Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1855-04-25

! TO no purpose. Hcr thlHKlhg lufhiSieo no
clue to unrayel the present mystery. She
prayed, but it was as dark as ever. She list
! ened and listened, but she could hear nothing
but the whirl and the clatter; no voice of any
human being. On-on rolled the chariot !;
now swaying to the one side, and now to the
other now ijoltirg and pitching, and now fly
! ing along without the slightest jar or obstruc-
ton. And Vertitia really began to consider
! seriously whether she was dead alive, or
whether she was not on her way to the bright
world Of her dreams.
! All of sudden, the chariot stood still
There vas a quick, rustling movement outside,
followed by a heavy spring Of feet to the earth.
ssOut,'' said low, coarse, sepulchral voice.
Vertftia started-trembled. Her head began
to swim, and she felt that she could not stir
limb. But instantly almost, a powerful arm
was thrust inside the vehicle, and encircled
her slender form and the next moment she
was standing outside on the earth, with man
of huge proportions at her side
s:Be easy little, :" said the sepulchral voice
Of the huge man; and, stepping forward, he
drove the chariot off TO the one side, and Sc
cured the jaded, painting horses.
Vcrtitia cast her eyes around her. They
were in the midst of forest. The tall trees
rose in the darkness, like great, black walls,
on either side Of the road. Directly overhead,
she could see few scattered stars shining out
brightly; and, TO the East, through and open
ing in the tops of the trees, she thought she
could observe the gray dawn. And then on
the North, up a dark, dismal looking hollow,
or ravine, she fancied she could see a pale,
blue sort of light, blinking, and swaying to
| and fro.
:.This way, girl, = said the hoarSe voice of
the man, with an evident effort at kindness;
ssfollow me,' and he struck into a path at the
side of the road.
.Yertitia could neither speak, nor stir limb.
In all probability, could she have done either,
she would have pied for mercy, or attempted
a flight. But there she stood, speechless-no-
tionless.
''Better OF a leetle help, perhaps had con
siderable OF ride, poor thing" and the next
moment, tho huge man had her in his arms.
He entered the forest. The path led up the
dark hollow, in the direction of the blue light.
After some time Of toiIing up this, and then
q :
arms Of the man relaxing their hold and she
was set down il the midst Of an old ruins.
,.Now, dent be frightened, pretty thing"
said the man; s'be easy here bit.''
He then threw open the door of a low, small
structure, and entering without ceremony,
quickly closed It behind him. Yertitia saw,
! as the door opened, small fire burning in one
/ corner; and an old woman seated before it,
resting her elbows on her knees, and her chin
in her hands. She fancied, moreover, she had
heard the surprise and congratulations Of a
mother and her son, followed by low conver-
satiun.
In few moments, the door again opened,
and the man returned; when taking hold Of
| Vertitia's hand, ne led her in. Then hand
ing the old woman scrap Of parchment, with
few words Of writing upon it, he turned
round and, kissing the check of some one
+ asleep on couch in the corner, ne hastily
! left.
The old woman, holding up the parchment
| 10 the light of the blazing fire, read it, and
! then carefully put it away in fold of her
dress.
1t is now daylight; and the reader may feel
curious, perhaps, to take a peep at the place
of Vertitia's captivity.
! The ruins might date back some two or
three centuries, or more-leaving their origin
and design wholly unknown. The walls en-
closed a considerable space,-half an acre, at
least,--and had mostly tumbled down, and lay
IN messy heaps. Only on the North, the end
waIIremained, rent, however, in several places,
and looking as if the push of strong arm
might tilt it over On this side, and under
cover of the topling wall, stood the rude struc-
turc in which Yertitia was now seated, and
through a small aperture in the side of which,
answering instead of window, she had seen
the dim sght. ~
! It was simply rough log cabin, some twelve
or fourteen feet square, and one story in
height. Itwas covered with poles, or small
quartered timbers, which, being laid close to-
! gether, were neatly grassed or sodded over. (.
| The half7acre of ground enclosed by the de-
cayetl and lmouldering. swalls, and which lay
before and on the two sides of the cabin, was
| Cultivated as a garden, and bore evidence of
no small skill and taste in the art. 1t was reg
alary laid off iniplots or beds, with neat clean
walks Almost every species of vegetable
| then in use, as also several varieties ofithe
| vine, were cultivated with the greatest care,
while several smaller plots, devoted to flowers,
gave evidence of no little taste in that depart
ment Directly in front of the door, there
was small circular bed of this kind, grassed
round the sides and which contained several