The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1856-07-23

borhood but all without success.
All that night, and for days and week
after. the search was continued with a.
the sleepless energy and vigilence whic
love could prompt; but ali in vain: no
the slightest trace was ever found of til
missing bride.
Had she, in some sudden abberratiol
of mind, wandered into the boundles
swamp and perished miserably of hun
ger and exposure? Or had she sout
fearful and unbosomed grief. which hac
caused her to cast herself into the tur
bid waters of the Mississippi? Or hac
she, perchance, met and loved some per
son so far beneath her in station as tc
render an open union hopeless, aud they
had fled together to distant lands
Such were some of the conjectures Of
the gossips concerning her fate; while
others told dreary stories of the dread
full and desperate deeds of the pirates OF
the Gulf, or, late at nights, with terri
| fed glances cast over their shoulders, to-
wards the door, whispered ghastly tales
of the demon huntsman, whose horn was
often heard among the woods and marsh
es, and the baying of whose dogs, miu-
gled with the rustling of the leaves, as
it struck upon his ear in the drcary hours
of night, caused many pious AcadIan
to hastily cross himself and utter an
Are Maria and petition for protection
against the devil and his angels.
1t would be tedious to telI-as to hear
save in the briefcst manuer-how, one
after another, FIVE more of the seven
daughters disappeared in the same way
each on their wedding night-till bat
"pe was left the youngest, tbs most
beautiful, the best beloved Of all a
s:rarge infatHation seemed to cnchair
all who were concerned; and While, when
eEch was lost, the same scene of frantic
search, of Wild grief, and of despairirg
scqGiescence, was enacted, uoEc ever
dreamed of making the mysterious fate
which seemed 30 hang orer the family,
an OBJECTION to the marriage Of the
young girls. Ard thus it came TO pass
that ;Ee last daughter became betrothed, |
as tie rest had been, to one well worthy
of her; ard III due time another large
company assembled to grace tbs nuP
tials.
But Oil thia occasion there WAS but
little Of merrimebt. The guests clus-
tered together in groups Of tHos and
threcs, and in whispers spoke of the los
sisters. All seemed to feel as though
they were shadcwed By the wings of
some dark and terrible misfortune hov-
ering over the doomed house No one
was found bold enough to utter jest.
Or to speak a gay OF thoughtless word
In the meantime, all possible care
was taken to guard the bride from the
fate of her sisters. a chosen body of
friends watched constantly over her, and
never permitted her to be absent from
their sight.
Thus were matters situated when the
lour appointed for the nuptial ceremony
lrrived.
But the final VOWS were scarcely spo-
zen, when the sound of a distant horn
Tas heard, and thrill of terror struck |
o each heart. 1t approached nearer I
nd nearer, till the heavy tramp of
ian, accompanied by the patteriug sound c
the feet of hurryiug dogs, was heard s
pom the veranda. All eyes were fxad i
pom the closed door. It opened with t
crash, aud gigantic Lunts,nan, clad b
II in green, and surrounded by pack Il
f huge aud painting hounds. stood up /
n the Threshold Fixed to their pla il
es, the spectators stared with CLASSY t
yes upon the terrible visitor, and await a
d in speeebless terror, his further move Il
'ent. FIXING his flashing eyes upon n
IL bride, with iu,porial air he raised t
is right hand towards her. With tot {
ring steps she advanced, and sank Ii
iutirg in his arms. Oae blast upon IL
is mighty horn, one yell from his fero- u
Gus pack, aud the green huntsman TT
'rang from the house, hsari.g q with him L
e iranimate form Of tha do iucd bride. u
ainter aud fainter grew rt,c sounds of y
e horn and the dogs, Til they faded quite >,
way in the distance; and thee. aud not II
Il then, did the beholders Of this strange II
enc recover from the spell which had tt
,prived them of tie power Of moving or u u
eakiDg. ~,
All those who were present at this cl
pernatural abduction have long since :,
ing!ed their ashes with their parent Il
rth, but the cid house still stands, a
tness to the truth of the legend; and s.
stormy nights the demon huutsman's q
rn and the baying Of the dogs, rising CT
owe the roaring Of the tempest, may ds
heard sounding along the Metairie as
idge and through the SEamps and gr
pods adjoining; and at midnight honr di
e ghost Of the bereaved old father yet to
lnders through the deserted chambers ne
the ancient hnuSa :