The Westerly echo, & Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1854-1858, 1855-06-21

/ behind, to tell the listener OF his pre-
scnce.
A young man, of perhaps twenty
four years, was walking leisurey dowr
the river bank. His dress was that o
Il hunter, and his bearing, and genera
appearance would indicate that he has
not an entire stranger to the forest. II
cannot be said that his features We're o.
q strikingly handsome mould, yet there
was an expression of frankncss and man.
illness traced upon their outline, which
would in part, counterbalance the lack
Of beauty.
He kept onward in his course, stop.
ping ever and anon, as the distant voice
Of the husbandman, or the shrill cry o
some bird, would arrest his attention
and listening for moment, renew hi:
leisurely pace. Ere long he came near
to neat log cabin, and turning from hi
path, with familiar step, he entered
the door.
Good afternoon, Miss Carrie - sal,
he to noble looking girl, who arose tt
meet him as he entered.
"The same to you, Charles" re
turned the fair hostess, in rich an
silvery voice. l am told that you ar
to 80 with the new expedition, and tax
the command"
" Yes, Carrie, our former leader ha
concluded to remain at the fort, and ha
chosen me to gil his place"
"Do be careful then, Charlcs--fo
your mothers sake-for my sake-b
not too rash-for you know that latel
our friends have rarely returned wthou
leaving one or more of their comrade
behind"
Never fear me, dear Carrie. Yor
must consider that these misfortune
were caused by the carelessness of ou
men in straying from the main body
and thus exposing themselves as a targe
for our lynx eyed enemies"
Charles Vernon was among the frs
that founded and emigrated to this set
tlement in the valley of the Mississippi
Being an ardent admirer of the fa
Wcst,n and its wild and beautiful
scenery, he had induced an indulgen
parent to crafty his love for the adven
turous, by consenting to make the set
tlement her home.
But who was the fair Girl whom h
had addressed as Carrie, and who ,oem
ed to take such deep interest in hi
welfare Simply the daughter of al
honest farmer who had pre-empted
piece of land, and by industry and per
severence, succeeded in adding i'm
provements sufficient to render it com
Portable home for himself and thos
whom he was bound to protect.
The few words just recorded will III
dicate the relationship existing betwec
. the young people-nor could there
two beings better fitted for each othel
, than Charles Vernon and Carrie CHI
ford.
| The two entered the room ,and Charlie
t Vernon had just accepted the seat th;
had been rendered him, when the doc
was darkened by the figure of sta
wart savage The young man leape
to his feet and seized loaded rifle thu
was standing near; but it was needless
for, upon seeing that the white made
had a companion to protect her, th
Indian quickly withdrew Charles fol
lowed him to the door, and then plainl
saw the reason to which he might at
tribute this strange visit Just at tn
edge of the neighboring forest, he coul
see the forms of large number Q
natives, while at the corner of an ou
I building, stood three or four Of tn
strongest of their number, and wit
: them the one that had appeared at an
D disappeared from the cabin door, but
: few minutes before.
The first glance told him that tn
settlement was attacked. The settlers
had sought refuge in the fort, and b
was just considering the propriety Q
, Fastening to the assistance Of his friends
: when his aid was required nearer by
, Tho native who had few minutes be
, fore, come to the door to reconnoiter
1 now returned, briging a reinforcement
r of his fellow-warriors, the foremost Q