The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1863-10-16
mhrown: crJN,leh umhraer, dusk al, dun
'f every hue. mnm wahdees lis -efe 3sA

ioft'o v NiFkf
aud waving wide sayannas, luxuriant
as oriental gardens, over which the
shadows.chasc each other s;atelily. or
lingcr lovingly, like shady islets in II
..sca of green And then the ten.
pcred sunlight, all shorn or summer $
! Iilerccness. by thu lazy dream-lilxe air,
and. over all. the nrching sky. not
laughing, MS in April, and not glow
ing, like July; hut full of deep re-
pose--thc holy calm of spirit t-land -
Who that loves beauty would not live
in a variable climeI
But il was littlr that the wedding
guests cared for the glories Of Sep
tenhor. The sun had scarcely begun
TO decline towards the West, ere they
first were seen approaching. From
all directions along the narrow road.
over praric pathways, emerging from
the timber. or riding slowly along its
Outskirts. the whole country seemed
in motion Thomas Fielding, with his
two sons. all in their holiday suits,
stood at the gate. aud welcomed nll
comcrs with hearty shake of the
hand: while at the front door the
younger matrons, with their smiling
mother. received the females of each
party The bride elect was not vet
visible; the ceremony was not to take
place till evening.
The bridegroom had appointed
rendezvous for his company of Ran
gers: and il was at the head OF these
trusty guardians of the settlement,
that he was to approach the scene of
his happiness. In the meantime. the
guests employed the vacant houIs
each according to his fancy, the men
i'll talking over the prospect Of the
country. the danger Of Indian incur
sions. the plenty Of the crops. &c.;-
while the women were either assisting
in the final preparations for the feast,
orrcadiusting their disordcrcd dress CO.,
either gossipping with the mother. or
teasing her daughter, who still kept
her bridal chamber.
Four o'clock in the afternoon ar
rived: and now tho happy Captain,
with his rangers, might soon bc eX-
pected: when Jane, her preparations
all complete, nj last issued from her
chamber, and announced her intcn
tions TO walk out upon the praric and
gather some wild flowers Several Of
the young girls proposed to accom-
pamy her, for each had n suspicion Of
her object. The mothers called their
daughters aside and whispered:
.'Shc is going to meet the Captain,
let her 90 alone"
And. in confirmation of the suspic-
ion, she passed ont to the Southward
and took II path which led in the d.
rection Of the road along which the
Captain was to como Somewhat
more than half mile from the house
stood little grove, within which she
had often met Edgar, on his visits 10
her fathers. and fi0la this point her
parents usually saw them approaching
the house together. 1t was 10 this
grove that she wcnt-hy II circuitous
route, however. so rs to justify her
excuse for leaving the house, 10y gath
cring few hate flowers.
She had hcth ae7scnt from the heuse
little more ttfnsm hour, when, round
ing poiut of timber. which puts out
from the creek about two miles be-
low the farm, u cavaicadc of twenty
horsemcn was seen, and at once re
coguizcd rs Edgar's company Of ran
gers. Another body. ahout equal in
number. was seen at the same time
several miles to the " est, hut all NJ o..
tcntion was now directed toward the
Soath. IN expectation of the rangers
The elder of the ladies. smiled sedatc-
~, in memory of their own youthful
days, and prophosied--
~l1cn not come with the company
you'll sec Jane and him coming up
that path after Il while.
And the event justified the predict
ion--at least part for, on arriving
opposite the little grove, Edgar tam-
cd Off, and directing his companions
to ride or, put his horse 10 a gallop,
and was soon within the shadows oil
the rendezvous
4 vinc and fallen tree, togct her,
formed n pleasant seat; and here.
when the skies were clear aud the snn-
liaht warm. he had often found hel
awaiting his approach, lie sought
the old place nov, but she was no.
there
~She must hc ont Soou, ho matter
ed to himself: and springiug 10 thl
ground, he assumed the seat he had
expected to find occupied He was
disappointed, aud both his face and
; attitude betrayed il. He leaned his
rifle against tree, and threw hlmsel
back to wait patiently rs lac might
for what was not likely TO come, ha'
lac waitedtil Il morning! Ills eyes wan
dered yacantly over The scene lUr SOM
minutes, when, suddenly springing up
he exclaimed
"She has been here and gon,
away
+ A narrow strip Of white muslin WA
hanging upon Il thorn very near hun =
/, evidently torn from some article q
/ female dress 1t could not be q sig
/ nal for him; accident only could have
| placed il thsrc. She must have re
. treated in haste--ana why; Sucl
were the reasonings orthe experience
, ranger. lie reached forward and tool
! ii oil the briar; but US he did SO, hi
: eye fell upon far more ominous oh
4. irrt The same bush had retained