The Kansas herald of freedom., 1859-04-30
Original NisceIIaQy.
Written expressly for the Herald of Freedom.
GcoPYRIGHT SECURED ACCORDING TO LAw.l
THE JAY-HAWKER;
TALE OF
SOUTHERN KANSAS.
BY P. P. FOWLER.
A TALE OF
BY P. P. FOWLER.
[Continued.]
CHAPTER vi.

1t is delightful time in May. Fair
blushing Aurora, goddess of the morn
ing, has unveiled her richest, sweetest
charms, and scattered from her rosy fin
gers over the landscape, upon grass and
, herb, unfolding flower and expanding
leaf, myriads Of pearly and gliStening
dewdrops.
The atmosphere is clear, the air balmy,
3 fresh and invigorating, and the whole
panorama is bathed in food of brilliant,
living light.
The laborer has resumed his toll, the
traveller his way, while the clear, glow
ing, love-lit eyes of beauty sport in a
sea of splendor, as they peer forth in
rapture upon the scene.
Here is an elevated mound-like bluff,
/, from the top of which our eyes can take
in the charming prospect, of open undu-
lating prairie, of hill and glen, and wind
ing stream, and forest-crowned bottom
for many miles in extent. Let ais ascend
tthe summit and enjoy the beautiful
scene.
Look toward the east there appears
a company of horsemen, about thirty in
number. They are riding rapidly toward
Nthat settlers cabin, which stands there
on the low land. They are armed
What can be the object of their mis-
sion ? They have induced the settlers to
go with them; surely their mission must
J be peaceful it is hardly possible for hu-
man nature to feel otherwise on such a
: calm, lovely, radiant morning as this.
: But, see they visit another and anoth.
: er cabin, and their male occupants fal
into line and bear them company.
Another man is at work in his field
Three Of the company visit him. HI
9, leaves his work, goes with them, and fall'
=, into line with the rest
Another has gone short distance to I
neighbours house. He is induced to e
y with the party, and they move on.
They call atthe house of another man
a short, stout built, full and fair faceC
man. He also goes along with them.
y But, look woman leaves the sam,
y house and follows him. 1t is his wife
She is weeping, beseeching and wringini
her hands as if in terrible agony. Wha
NJ does it mean? Is there another alarm
And are these armed men gathering
company to repel invasion =? 1t canno
be, for these men who fall into line, an,
: bear them company, leave suddenly, AM
are unarmed.
/. Look, again The party visit store
\ and the young. interesting, and gentle
manly clerk, suddenly leaves his employ
ment and goes along with them.
There, close by that small house whic
stands by the road, not far from the rive
is a man with span of horses and was
on, on his way to Kansas city. His bus
ness is urgent. He has left behind him
young and beautiful wife, and an inte
estins, prattling, playful child. But
leaves his route, and falls into lin
and moves on with the rest In Il
meantime, few of the company Al
approaching another cabin. The woms
who occupies it sees them, goes ou
speaks to a man at work near by
looks, drops his hoe, darts across the fel
In the direction of the woods, almost
mile distant; the horsemen see him, tul
their horses, ride nearly around the fiel
as If in pursuit; but the distance the
nave to travel is much further to the tin
oer, than the route taken BY the fyil
man. They halt. Look the man b
gained the covert of the bushes, and tht
turn their horses in another direction al
loln the main portion of the company.
What sudden impulse has caused tn
man to seek the covert of the forest
Why does he fly as if wings were aidil
bis footsteps