Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1864-05-17
STORY oFRAcKwooDs LEE

Among those that followed the fortunes
of that hardy pioneer Of western wilde,
Daniel Boon, iuto the bowling wilderness
of Kentucky, where Two brothers by the
name of William and Ready Armstrong.
They had landed among the Coloniste from
the mother country but three weeks be-
fore the time Boone bad appointed for the
departure of the first quota Of his hardy
companions, that were. destinedto make
the lovely forest smile like a garden, and
lay the foundation Of great aud flourish
ing State, and they at once Joined them
selves to the expedition. and entered with
heart and hand into all the plans OF the
adseDturer. The journey of Boone and bis
companions through the wilderness, to the
block-house thas had been erected the pre-
vioqs season, has so often been described
by the historian, and the pen Of the ro-
maucer, that We will not attempt it here,
but simply say that they all reached their
place OF destination in safety, one after
noon, just as the sun was kissing the tops
Of the giant trees of the forest for che last
time until it should re>emerge from the
eastern forest on the morrow.
Perhaps we might say here, that on
their journey hither, the young Armstrong;
had become much interested ia two young
women daughters of Philip Mason, and
in their fancies they pictured the maidens
as their helpmates in the toiling, firing
task Of the redemption Of the forest, where
they had fixed their homes.
Also, a month later, when the brothers
had felled quite an opening in the forest,
and one day as they were talking concern
ing the site of the cabin they we're. about
to erect, William preached the sohJect of q
double habitation, ami with bushes dying
bis brown, manly face, be impaired to his
brother, that in few weeks be should
take to himself the buxom Susan Mason
as helpmate.
Thus encouraged, his brother also made
q clean breast of it, to the effect that he
also meditated the same step with Mary,
and thus, as the ice wac broken, and the
mutual reserve at an end, they talked over
their affairs, and laid their plans for the
future accordingly.
Tune went On. and when the leaves of
the forest we're rus:ling down to the brown
earth. and the golden corn had been gath
cred in, the brothers were united to the
sisters, and two households were founded
in the wilderness, beneath the same roof,
and guarded by the stout oaken walls OF
the cabin, and unerring rifles of the pic-
neer brothers.
Two years passed away, and a young
SOD gladdeued each household, and bound
them still closer together.
Peace lowered over the settlement,
though now aod then some one fell beneath
the arm of the red man, but owing TO the
kindness and frmness of Boone, the off
fender was given up, and met the death
he merited.
Partly owing to their fearless natures,
and partly TO the fact that lao one had vet
lost his life in the settlement by the In
dians, the brothers did not now seek the
protection of the block-house at night as
they had wont, as nearly all othegB still
did, though they were the fnrthest from the
garrison, and bid from it by piece Of
thick woods.
A hoy Of thirteen years, whose father
had been drowned by the upsettiug of "A
boat on the river. and was thereby left
friendless, lived with them, and at 90 time
did either of the brothers leave their clear
ing without leaving the boy james and
one of them to guard the precious ones in
the cabin.
Again it was autumn time, and the
trees were clad IN their garments that
colorS-and deep in the sheltered hooks Of
the forest the squirrels were boarding up
the brown nuts for their winter store.
O3e bright Indian summer morn Will
liam Armstrong babe adieu 80 the inmates
of the cabin. gaily kissing his wife and
child. then calling bis dogs he went up to
the hiackheuse with light heart, to join
hunting party that was to rendezvous
hor f,r A,,, D., = ~
little tho't the young pioneer what heart
breaking grief was in store fer him ere
twenty-four hours would have crcled
around.
Darkness had long been down on tree
and river when the hunting party return
ed to the block house. aud il was pas,
eleven O'Clock when William whistled to
his dogs and started for the cabin.
DC his shoulders he bore his part of the
result Of the days sport, and with so light
heart that it made the burden he carried
seem as uaught, he passed down the rude
part through the woods in the direction of
his home
He had nearly emerged into his clear
ing, when he was startled OF the red light
that shone through the trees IN the direc-
ton of tie cabin. For a moment the
strong man was deprived of motion; his
heart eeased its beatings and his blood ran
cold, for well he knew what to fear.
Struggling with the giant fear that held
him down, he in a moment got the mas
terry, add throwing the burden from his
shoulder he bounded forward.
Oh, horror he saw his home naught but
a bed of shining Goals. from which here
and there, dark smoke rose up on the
night air. With the speed Of mailman
he rushed forward, and bad nearly reach~
ed the spot that marked his former Eappi-
ness, when be stumbled over something in
his path and fell. Regaining his feet, be
saw by the light that came from the
smoul6ering ruins that it was the body of
bis brothers wife over which be had fell,
and that her scalp had been tom from Der
head by her relentless murdere.s.
lie grOaned in agony at the sight, and
turned away; and though he looked here
: ADD there, in every spot and place, in hopes
OF finding at least the bodies of his loved
ones, be was disappointed; and just as he
10 madness was about to jump into the
glowing embers, TO seek for their remains,
q groan broke upon his ears from a thicket
not tar of. In moments time he was
there, and wounded nigh unto death, be
found the roy James.
Al this moment large party came hur-
rying down from the biockbouse, having
been attracted hither BY the bowling of the
hounds over the body of the murdered
woman. The body was incapable Of Civ
ing any account of the horrid deed, and
while some carried him ten6erly 90 the
block house, others with water from the
orook, dampened the Goals, and in the cell
lar OF the cabin. partially consumed, they
found the bodies of all the missing ones.
another party dashed into the forest to
ind the trail of the murderers.
when the certainty of the fate of his.
loved ones became known. William Arm
strong bowed bis head upon bis hauds and