North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1863-04-29


place. Without appearing to notice it, how
ever, he continued to visit the Hiltons, and
with the exception that there was a strange
and unusual cleaning in bis piercing black
eyes, his demeanor was the same as before.
But, about two weeks after the departure
OF HargraVe, as he CHANGED to meet Eva
alone, ne at once addressed her with fend-
like tierceness, charging her with perfdity
towards him, and In conclusion, as he seized
her rudely by the arm, pressed his lips close
to her ear, and swore, in kissing words of
startling hatred, that he would have most
bitter revenge.
And he kept his word.
When Eva left him, feeling more dead
than alive, she staggered towards home,
scarce conscious Of existence !; for there had
been such world of deed hatred expressed
In his flushed countenance, and such mean
ing emphasis in his fiercely uttered words,
as almost troze the blood within her veins
| She did not impart the interview to her pa
rents, fearful that the shock it might occas.
ion would be too much for their now enfce-
bled minds. She would await the return of
HargraVe-he would protect her.
AT length Hargraye neared the settlement,
buoyant with hopes Of soon clasping the dear
Eva to his breast, and calling her his own
bright wife forever. As Hargraye neared
the beacon of his dearest hopes, he trod to
the greensward with lighter tread, anG al.
most quIckened his pace to run.
Reaching point where the road took a
sharp turn, and beyond which the dwelling
of the Hilton's could easily be distinguished,
he bounded past the the projection, and cast
a quick glance toward the home Of his loved
Eva. Suddenly be stopped, and passed his
hand twice or thrice across his forehead, like
one becoming bewildered.
"My God /" he exclaimed, "what has
happened p and again started forward with
fearful speed. The next moment lie uttered
a cry of keen agony, and fell his full length
on the ground. Where should have stood
the dwelling Of his bride, now lay mass of
| charred embers, and from the blackered heap
still arose the thin, white smoke of the still
smouldering fire beneath.
When Hargraye ct length regained his
| consciousness there vas . Loo; Of zach keen
anguish depicted on lis courtenauce as no
pen could possibly describe. The whole char
| acter of his fee seemed changed. Where
once shone Cought but looks of kindness, now
cleaned the pale, unearthly flashing of des-
pair. Not g muscle tnovcd-he stood, with
clenched haads-his eyes fixed intently upon
the ruined home, and his now blocdless lips
pressed between lis teeth, pale and immoYa-
ole as marble statue. Then a change
came over him. He raised his right arm to-
ward Heaven, and his frame shook conyul-
sively, while his lips moved in utterance of
the bitter thoughts within. The next mo-
ment he rushed towards the hut Of the near
est settler, with the wild look ard energy of
a maniac.
From an aged female, the Only occupant OF
the dwelling, he was told that all the male
settlers had started, early in the morning, in
pursuit of the fends who had cammittcd the
inhuman act, and that they had not been
heard from since. As to whether any or all
of the Hilton family had heen killed or burn
ed, it was not known, as their log dwelling
was heap Of ruins when first discovered.
Providing himself with few nccessaries
for his journey, he grasped his rifle and start
ed in pursit. Having returned to the dwell
ing, he struck or the trail Of the numerous
footsteps from that point, and rapidly strode
through the forest. As he pursued his on
ward journey, the woods became more and
more dense, till at length the broad, beaten
track dwindled to narrow pathway, scarce
wide enough to avoid striking the numerous
Interviewing branches which projected out
ward at every step.
Not once did he check his speed till the
gray tints of the morning broke the gloom
around, when he stopped behind small
brook, and after quenching his parched thirst
with long draught, he bathed his burning
temples in the stream, and again continued
on. He naw directed his course towards a
point of the Mohawk, where that stream, at
the present day, is almost joined by the bank
of the Erie canal, and which he knew to be a
favorite epeampment Of the Indians, and
where he thought. it probable that those who
committed TIE outrage on the Hilton's dwell
ing would be likely to go; for he had given
up all thoughts of being able to follow the
correct trail, SO numerous were the footprints
and so frequently did they diverge in oppo-
site directions. ....
Again the shades of night gathered around
him, yet still he continued on, apparently un-
mindful of fatigue, and with the same wild
cleaning of his eye, as when he stood on the
ruins of his loved ones home. And at length
as the dawn of another day gilded the east
ern horizon, he reached the falls Of the. Mo-