Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1857-04-23
LIFE ON THE BORDER.
! A ROMANCE OF THE STRUGGLE FOR
FREEDOM In KANSAS.

Written Expressly for ae Green Mountain Freeman
w LIDO;



An Adventure.
The last rays Of the sun were gliding the
Kansas River with hues Of crimson and gold
As far as the eye could stretch, upon the one
side, rolled the luxuriant prairie, the tall grass
swaying to and fro as the evening breeze passed
over it. one boundless field of living green
cleaning in the dying sunlight, was a scene
we'll calculated to excite the enthusiastic ad-
miration of the beholder. Here and there herds
of deer were cropping the tail grass, while in
the distance, group of buffaoes might be
seen quietly feeding.
forest rose UP before the vision, dotted occa-
sionally by clearing made by some adventur-
Gus settler who had been attracted hther by
the reported richness of the soil As the
shades of evening began to deepen, a boat, in
which were seated two men, came slowly down
the river, gliding so quietly that its motion was
scarcely perceptible. The oars hung loosely
by the sides. and both of the occupants of the
boat appeared to be busily engaged with their
own thoughts, which, if we were to judge from
the occasional frowns that fitted across the
brow Of the elder, were of no pleasing charac-
ter. He was IL man who had seen some forty
years, and his face, by many, would have been
termed handsome. His frame, though betok.
enng great physical power, was perfectly SYM
metrcal. His features were regular in their
outlines, and were it not for the restlessness Of
a small, piercing black eye. and the nervous
contraction of the lips, he would have been EN-
inently prepossessing. With the majority Of
men, he would pass we'll ; for those whose skill
led them not to real the hidden emotions be-
meath the polished exterior, would see nothing
but honor and integrity
His companion had seen some FIVE and twenty
years, and was as much unlike the other in his
personal appearance, as could well be imagined
He was not SO tall as the elder, and his slight
frame denoted the absence of that muscular
power winch characterized the other. A broad
palmetto hat half concea led mass of waving
hair, whose jetty blackness contrasted strangel,
with the pale, intellectual brow of its posses
sor. A fine high forehead, q pair of deep blu
eyes, and thin, compressed lips, telling the de
cision of purpose which characterized tn
youth completed a physiognomy we'll calcu
lated to inspire the beholder with sentiments c
respect at first sight.
"Come, come, Maitland,' exclaimed tn
younger, starting up from his reverie, an
grasping the oar>by his side !; we must nc
loiter here See it is nearly sunset now, an
il we do not make greater headway than thl
we shall hardly reach the Camp Tonight"
. You can do as you please" answered tt
elder, with lowering brow, while the fEown "
on his face grew deeper " but as for myself,
have 10 desire TO go to cur destination at al
for 4 do not wish to continue in the compan
of one who has shown himself 50 intriguing
Stop, stop, Maitland > exclaimed til
first speaker, while quick, angry flush sn
fused his temples, - will bear no more sue
language us this. You have already said thi
which, had it been from the lips Of anothe
he should answer for. 1t is useless to purs
the subject farther the slave was mine, as yc
well know, and were you not blinded by pa
sion you would not say otherwise woul
have given her up without a struggle had
not known forSwhat reason you wished to pu
chase her. | had the same right to bid as you
SELF why then should you seek to provoke
quarrel out of circumstances so trivial
= But what possible interest had You in pu
chasing her!"
"Can you not answer that question yourse
Maitland - asked the young man, looking
companion steadily in the face.
Yes, by heavens, ran " exclaimed Ma
land passionately. " You purchased her mer
to spite me :"
When you say that, Maitland, you ct
what you know to be wholly false
You are touching upon dangerous grou
Walton Montague. and would advise you
beware"
/" Does thestruth then strike so unpleasan
upon your ears :" asked Montague in sarcas
tone.
mo-" replied Maitland, biting his lip
keep back the rage which the justness of
o'her's remark had called up, but falseh
does :"
g Do you mean to insinuate by that rem
that have been guilty of falsehood excla
cd the young man. while bis hands wor
nervously together.
g You can take my words in any manner t
pleases you best, and will hold myself re
at any time to answer for them. Your
tended friendship is complete sham, as
been proved to my abundant satisfaction Ia. I
and hereafter, when we meet, let it be as /;
thing but friends,'
/" As you please, Maitland confess til
am not sorry to have it thup You have hed
epithets upon me that few would have bor
but deeming them spoken when anger obta
mastery over reason, let them, pass. N
since you have pursued SO far, evidently
the intention of drawing me into quarr
will tell you my reasons for acting as did