The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1868-06-26
THE FROZEN HEART.
by HESRY CHESTER.

In the western part OF INC oldlc VI
Iowa there is n ridge Of sharp bluffs,
which for some distance Hanks the Mis-
souri River. II was here the Indians
met in treaty several years ago, and
from the fact 4 city has taken its name
Council Bluffs.
Among the early settlers of this see
ton of the country, there was family
by the pane of Denver, consisting OF
father and mother, one son and two
daughters, the eldest of whom was some
sixteen wears of age. She was lovely
Young creature-lovely in her innocent
goodness, and she was beloved by n
Young man named Edward Hobart.
Hobart had formed this attachment
for the Young creature while she yet re-
sided in the East; and when her father
removed to the West, the young man
followed. But he had never been an es-
pecial favorite of the father, and now
he appeared to he less so than ever.
Mary Denver had formerly received
the addresses of the young man with
some degree of favor, but she saw the
dislike her father entertained toward
the vonnq man, and although she could
not give any reason for it, she felt that
it could not be without foundation. 80
she frankly informed Hobart that he
must cease TO address her, until her
father should feel differently III the
matter.
TO this Hobart replied:
"Mary, | have loved you long and
tenderly-even from MY earliest reco!-
lection. | have left my home TO follow
YOU. ! have carefully examined every
act of my life, and can not find an IN
territorial dishonest one. believe your
fathers dislike to myself to be entirely
without foundation. But you know
your own feelings. lfyou will love me
and consent to be mine, your father Will
soon learn that he has hated without a
cause. If you reject me, you will send me
upon the world with frozen heart; and
God only knows, in my impuisiveness,
what might do, or what wOnld become
of me-"
"This sounds something like a threat"
returned the girl, proudly, and she
turned away.
Two nights after the conversation,
the alarm of Indians was given. Moth
ers sprang from their coaches and
clasped their little ones to their bosoms
in terror. Strong men seized their
weapons, and prepared to defend their
homes to the last.
One dwelling was already in flames.
A few shots had been heard, shrek
had arisen upon the still night air, and
then all was still save the cracking
hre. No ether house was molested, and
the savages appeared to have with
drawn.
In a short time the daylight dawned
and the neighbors began to assemble
around the destroyed home, which
proved to be that belonging to Mr.. Den
yer and his family.
A search for the inmates was ut once
instituted. The mother was found hor-
ribly mutilated and scslped. The son
had died, nobly fighting, az his wounds
attested, and the Youngest daughter was
mangled in an equally horrible man
ner.
A still further search resulted in the
discovery of Mr.. Denver. He had been
scalped but was still alive, and had
crawled into q ditch for cOncealment.
But he was insenSible.
All search for Mary was vain-she
was nowhere to be found. Among those
present was a young man who appeared
to be deeply affected by this terrible
deed, aud even wept. But drying his
tears, he exclaimed:
81 must leave tears for women. Men
must think of revenge. Where is Ed
win Hobart
He does not appear to be here"
''Not here. He must be found at
once. He is Il young man, like myself,
and must become one of the leaders IN
this matter IL shall he followed up to
the bitter end"
Hobart was no where to be fouad;
and Charles Barry, the weeping man,
appeared somewhat uneasy Then he
limited his suspicious, and at last de-
clared openly that il Hobart did not
soon return, he should believe that the
deed was committed under his direction,
Inv sayaoes whom he had employed
Allusion was then made to the rejection
of Hobart by Mary, and he was under
stood to have made Il terrible threat at
the time.
Mr.. Denver was now able to speak
few words. He told them that sayagcs
had done the work, but that he believ-
ed them to be headed by white man
IN disguise.
Gould that white man have been
Edwin Hobart 2" asked Barry.
Mr.. Denver remained silent for q
time. 1t appeared to be a difficult
question to answer. Bat he finally
said:
"If Hobart had any motive for doing
this and could believe him capable OF
committing so terrible deed, l might
fix the guilt upon him; for certain it is
that the white man is about the
size of Hobart, and his movements were
much the same"
she is the guilty one," said Barry;
"and, by Heavens, he shall suffer! ri
hunt him to the very ends of the earth,