True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1857-10-07
q RAGAN, Editor and Proprietor,

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half The distance am sorry, marm; but
l only speak the truth about it,
The pale face Of the young lady blan-
ched still paler, but her voice was firm.
"Cold and perilous though it be. must
go to my mother. Were | sick, she
would move heaven and earth, but she
would stand by my bed side! cannot
let her die, and I SO very near her, and
yet not in her presence must GO if |
go on foot and alone!'
Rash girl /, would be no better than
suicide 10 attempt the passage of the
Winnipisseogee on such a night as this,
even with strong horse and an expe-
rienced guide and such cannot be found,
who will brave the horrors of the night
for love or money
Lady, | will go with you!' and the
crowd parted before the tall. finely built
young man who came hastily to the side
of the strange girl. l am unknown to
you, and my station in life is humble, bu.
if you will trust me, the confidence shall
not be misplaced = He removed the
cap from his head and stood erect and
digni6ed before her-a strikingly hand,
some youth, clad in rough garb Of gray.
There was the fire of lofty spirit burn.
ing in his deep, hazel eye, and around
the classicaly carved lips dwelt an ex.
preston half stern. half tender. The
clear blue eyes of the lady met his fixed
yet respectful gaze searchingly-she put
her hand ip his.
God bless you, sir" There is one
true heart in New Hampshire !! l will
trust you
An expression of pride and gratitude
swept over the young mans face, and b'
bent his head below her as he said-'II
: half an hour win return for YOU anc
with a firm, elSstic step, he left the depot
The young lady droppedjnto seat By
the fire, and, covering her face with he
hands, seemed lost in painful reverie.-
The lstless 'hangers-on' about the place
gathered together, in little knot abou
the office window-,here was a new sub
ject to discuss.
'Fool enough is Will Argensen to un
dertake the crossing of that Lake 10 night
He'll be frozen stiff, in my opinion, afor
the day breaks' exclaimed an old man
evidently the oracle of the company.
"And the gal !-it's shame, though
for she's sweet lookin' criIter! Heave
i pity her, and take care of her! for she'l
9 need somebody's care before the night
d through!
e She's in good hands, though said
n third member of the coterie, withdraw
n ing his pipe from his mouth as he spoke
e 'for Wills as noble lad as ever breathe
l. the air Of Hampshirn!, He knows ever
e inch Of the Winnie, as we'll as I kno,
e the road to mill and his horse is pow
e erfu deal more intelligent than many hu
'f man folks, any how!
'Argensen will do we'll enough if lher
n ANITA squall but it strikes me the SIX
70 looks rather hazy. depend upon it, thi
al fall ain't for nothln 3 said fourth, peer
g ing anxiously but into the darkness; 'au
l. if there should be a squall--a legul;
1t white eye,' then-then' the speak
i. er's involuntary shudder finished the sci
Of tence, The men drew closer togelhe
h as II for mutual protection, and there ";
IS silence Of few moments, broken
last by the old man who had frs, spoke
t. 'Only last winter, poor Henry Bleecl
or er was frozen 10 death on the shore
in Ratllesnake Island and then just wee
le afterwards, poor Cap'n Deer-been G
t, the Lake all his life lime--go. bewilde
ed in the squalls, and died out there a
IL alone in the dark and cold, and his foil
to home se.tin' up to daylight expeetil
e, him +! Oh, it was awful-dreadful
= think Of! but nothin' to what II would |
h. if 3 woman--a young, tender. besulif
ly womsn'-a tear wet the hardy face of Il
I'd old mountaineer, add he tarned 10 dry
" on bis coarse handkerchief.
as AT this moment, the brisk jingle
in sleigh-bells was heard at the door, ar
to before the eager listeners could spriI
W forward to open it upon the hew come
Will Argensen entered, wrapped up in
i. buffalo robe.
u am readylo attend you to WoIfbur
&c if9you still think Of going, he said, a
" dressing the lady. She arose quickly
the sound Of his voice, and accepting Il
70 large blanket which lhe licket,master kin
ip ly offered her as further protect
ly against the inclsment weather, she folio
ed her conductor out into the dark, p,,
is cling night, and was lifted into the sle
ng which awaited them, Argensen wrapp
NJ. The buff,lo closely around her, and sttaC
his ing the large glass lantern, which he h
De. carried in his hand, to the front part
the cutter, he sprang in. The horse "
ay large, powerfully-builta animal, Of a dal
ny iron gray and his fiery eyes, as well
Ito his long. slender neck, showed him sp
60 tied as strong. ' Pre-
e- The eager crowd Of idlers left tn
~ warm quarters by the inside stove, a
around the sleigh and its occ
yet pants, some sxposlulating on the madn
Is ofathe twain III setting out on such
w nigh.-7othsrs wishing them God-spe
| n ". a - /.