Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1859-02-23
4 NIGHT OF TERROR,

Night came slowly down over the rude hut
OF James Moreland the settler. The wild ,mOun-
famous region round about, and the gathering
gloom of the near darkness, combined to chill
the heart of the lonely woman IN the wilder
cot, with strange, dread fear.
Two years before had the sun of aJunc morn
ing shone upon Ellen Harper's marriage with
the man of her choice and the lamps in a
festive hall in the fine old city of Portsmouth
had cleaned upon the evenings revelry. Ell
len was belle and no wonder that in honor of
her peerless beauty and her husbands worth,
the red wine had flowed freely, and the song
and Jest sparkled bright from the lips OF
youth and loveliness.
But young Moreland was possessed of wild
spirit of adventure, and life in that quiet old
city i'll fitted bis adventurous nature and so it
came about that before the moons of the first
year had waxed and waned upon their bridal
sky the happy couple fonnd themselves estab
lshed in log hut far up among the White
Mountains.
Ellen was very peaceful and contentcd there,
for she possessed the undivided love of her
husband and by-and-by a little blue-eyed
babe came to cheer her forest home.
But on this night, vague underlined sense
of evil seemed to be about her, and she arose
frequently to gaze into the thckening gloom.
James was abroad upon the mountain in search
of venison, and she had not heard the report
O! his rife for many hour-it was singular
that he should remain away from her until
after nightfall.
There were tribes of hostile Indians in the
vicinity there were wild, fierce animals in
every copsewood and gorges of death on either
side of the dangerous pathway over the noun
tain. Her Imagination conjnred up an hun
drcd phantoms of evil centcring all around her
husband, until her brow grew cold and clammy
with the sweat of fear, and her heart was ready
to stop its throbbings at the faintest sound of
the homeless wind in the forest depth.
Her child the four months old little Rachel /;
slept peacefully in her rough cradle-not a rip
ple of doubt or apprehension disturbing the
calm pulsation of her heart, or troubling the
smiling dimples about her rosy mouth.
sGod bless the darling." calculated Ellen
Moreland, pressing light kiss upon the fore
head of her child and then taking up her
knitting she sat down in the light of the pitch
torch in the wide stone fire place, and tried to
work II was in vain. She could not employ
her hands while her mind was in such per
turbation, and rising impatientiy she opened
the door and looked forth. A dull, gray mist
lay upon the peak of distant kearsarge, and
far to the West the kingly SUBMITS of the
White Mountains loomed somhrely through
the brOodlng atmosphere. There was an omin-
GUS stiffness over everything, but far down IN
the dismal pine forest, back OF the cabin,
there was a low, indistinct murmur-the I'M
failing precursor of storm. What If her nus
at so great 4 distance from home, that the mar
row track thither had became invisible and
unknown What If he was destinucd to re-
turn to her nevermore
Anervous tremor shook her frame, and she
went back pale and trembling TO the side OF
her infant.
Hark was that the wind or the cry OF a
wild animal?
The woman's heart hushed its beating, and
she bent low her ear to listen, again-far away
yet distinctly heard. She threw open the
door, and stood breathless waiting the recur.
renee of the sound. All; but she recognized
II too well, it was the war-hoop of squad OF
Indians; their terrible cry OF victory over
pursued foe! She needed no other assurance
than her dread fears to convice her that II was
her husband
She offered one wild prayer for aid, ana then
returned to the room she had left; she tooh
her infant, still in quiet sleep, and wrapping
IL warmly in q blanket, carried it out into the
dense thicket in the rear of the hut; for she
knew enough of the Indian character to Zee
assured that whether they captured her hus.
band or not, they would be sure to destroy
the dwelling.
Commenting her child to God, she left il
there, and went back toward the cabin, hoping
she could not understand why-that she might
be able TO do something TO save her husband.
She concealed herself in bunch of whor