Quasqueton guardian. (Quasqueton, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1856-1858, 1857-01-03

notto Jake place I'LL evening. Ihe pride
groom had appointed arcndezvous for his
company of Rangers; and it was at the
head of these trusty guardians of the
settlement, that he was to approach the
scene of his happiness. In the meantime
the guests employed the vacant hours
each according to his fancy, the men
in talking over the prospects of the coun-
try, the danger of Indian incursions, the
plenty ofthe crops, ETC.; while the women
were either assisting in the final prepara-
tons for the feast, or readjusting their
disordered dress-either gossiping with
the mother, or teasing the daughter, who
still kept her bridal chamber.
-Four o'clock in the afternoon arrived
and now the happy captain, with his ran
gers, mightsoon be expected; when Jane,
her preparations all complete, at last is
sued from her chamber, and announced
her intention to walk out upon the prairie
and gather some wild flowers. Several
of the younger girls proposed to accom-
pany her, but with a smile and blush
she declined their companionship. 1t
was not pressed upon her, for each had a
suspicion of her object The mothers
called their daughters aside, and whis-
pered-
She is going to meet the captain
let her go alone
And, in confirmation of the suspicion,
she passed out to the southwark and took
path which led in the direction of the
road along which the captain was to
come. Somewhat more than half mile
from the house stood little grove, with
in which she had often met Edgar on his
visits to her fathers, and from this point
her parents usually saw them approach
ing the house together. 1t was to this
grove that she went-by a circutous
route, however, so as to justify Der ex-
cuse for leaving the house, by gathering
a few late flowers.
She had been absent from the house
little more than an hour, when, rounding
point of timber, which puts out from
the creek about twY ,,ies Dea~-- the
men was seen, and at once recognized as
Edgar's company of rangers. Another
body, about equal in number was seen
at the same time several miles to the west
but all attention was now directed toward
the south, in expectation of the appear
ance of the rangers. The elder ladies
smiled sedately, in memory of their own
youthful days, and prophesied-
"He'll not come with the company
you'll see Jane and him coming up the
path, after awhile
And the event justified the prediction,
at least in part; for on arriving opposite
the little grove, Edgar turned of, and di-
recting his companions to ride on, put
his horse to gallop, and was soon with
in the shadows of the rendezvous.
A vine and fallen tree together,
formed a pleasant seat; and here, when
the skies were clear and the sunlight
warm, he had often found her awaiting
his approach. He sought the old place
now, but she was not there
"She must be out soon," he muttered,
to himself; and springing to the ground
he assumed the seat which he had expec
ted to find occupied. He was disappoint-
ed, and both his face and attitude be-
trayed it. He leaned his rifle against
tree, and threw himself back to wait, pa
tiently as he might for what was not like
ly to come had he waited till morning
His eyes wandered yacantly over the
scene for some minutes, when suddenly
springing up, he exclaimed
She has been here and gone away!"
A narrow strip of white muslin was
hanging upon a thorn very near him
evidently torn from some article of fe-
male dress 1t could not be a signal for
him; only accident could have placed it
there. She must have retreated in haste
and why? Such were the reasonings
of the experienced ranger. He reached
forward and took it off the briar; but as
he did so, his eye fell upon far more
ominous object The same bush had
retained piece of red calico, fringed
with green, and Edgar at once observed
that it had come from the cape of Il hunt
ing shirt, such as the northern Indians
wore
1t was enough And yet, with the
GOODNESS characteristic of his race, the
ranger stopped to the ground, and calm
ly examined the records of struggle.
On each side of the rustic seat there was
a single footstep, deeply indented among