Washington telegraph., 1854-08-30

"ltHout dodteiHeHt an Jay, ana at sunset, on
attempting to ford a small stream, my horse
became entanged in the brushwood of the
sudden freshet and in saving my horses
life, [ lost my pistols, knife, hat and rife.
My horse, being freed from the brushwood
and his rider, swan to the shore for which
he had started, and patiently waited for my
approach.
Il clung to the branches of drifting
tree, foated down the stream nearly a quar-
ter of a mile, and at length, by good luck,
was enabled to reach the shore | sought
Coming up to my faithful horse, | mounted
him with heavy heart. and continued nv
journey through the gloomy and weeping
/ forest
Il was now in an entire new country, with
nothing but wild and narrow horse-path
to guide me on my way entirely unarmed
wet to the skin, shisering with the cold, and
dismal prospect of passing the night on
the wet leaves.
Il continued my ride until darkness for
bade my going further, and was about con-
structing rude bed of wet limbs and leaves,
when | discovered light glimmering thro'
the hanging branches, and Immediately
started on foot to find its location. After
wading through numerous mud holes, and
struggling over briars and rotten logs for
( distance of twenty rods or more, tearing nv
clothes badly, and barking my shins in
manner that the marks are yet remaining
evidences of my haste and intrepiditv. [
reached a low log hut, through the chinks
of which | discovered a woman apparently
engaged in frying meat before blazing
fire made on the ground at one end of the
howell
Without waiting for ceremony or eti-
quette, thinking the deluging rain and my
own sad plight a sufficient excuse for the
lack of either or both, | raped upon the
door and entered the room at the same mo-
ment
The woman sprang TO her feet as if at
tackled by ravenous wolf, gazed upon me
moment with her small, piercing black eyes.
and exclaimed,
Who are you, sir. and where are you
from ?''
politely bowed to the woman, told her
OF my mlsfortunes, and begged permission
to tarry with her during the night wisely
adding as thought then, although have
been very unfortunate in losing my hat and
my clothes, | have not lost my purse. and
shall be willing and happy to compensate
you for such accommodations as you may be
enabled to furnish me-
The woman's ferceness suddenly chang
ed to sort of cringing servility, mock
politeness, under the veil of which could ca
silly be seen the willy craftiness of the half
breed Indian.
Informing her of the whereabouts of nv
horse, she insisted upon going with me and
assisting in getting the beast under the on
ly shelter the place affor9ed-an old shed
made of hemlock limbs, and covered with
bark
After feeding the jaded beast with a GOOD
supply of potatoes and corn we returned to
the house, and the woman soon placed be-
fore me warm supper of fried venison and
corn bread
found her very unwilling talker, and
much more disposed to peer at me through
her long, black eye-lashes than to answer
the many questions that | could not refrain
from asking.
DO you live here alone ?" 1 inquired
Yes"
This is excellent venison. How are you
enabled to procure it ?''
Hunters sometimes pass this way. and
always remember Molly Radford with
quarter of the best they have.
| here accidentally noticed the sleeve of
a black coat hanging over the edge of a
shelf suspended from the beams overhead.
Are you married lady ?'' asked
mo"
"a widow, perhaps 1 suggested
No, was again the laconic reply; but
noticing a moment after the word was spo-
ken that was looking at the coat-sleeve,
she observed, There is mar living about
in the woods who calls himself my husband,
but he used to beat me so when drunk, that
in moment of desperation [ turned upon
my persecntor and drove him from the
house. We have never lived together since.
He little thought that the frail, timid girl of
Is, who was once so frightened at his cruel
oath, would in ten short years be master of
the same language and mistress of her own
house."
As she finished the sentence, her eyes
flashed sparks of fire, and could liken her
unto nothing but a half-starved she-wolf. or
an infuriated panther at bay My flesh in
voluntarily erawled on my bones as l felt
her burning glance penetrating every vein
in my body.
''You are not afraid to live alone, are
you p asked, not knowing what | said,
but feeling the necessity of saying some
thing to keep me from choking to death.
Afraid :" she exclaimed. her eyes grow
ing blacker, and more wild and fierce in
their expression. 'Molly Radford knows
no fear Policy sometimes nromnts mo IN