured him.
[ have reason to suppose he cannot be far
away. He must have pushed forward in
this direction By brutal outrage on
the person of one Of the Governors chief
officers, be has laid himself open to a just
punishment, and has been obliged to be
take himself to a speedy fight. Ny de
tachment was Immediately despatched for
him; the pursuit has been a hot one, and
until now, | have felt confident Of being
able to oyertake him. If you have the
slightest Information to give, you should
rot withhold it, and thereby render your
self liable to punishment also should it
afterward become known that you had ia
vored fugitive from Justice
Il have not particularly noticed any
one within the time you mention she
said, endeayoring to equivocate as much
as possible, without arousing his suspi-
cions :" and how can you suppose | would
be able to distinguish at Il distance, the
difference between a man in a state Of
exhaustion, aud one fresh for long jour
ney 2"
You do not answer ne in a straight
l.
eating in order to avoid lie," returned
the Austrian Captain. who thought he
could perceive the scruples Of tue woman,
and therefore reasonably concluded she
must have some knowledge of the where
abouts of the fugitive. & Consequently"
he said shall be under the necessity
of ordering my men to search thoroughly
this cottage, and all the near ncighbor
hood for he must not escape our hands,
while there is possibility for US to pre-
vcnt him"
"If you have an idea that any one is
sccreted in this house, | hope you will
search it until convinced to the contrary"
was the reply of the limner's wife.
depend upon it, [ shall. madam, said
he. . and if | have the smallest reason TO
think you have been aiding the escape of
our fugitive, neither yourself nor your
premises will be longer safe"
Ordering his men, in parties of two or
three, to search the cottage, the out-buIld
incs. and all the immediate neiehborhood,
resumed bis conversation with the artists
wife. and asked her. III q very blunt and
uncourteous manner, several questions IN
regard to herself, her family and her re
lations.
Although she considered lis questions
impertinent, yet, not wishing to arouse the
ire of man, who. as he served brutal
master. might, by an angry word, be led
to an act of brutality himself, she an
swered him in a calm and good-natured
tone of voice, and endeayored to speak
satisfactorily.
At length the whole detachment re-
turned, as may be supposed after fruit
less search To one of the parties who
he'd bcen searching the house. he thus ad
dressed himself--