The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1868-04-23
THE FROZEN..HEART.
A Frontier Sketch.
BY HENRY CHESTER.

In the western part of the State
Of Iowa, there is ridge of sharp
bluffs, which for some distance
fianks the Missouri River. 1t was
here the Indians met in treaty sew
eral years ago, and from the fact a
city has taken its name-Council
Bluffs.
Among the early settlers of this
section Of the country, there was a
family by the name of Denver, con-
sisting Of father and mother, one
son and two daughters, the eldest
of whom was some sixteen years of
age. She was lovely young. crea-
ture-lovely III her innocent good
ness, and she was beloved by a
young man named Edwin Hobart.
Hobart had formed this attach
ment for the young creature while
she yet resided in the East; and
when her father removed to the
West, the young man followed. But
he had never been an especial fa-
vorite Of the father, and now he
appeared to be less so than ever
Mary Denver had formerly re-
ceived the addresses Of the young
man with some degree of favor, but
she saw the dislike her father en-
tertained toward the young man,
and although she could not give
any reason for it, she felt that it
could not be without foundation.
So she frankly informed Hobart
that he must cease to address her,
until her father should feel differ
emily in the matter.
To this Hobart replied:
"Mary, [ have loved you long
and tenderly-even from my earli-
est recollection. I have left my
home to follow you. I have care
fully examined every act of my life.
and l cannot find an intentional
dishonest one. I believe your faith
er's dislike to myself to be entirely
without foundation. But you know
your own feelings. If you 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 upor
the world with q frozen heart; ano
God only knows, in my impulsive
ness, what I might do, or wha
would become Of me.
"This sounds something like {
threat" returned the girl, proudly
and she turned away.
Two nights after the converse
ton, the alarm Of Indians was given
Mothers sprang from their couches
and clasped their little ones to theil
bosoms in terror. Strong mer
seized their weapons, and prepared
to defend their homes to the last
One dwelling wac already ir
flames. A few shots had beer
heard, a shrek had arisen upon tht
still night air, and then all was still
save the cracking fire. No othel
house was molested, and the sava
ges appeared to have withdrawn.
In ashort time the daylight dawn
ed, and neighbors began to assem-
ble around the destroyed home
which proved to be that helongin!
| to Mr.. Denver and his family.
A search for the inmates was al
once instituted. The mother wa
found horribly mutilated and scalp
ed. The son had died, nobly fight
ing, as his wounds attested, and th
youngest daughter was mangled il
an equally horribly manner.
A still further search resulted il
the discovery of Mr.. Denver. HI
had been scalped, but was still alive
and had crawled into q ditch 70
concealment. But he was insensi
BILE.
All search for Mary was vain
she was nowhere to be found.
Among those present was a youn.
man who appeared to be deeply at
fected by this terrible deed, and h,
even wept. But drying his tears
he exclaimed: .-..
81 must leave tears for women
Men must think ofreyenge. Where
is Edwin Hobart p - r-- .-l-
"He does not appear to be here.
ssNot here! He must be foun(
at once. He is a young man, lil'
myself, and must become one of tn
leaders in this matter 1t shall b
followed up to the bitter end"
Hobart was nowhere to be found
and Charles Barry, the weeping man
) appeared somewhat uneasy. The
he limited his suspicious, and at las
declared openly that if Hobart di,
not soon return, he should believ
that the deed was committed unde
his direction, by savages whom h
E had employed. Allusion was the
made to the rejection of Hobart by
Mary, and he was understood t
have made a terrible threat at tn
time. ~ ess.E ............r
Mr.. Denver was now able to speal
few words. He, told them tha
savages had done the work; bu
that he believed them to be heade
| by a white man in disguise.
"Could that white man have bee
Edwin Hobart p asked Barry.
: Mr.. Denver remained silent for
: time. It appeared to be a difficul
question to answer. But he finall
a said :: +a. .....-- -.-.r
! -, eff Hobart had any motive fo
ldoing this, and could believe hi1