M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1856-05-29

otherwise, perhaps he might not have got
over so easily
The company had not been stationed at
the fort much more than a week or two ere
Death, in one Of his excursions for game,
discovered that at a small farm house some
three miles or so distant from the fort, there
lived certain Miss Hester tanhope, whose
equal in beauty and amiable qualities he had
never seen before. And to render himself
still more certain Of the fact, he called the
day following, under cover of pretence Of
having left his powder flask.
Death was invited TO come again, by far
mer Stsnhope, who happened to bO from the
same parish as the father Of our hero; and
we need scarcely say that the invitation was
both eagerly and joyfully accepted, and, as
often as circumstances would permit, ,cOmpli-
ed with.
The second week after this occurrence
took place was marked by two eveuts, which
though both affecting the welisrf 5f the lit
tie community of the fCrt,were Of widely diff.
ieTent degrees in importance.
The first was that Death had either sud.
denly lost all his skill as marksman, or that
the game had removed 10 a mole distant
neighforhood, for the officers arder had been
found sadly wanting in the items of wood
cocks, blackcocks, plarmigan. &C., for the
past week, and the second and most impor-
tant Of the two events was, that in regular
succession, four sentinels had disappeared
from the extreme left line. without leaving
the slightest trace to elucidate the mystery
OF their disappearance.
The last Circumstance struck such dread
into the breasts Of the rest OF the company
that no one could be found willing to vol
unteer to take the post-well knowing
that it would be only like signing their owr
death warrant TO do so; and Col. Ines, no
wishing to wilfully sacrifice the lives of hi
men by compelling them to 60, enjoine(
double caution to the remainder Of the senti
nels, and left the fatal post unoccupied 70
q night OF two.
Two or three reconnoitering parties hat
been despatched of round the neighborhoot
in the hope OF finding some clue to the mys
tery; or Of obtaining some intelligence of tn,
enemy, but they each returned as wise a;
they started, with no reward for thei
trouble save weary bones.
IL was On tuO lIlIu HlRht VI tnc ucecIIOl
Of the post that our hero. Death, was return.
ing TO the fort, after paying visit to Stan
hope Fam. The moon was up, but her ligh
was nearly all obscured by the dense masses
of clouds which at evey few minutes wert
driven by pretty stiff breeze over her face
while the huge trees. now all in full leaf
creaked and groaned, and bent their forms t
! and fro as the heavy gusts rushed Whisllinf
in among their branches.
Our hero had approached within hun
dred yards Of the termination OF the fores
that skirted the small open space in which
the fort stood when suddenly he paused, anC
crouching down on his hands and knees
crept cautiously forward few PAGES. -
Having remained in this posture lor sever
al minutes he again steathi.y retreated il
the manner he had advanced and plunginl
into the forest again, emerged ut poin
considerably lower than where he had intend
ed TO leave it before.