Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1868-04-25
SELECTED MISCELLANY,
By HENRY CHESTER.
a Frontier Sketch.

and from the fact a city has taken las
name-Council Bluffs.
Among the early settlers of this sec
ton of the country, there was family
by the name of Denver, consisting of
father and mother, one son aud two
daughters, the eldest of whom was
some sixteen years OF age. She was
lovely young creatuTe-lovely IN her
innocent goodness, aud she was below
ed by a young man named Edwin
Hobart.
Hobart had formed this attachment
for the young creature while she yet
resided in the East; ard when her
father removed to the West, the Young
man followed. But he had never been
an especial favorite of the father, and
nov he appeared to be 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 young man, and although she
could not give any reason for it. she
felt that il could not be without fOun-
dstiOn. So she frankly informed Ho-
bart that ne must cease to address her,
until her father should feel differently
In the matter.
To this Hobart replied:
"Msry, I have loved you long and
tenderly-even from my earliest recol-
lection, I have left my home to follow
you. have carefully examined every
s act Of my life, and / can. not find an
Intentional dishonest one. I believe
your fathers dislike to myself to be
entirely without foundation. But you
know your own feelings. III you will
love me and consent to be mine, your
= father WILSON learn that he has hated
without eause. IL you reject me, you
will send me upon the. world with
frozen heart; and God only knows, In
my impulslvsness, what might do, or
what would become of me"
"Fhis 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
eTs sprang from their couches and
clasped their little ones to their bosOms
In terror. Strong men seized their
weapons, aud prepared to defend their
homes to the last. -----t
One dwelling was already in flames.
e A rev sbOts had been heard, shrek
had arisen upon the still night air, and
then all was still save the cracking
fire. No other house was molested, and
the. savages appeared to have with
drawn. 81. s.
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..
Denver and his family.
-'s A search for the inmates was at once
instituted. The mother was found hor-
ribly mutiIated and scalped. The son
had died, nObly lighting, as his wounds
attested, and the youngest daughter
was mangled III an equally horrible
manner.
L still further search resulted in the
discovery of Mr.. Denver. He had been
scalped, but was still alive, and had
craWled into ditch for cOncealment.
Dus he VS. insansihia. f-a=-.
All search for Mary was vain, she was
no where to be found.
81 Among those present was young
man who appeared to be deeply affected
by this terrible deed, and he.even wept.
But drying has tears, he exclaimed:
81 must leave tears for women. Men
must think OF revenge. Where is Ed
win Hobsrt?" s--r t.s-
ssNOt herel He must be found at
once. He Is a yOang man, like myself,
and must become one of the leaders in
this matter. 1t shall be followed up TO
the bitter eud.
Hobart was nowhere to be found; and
Charles Barry, the weeping man, APP
peared somewhat uneasy. Then hs
limited his suspicious, and at last de-
clared openly that if Hobart did not
soon return, he should believe that the
deed was performed under his direction,
by savsges whom he had employed.
AilusiOn was then made to the rejection
Of Hobart by Mary, and he was under
stood 10 have made a terrible threat at
the time.
Mr.. Denver was now able to SPEAK
few works. de told them that savages
had done the work; bat that he be-
lieyed them to be headed by white
man IN disguise.
Gould that white man have been
Edwin HObart?" asked Barry.
MIR. Denver remained silent for a
time. Ii appeared to be difficult
question to answer. But he finally
said: --
- eff Hobart had any motive for doing
this, and could believe hlm cTpable
of committing so terrible a deed,
might fix the guilt upon him: for GER
tain it is that the white man is
about the size of Hobart, and his
movements were much the same"
.9He Is the guilty one" said Barry;
land, by Heavens, be shall suffer iii |
hunt him to the very ends of the earth, |
but I will find HIM and bring him |
back"
The day passed, and the excitement |
increased in the little settlement. Ho- |
bart was still absent. Scouts had been |
sent out, however, In search of him; |
and just as night was coming on, he |
was brought back. asi ssoss5J
By tins time the excitement had |
reached such high pitch that the in |
furlated people could scarcely be re
strained from rushing upon him and |
tearing him TO pieces. But Barry as
sumed the command and declared that
everything must be done In order.
Inc trial was brief one. Hobart |
could explain his absence no further |
than to declare that he had merely been |
away on a hunt. This was unsatisfac- |
tory.