Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1858-03-19

lvlguance must not pc f0rgOttcn IN th'
exhuberafcc Of their joy. The curren
rcgained and their feelings partially com
posed, Wilmer, in reply to his mothers
Questions about the events that had trans
pired during her captivity, sai4
"I was at West Point, as you remember
when the news reached ME of your abduc-
ticn by the Indians, and hasteued back ia
New Orleans, aud set on foot enquire.
with view to ascertain whittier you had
been carried, and whether you had escaped
the tomahawk and scalping knife. Uncle
George Williams, your brother, seemed to
join me, heartily, in all the steps deemed
necessary to arrive at these facts" ~
"Why do You say Seemed my dear
Charles? Surely my brother must have
felt deep solicitude for my safctyp
"Thc sequel, my dear mother, will show
that his solicitude was that you might never
return. Failingin all my efforts, obtain
ed Judge Winners consent to join the
army, on the frontiers hoping that my
contiguity to the tribe, supposed to be your
abductors, would afford greater facilities
for giving information and was fortunate
enough, through his influence, to enter the
army asa Lieutenant. On taking up the
line of march for the fort, on the Arkansas,
l made myself a solemn pledge that neither
love nor ambition nor love Of ease should
divert me from my purpose to find the spot
where your ashes lay, if you were no more,
or to restore you to liberty and friends, II
alive. For more than two years, I labored
in vain. Acting as scout, penetrated far
into the Indian territory, and goaded by
disappointment, and thirsting for ven
geance, encountered the struggling savages
singly, in couples and sometimes in small
bands, until they came to know and fear
me. @ ~t3 H1
CAT length, I learned through trader,
that two ladies we're dwelling in the village
from which we have just escaped, but bis
description gave me little hope that was
on the right track, though it served to
strengthen my resolution to persevere.
Subsequent accounts were, however, more
satisfactory, and I made repeated efforts to
obtain leave of absence, that might enter
upon the search for you, but in vain. Part
ly to get rid Of my opportunities, General
Holmes ordered me to New Orleans on
recruiting service. While there, and not
being of age, 1 prevailed on Judge Wilmer
to take charge of the estate left you by
your uncle. You may guess my surprise
and indignation when the Judge reported
that your brother claimed the estate, as
next of kin, and upon the ground that you
we're never legally married, and therefore
l could not inherit"
"Good heavensl'' exclaimed Mrs ELL
more; "can it be possible that my own
brother would thus defame my character
aad wrong my childrenl And what then
did you do, my dear Charlcs2"
Constituted suit, mother. But as never
knew where, or by whom, you were mar
ried, to disprove his charge has been the
great difficulty, and, by this time, the suit
has probably been decided against US. II
was not long before was made to feel the
sting of the disgrace thus attempted to be
cast upon my birth; and you may well
suppose it did not weaken my resolve to
seek you as long as there was shadow Of
hope te cheer me. Soon after my return
to the fort, L struck my superior for insult
ing language about lady, and was dis
missed from the service. Then it was that
/ set out in earnest to find you, and the
result you know dJbat1@m
~ was wrong very wrong, my dear sonr
said Mrs. Gilmore, "never to have acquaint
ed you with the history Of my marriage; bu,
it was SO painful to speak ofyctr fathers
death, that l deferred il from time to time
until twas too late, and, OH how you mus
have suffered through my neglect. But
that every doubt,-if one ever harbored II
your breast--may be removed, IwiIl inform
you that I was married in Baton Rouge
and my marriage was there duly recorded
This, your rncle George must know, though
he was absent at the time, and if he does
know it, he may have procured the de
struction Of the record, though think /
may still be found there. The clergyman
| know, is dead but there are witnesses
still living, by whom the marriage can b
established IN
"Look, brotherl' exclaimed Fanny Ell
more, "There is light on the bank below
and see forms moving aboutit."
TO BE CONTINUED.