The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1858-01-28
RAVENNA, THURSDAY, JAN. %, 1858.

luxuriant "jimson" weeds, gszed sorrowfuIIy
over the corn and potato patch. The wind
ghed sadly, as II murmured over ihe little
clearing, and poor Polly's heart sunk as size
turned again towards the hut. Seated in
the Dext room, parttionea off from the 9th.
er, she tried to sing, as she eat at her sewing
and watched the dead. Finding her meldn.
choly grew more, she threw herself on the
bed and wept herself to sleep, Poor Polly!
The day passed on, and the shadows of the
night were muntiing the forest when she
awOke. Arousing herself, she passed out
and prepared her simple repast.
Night came, and with it fear. 1t was
dark without. She lit o candle and sat it al
the head of the body. and placed another al
the feet. Then she sat down and wept.-
Simple creature! There was small tceta.
ment in the house, and this she got, and al.
though she could not teGd-sAe could no,
drink at the Divine fount, this balm for the
wounded, this solace snd comfort for the
mcurner--still she sat and held it in her
hands, ihstinctively as it were, q shield
against aught evil. hef father should have
returned ere this. What could have delay
ed him. She gazed intently into the dark
ness; the owl hooted terribly through the
forest, and the scream of the crane was dis
tinguished AMONG the weeds at the river
bank, mingled with the yell of the panther
on the opposite shore. The ghustly form Of
the dead, as it lay white Snl stiff in its al III
angular outline, excited her feelings in u
strange and, to her, unusual manner. She
imagined that she could hear ste ,,hy foot
falls around the house. At length, she
could bear it no louger-she arose and tled
from the room. Fear lent speed to her feet
she lenped over the bars, und sped, as a
place Of security, to the corn house. Here,
safely slowed away under the shucks she
lays ard srembled at every noise. As the
hour grew later, and she had time to com.
pose herself, she took courage again, and
emerged from her plate OF refuge. She
paused moment, and then walked reso.
lutely to%ards the cabin egain. Arrived at
the door, she hesitated, and turning sick at
heart at the thought of ogain encountering,
without cornpOhionship, the sight of that
lonely corpse, abruptly turned away and
slowly paced to and fro; then suddenly
passed down the path leading 10 the river
whence she expected to meet her falher.-
No sound Of human voice met her ear, as she
paused an instant at the bars. AL was 81.
lent and drear. AS the opening On the five:
Bank was reachea, and she ngain imagined
she heard soft and steaIthy footsteps near
her, she halted and listened; she called out,
but there was no reply. Suddenly, the low
bushes in her rear rustled, and at the same
moment suppressed and shllch growl met
her ear, and announced that the poueer's
most dreaded foe was near. She started
with alarm. and glancng her terrified looks
towards the btsh, the garing eyes Of paii
ther, shining with pecil.iar yellow phos
phorescent light, met her gaze. Terror
pura!yzed her for a moment; but she then
turned, and with the tlettness of an Indian,
fled towards the dwelling. A vel! Of tose
and disappointment echoed upon the night
air, as the savage beast sprnng out from the
cover. He rushed mady forward in pursuit.
of the frightened girl-bu, she was swift
and strained every nerve to escape.
The beast, its jaws covered with foam, aid
painting after blood, rushed closely behind
1t leaped and plunged in her rear, it's claws
distendedi hair erect, and eyes flashing like
sheet lightning, uttering savage yells F! Al
length she sees the open door before her
She springs forward; she feels the hot breath
of the panther on her cheek She hears j,
pant; she lists to its yell; but, still bounding
forward she feuched the door. Like an ar.
row, she passes in; and, as the infuriated
devil is entering, she darts into the inner
room, and slams the door He hurls his
mighty body against the partition; but with
the instructive terror Of despnir, she man.
ages to place the bar atross the door, ard
the stout logs are too firm bulwu.k for him
to break down. The panther yelled loudly
and, rearing itsefupon its hind legs, cawed
with impotent rage, the wall, causing it tc
tremble, as his pondefous feet struck ii -
Poor Polly, thus entrenched, no sooner fell
herself momentarily safe, than, after the
most approved method, sunk ihsens5le upor
the floor. Her nerves were unstrrng. TT
such degree had they been operated on, tina
the immediate danger over, they were relax
ed, and she sunk. ,.. -.s
For some time, she 10y thus; but, at lsngtf
returned to consciousness. A misty, dreamy
sensation ovetspread her senses; she heare
a confused noise, sound consisting Of cub
.dued growls and gnash:ng Of teeth, near her
and II was some moments ere she could col
lect hef wondering senses, and recall th'
events on the hour. At length, remem
brance came; and the sickening reality wal
before her so plainly, that she dropped he
head again upon tie pillow. A suffocotinl
smell Of smoke now reached her, and sh'
hastily arose, and sought, through ati inter
stice between the logs, to look into the tooti
of death. What horrible sight met he
view The corpse had been rudely thrown