Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1857-01-09


voice swells loud and triumphant to the
ear Of the poor girl, who still imagining
the bears are pursuing her, rushcs on Wild
ly in the direction of her home. She
pausos q moment. But that clear, strong
triumphant voice sends new tide Of hope
bounding through her soul. She turns
back. A few minutes later, and her white
face steals up close to Seth's rs he stands
there watching the last gasps of life hca-
wing the hugo black frame Of the bear.
Lefty, lot us thank God for this great
deliverance."
They kneel down there together, and
the sad moon and tho sweet spring stars
look on thom, as the young millcr's dcep
voice sends up its eloquent thanks to the
all Father.
But Letty's fair head droops lower and
lower; and when Seth looks once moro in
her face, the blue eyes do not answer him.
Poor Lefty, the terror had been too great
for hor. No wonder she has tainted with
tho greatjoy of deliverancc from death.
Suddenly across the fields breaks the
sound Of many voices. There is a quick
stamping Of feet. Jason has given tho
alarm and friends and neighbors are rush
ing wildly to the rescue. In less than five
minutes they find the miller seated on
the dam earth, with Lefty lying sense
less in his arms; and the dead bear at his
feet
Oh! but there were smiles and rejoi-
cings that night at widow Pease's, where
but for the brave heart Of Seth Peters,
there had been wailing, despair, and
death +! 1t was long past midnight when
Cyrus and Enoch returned; and somehow
their faces did not look so bright as when
they left, and they settled themselves
down wcarily by the fire saying, "What,
mother, up watching for us all this time ?
Well, we havn't killed the bear after all!'
"No, but we have, here, you sec !" was
tho old woman's triumphant response |;
and then TO their CALCULATIONS Of doubt
and surprise, the old lady detailed the
whole story-indeed, she had sent OF
Lefty to bed half an hour before, for the
exclusive enjoyment Of this pleasure
Cyrus and Enoch listened In amazed
silence, and at the conclusion thus briefly
and Enthusiastically expressed their
opinion Of the miller's heroism: "waal
now, II that don't beat everything all hol-
low p
Thirty days had passed! 1t was q wild
sobbing night with one Of those storms
that furrow tho sweet face Of April with
wind, and drenoh II with tears.
This time tho miller and Lofty pease
sat alone together in tho ruddy birch FIRE.
light Of tho old kitchen, while tho storm
moaned and battled without.
"Wcll, Lefty, how did you get on with
the sugar-boillng ?" asked tho young man,
drawing his chair little nearer the girls,
"oh, nicely, assure you, though
couldn't help starting and looking round
overy time tho wind stirred the branch.
es!" and Lofty shuddcrod, for oven In the
dancing iire-lIght, she seemed to SEQ again
those wild Dyes glaripg upon her. "oh
Seth how can I ever be grateful enough
to you for taking care Of mo then ?"
The miller drew his chair still closer Ia
hers, and his voice tromblcd in Its dccr
tenderness as II answered, T should like
to take care Of you always, Lefty"
The girl must have forgotten at tina,
moment how very nicely Mrs. Williams
the merchants wife, sounded, for she laid
her hand in that Of Seth Peters, and tn,
birch flames were not ruddcr than he
check, as she wispcrcd, "You may Scth.'
And through all her happy after life
we arc very certain Lefty Pease never re
grettcd marrying tho miller instead Of ii
merchant.
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