Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1858-03-25

shock OF the proceeding night, but ankle
ty for her brother bore her np. She had
not yet dared to confess to her parents
who was the antagonist of their son, nor
could she realize the fearful truth herself.
The travellers had left the inn, but the
landlord gave a full relation of the duel,
concealing only the name of Clinton
On the arrival of Ellen and her mother,
however, he changed his resolution and
revealed the..whole. At the name of Gin
ton, Austin started.
"Ahl that explains his conduct of last
night" he cried.
"He has aed!" said Ellen, covering her
face with her hands.
"And it is WE'LL" exclaimed her father,
sternly.
For three weeks, Frederick Austin was
unable to leave the inn; but at the end
of that tipe, he was sufficiently recovered
to be transported to his fathers house.
Still Ellen heard nothing of her absent
lover. Her anxiety and grief for his alb
sence, were equalled only by her JOY to
think that he was not the murderer of her
brother. To him, Ellen told all her heart:
and when she related many acts of gen
crosby in Clinton, Frederick, who knew
by experience that he was brave, openly
approved of her choice, and while he
forgave his,former antagonist, regretted
exceedingly that he had fed where meme
pursued.
Frederick was soon able to walk about
he and his sister then took short strolls
upon the prairie and on the river banks,
and ended by ~prelonging their walks
gradually. When the young man had re.
gained his strength, he either went forth
alone with. his dog and gnn, or accompa-
MED by his sister, made short excursions
on horseback. 1t is needless to say that
Ellen like a true maid of the prairie, rode
with the utmost grace and ease:
Frederick, Notwithstanding the AFRO
gance Of which we have seen him guilty,
was naturally of a pleasing disposition,
generous and obliging. His love OF sa-
tire and fun sometimes carried him to ex
tremes, and his self-will bordered on in
| science; but he had changed somewhat
Stree his recovery, which fact was owing
perhaps to the lesson Clinton had taught
him at the inn, and the fatal consequences
of his presumption.
y
Two months passed by, and still no
news from Clinton Grover reached the
ear of the anxious Ellen.
Summer was gone, and autumn, with
its chilling frosts, had robbed the prairie
of its robe of green. The leaves of the
forest had fallen to the ground, ard the
prairie grass had become withered and
sere.
It was on one of those days when the
melancholy of autumn is joined to the
beauty of summer, that Frederick and
his sister rode forth upon the prairie, and
excited by the influence of the fresh prai-
RE breeze, unconsciously proceeded seve-
raj miles from home.
They were upon the broad prairie,
which extended far away on every side,
undulating and beautiful, although COY
cred with dry and withered grass.
The sun went down before they thought
to return; but as the evening approached,
and the silent prairie became clothed in
gloon, they paused with one consent and
turned their horses homeward.
They now galloped on at a rapid pace;
but plight came and they were still far
from home.
Night, but not darknessi
Behind them, far away on the prairie,
a broad CLEAN of light appeared-quiv-
ering, intense!
The prairie was on irel
Heavens !" exclaimed Frederick
I" look p
aThe fire /" cried Ellen.
"Yes-the prairie is burning! forward,
or we are lost!'
The steeds needed no urging, they
bounded away as if conscious Of the dan,
ger.
The breeze freshened, and the dry grass
was consumed like powder in the flames
which swept along the earth.
Onward, onward dashed the steeds,
bearing their riders swiftly over the prai-
RE; bat the flames were behind them,
more swift, more furious than they.
Onward, onward stirl they few; but
the deer bounded by them in his fight,
and the Huttering of wings over their
heads, told that the birds of the air were
more swift than they.
Trembling with fear, Ellen dashed her
steed and kept close to her brothers side.
Oh that was a wild spectacle-the prai-
RE illumiped by the fierce glare OF light,
the raging flames, and the cloud of black
and dismal smoke, which gave to the can
opy Of heaven a fearful tint Of gloom.
Onward dashed the steeds, but the
winds were swifter than they: and The
flames were on the wings of tie Wind
Already the hot breath Of the ccnAagra-
ton swept over them like the Simeon Of
the desert!
All behind them was a fierce glare OF
light; all before them was darkness and
gloom. Suddenly a faint light was seen
upon a distant hiIl-like a torch held by
the hand Of man--and it approached,
waving to and fro. At last the form OF
its bearer was iadisiinctly visible.