Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-12-24

SOON Yet the day was fast departing, and
still the young brigadesaan fingered. What
could detain him! Had some misfortune be
fal len him-or was hestill tarrying alone in
the forest. UNCONSCIOUS of the rapid flight o
time Dun ham FASTENED to the tent of h;;
friend-nothing was to be found, yet there
stood the missing mans rife and accoutre.
ments. this was inexplicable. He walked
into the open air, and met com panion pas.
sing leisu-ely by The place.
~Where's Raymondl Have you seen him
to-Gay!"
"Yes-early this morning"
"Where was he!'
sHe passed me on his way towards the
Lake.
"Was he alone!''
|1--sis 4 is.sass aswsryfafi. ait
kidnapped, if NOT murdered. Will you not
come with me and examine! there may be
marks of him around"
The two hurried away together. a shcr,
walk brought them to the banks of the
mountain lake, and here they paused. The
grass was trampled down as though it had
recently been pressed by hurying feet, and
upon the turf were the energetic prin.s Of
a boot t-heel, indicating that .he passer,
while he troI upon the ground, was moved
by feeling of angry excitement. Dunham
bent lower to the earth and examined more
closely. Upon a rent leaf he found marks
OF blood; and there was place IN the soil
tina; looked darker, as though a flow OF
blood had saturated its loomy crest They
spoke not a word-the workings of their
hearts were too intense to admit of utter
ance. 1t was now plain that Henry Ray
monc had met with foul play and perhaps
he h been murdered. They were about
turning away with depressed bosom and
gloomy brow, when a second character to
the scene-a stranger-made his appear
ahce.
This new recruit WIS tall IN stature, bory
and muscular in his build. Otherwise YOU
would have noticed nothing peculiar in him.
fhe two soldiers watched him for few mo-
ments in silence. He stood aloof a lew
PAGES, and eyed them cautiously for short
time ere he dared to advance, but re reassured,
at length he walked slowly forward, and re-
marked:
You are looking for some one, guess -
"Well, and if we were!''
''P'raps 1t might be Mister Raymondl''
'Yes-it is. can you tell us any thing Con-
cerning him!"
81 rather reckon | can.''
"Well, what is it!''
81 saw him little while ago."
"Where was he!''
'''Twant in very pleasant place."
"For Gods sake tell US in what place YOU
saw him-what has befaIlen himl''
"The tories had him."
Sand where were they taking him!'
"To New York >
= s-..-4ss aP-es- -iats a<ssszg ss;eSecEs Us.
turned'hs .feeh flashing eye upon the ccun
teEancesof the stranger as though he would
read his soul at one piercing gaze; bat the
other stood his ground boldly. He returned
Dunham's look with frank expression
upon his features with somewhat nett!ed
his fiery disposition.
'How came you aware of those factsl" at
length said Dunham, sterniy watching the
stranger.
IL saw it with my own eyes, as told you
before got in company with him once,
and liked HIM first rate and when saw him
to-day with the cussed tories around him, |
new 'twant no use tryin' to lend him help,
SO thought I'D just give ye call and tell
what saw, though its too late to help him
now"
The generous Durham was convinced
every word had The impress vf honor. to him
he did not think til. man before him NOR
ally. much less Intellectually, capable de-
ce wing him So be cordially invited the new
conner to share the hospitality of a soldier
The stranger expressed MS gratitude, and
they returned TO camp.
TIE news flew around Ike wiliire among
the gathering group, that their fasorite,
Harry Raymond, was prisoner to a band
of marauding tories. Every one felt himself
personally Interested in what the stranger
was telling, and crowded closely around, that
the aiigh.est sylldbIe might not pass un-
heard Again and again he related his story
of having passed Harry, escorted by dozen
of fierce looking tories, and HEADED for New
York, and adding that it was useless to at.
tempt his rescue, since they had reached
their destination an hour before he had left
the camp. The brave brigadesnen listened.
and then silently departed. They knew that
Harry was far beyond their reach, aBd they
could only sign for his fate and curse his re-
lehtless captors.
The informant in con sideration of his
generosity in the present case, was consid-
cred pFivile ged character. He visited every
place and sauntered where he plea sed. No
ene though. to watch him for no one a mo-
ment doubted his integrity. Night drew
near, and still he fingered in camp. The
evening fires were kiniled in their places,
and soon the savory scent OF broilng veni-
son filed the air and gave its delis shiful
odor to the hungry mans stomach. Time
glided on, and together with harmless re-
partees and humorous stories, the brigades
men preserved their native hum r. True,
they had enough cause for sorrow liz the ab-
sence of our hero, yet even this was INSULT
cient to subdue a soldiers mirih The hours
of evening passed careiessly by, and SOON
the hardy mountaineers, one by one, rolled
them in their blankets, and committed them
selves to the care of the drOwsy God.
An hour had glided by and all was still,
save the distant tread oi the patrols nmong
the mOuntain passes, or, perhaps, the heavy
breathing of an unconscious soldier. while
he slept beside his quiet fire. We remarked
/ that all was silent, yet watch closely and
your eye will calch sight of dusky figure
stealing noiseIessly around the border ofthe
camp until it reached an old, dilapidsted
shed. The figure stepped quickly beneath
he shade ot its worn-raten walls, and
standing motioness watched for IA few mo-
ments 10 make sure that he was vet nndis.
covered. Nothing met his eye--thc senti.
nels had not conceived il their duiv In ,,,tc l.