The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1855-01-03

s.fs.5 CHAPTER ". s4s..
Old Nero was ready at hand to re-
ceive the bride of the maiden as she
dismounted. She hasted on to the door
of the hut, over which a growth of mag
nificent trees of the forest flung their
shadows, and without even the ceremony
of knokfng at the door for admission,
crossed the threshold aud entered the
sole apartment of the hut. 80 -
The room, was poorly and scantily
furnished, In one corner stood bed
stead, coarsely, yet neatly supplied, and
before the hearth, on which were arrang-
ed the few culinary utensils which the
old man possessed, stood a rude bench
and a couple of oaken chairs. The floor
was faultlessly clean, and even the pine
shelves on which were arranged the
bright tin ware and cheap plates bore
traces of frequent securing. III. ~ t.
The old man was sitting upon a bench
before the fire, and SO deeply was he alb
sorbed in thought, or SO dull and mac
tive had his senses become from long
and painful illness, that he needed not
her light footsteps as she crossed his
Threshold His feet encased In. soft
pair of moccasins, and a blanket thrown
around his shoulders, supplying the
place of coat and waistcoat, he sat bend
ing over the scanty fire, on which an
iron pot was steaming,- his. long. bony
fingers clasped together, seemingly lost
in thought. Dora paused and gazed
upon him for moment before she. ven
tured to address him. : -. :
Far beyond the common height, with
a broad and capacious chest, his figure
still bore evidence of gigantic strength.
AS he sat bowed down with his head
bent till it hung above his knees, and
his sinewy hands laid upon his lap, with
his long thin pale fingers intertwined With
one another, and his sanken ,meditative
eyes fixed upon the floor, his air was SO
stern that the maiden almost trembled
before him. Stiff as the quills of the
fretful porcupine, his bristling hair
grfzzled with age, rose above his huge
massive forehead, which was deeply ard
thiekly fafro8ed with wrinkles. His
face was long, withered and darkened by
exposures his long and aquiline nose,
added determination and expression to-
his features, while his efull, projecting
hetherslip gave additional fiarsiiness, to
his eountenaHce. sA - s4aeFl5a lsa
Dora gazed silently upon him for a
moment, and then advanced to the spot
where the old man sat- Hearing the
rustling other dress, he turned sudden
ly around, raised himself erect In his seat,
and fixed upon her his keen gray eye,
that twinkEed Esuspiciously under the
long coal-black bushy brows that project
ed over them.
81 have heard, Mr. Kerr, you were
extremely i'll, said she advancing and
kindly extending her hand, and hare,
come to visit you
The old man received her hand, while
his face relaxed somewhat of its stern
ness, and gently motioned her to seat
Dora took an arm chair opposite to him,
and made an effort to engage the old
man In conversation by kindly inquiries
as to his health and welfare. The old
man answered her Inquiries courteously, ),
yet brief and it was not difficult to see
that some secret distrust of his visitor,
or the object connected herewith haunt-
ed his mind, and rendered him the less
= si9 s5..z
sMr. Kerr said she at length, ~ I
am told you know how to direct me on
my way to Marion's camp. Can you do.
so ?'s sz--s:1s ei3 ls
|" The old man started wildly, and
fixed on her a gaze of wonder ana sns-
pieion, while he glanced apprehensively
towards the door, as if fearing he had
been betrayed to the tories. q e
Marion's camp ~ calculated the old
man in suparise-a who told you so pa
One moment, Mr.. Kerr, I beg you
will listen to me PATIENTLY answered
the maiden in an earnest and appealing
tone. 's You cannot be ignorant of the
of tories which is to take place
within a shert distance of this place on
to morrow. 4 80 le si1et2s7gzE ea -
The old man held his peace, and Dora
continued, with her dark eyes fixed upon
him .z-fF s=sts9 4.a n E .T -
aMarion ought to be informed of that. ~
4 Kerr still continued silent.
g Have yeu,n she confined, Sc no means
Of forwarding to him information so i'm 4
portant as this 2''
The old patriot groaped abound, but
a
What business is this of mine ?
IF Marion or any other general wishes
think; you it is nay business
to embrol myself by mixing into his
affairs Ifhe wishes to be informed of /
all that is passing, think you not there
are spies and scouts enough in the. coun-
try, already ?'' .s.
g But if his scouts are all taken ?"
Dora. ..45. g, 1880.
g All taken," exclaimed the old man
earnestly and wildly, while his eye began
to fash with interest Where e's@but
what do you know. about it. my: child /?
Speak = and he leaned over aud gazed
earnestly upon her: -,
Jamison is, taken. 2 replied Dora.4
/" g " eli I we'll, asked Kerr Impatient
" and eagerly next r. fi.ss .-,sT7
Ames. IS taken, she continued. -
aWellf well p cried the old man,
uncopsciously rising from his seat, while
his gray eyes twinkled with fearful in
terest, and his hands were. pressed perz
7ousfy together, ....what of----neYer mind
tell me what more P, - -
ieAnd Richburg. y she began
What of Richburg ?a' he cried in
sone of thunder. $500 =5..zs4
els killed !" she replied. - ..s5
The old man sank upon his seat over
by powerful emotions. His
ips grew llFid from the violence Of his
,xcitement. He had already been made
ware of the csptare of Ames and Jami-
Ion, but be had still. trusted that Rich
,ourg had escaped to bear the news. of
he tory gathering to Marion. -
Cali gone I" he at length groaned
loud. and l only am left, feeble, shat