Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1868-08-12
THE HRoZEN. HEAR

THE FROZEN. HEART.
lx he Western part of he State of
Iowa, there is ridge of sharp bluffs,
which tor some distance: sfsnkss sthesMiS-
soutfiTiyer sFt.was here'sfe Indidns@mci
in treaty several years ago, and from
that fact {. city has taken It's name
Council Bluffs. ssa.
Among the early settlers Of this sec
ton of The country there was "a family
by the name of Denver, consisting Of
father and mother, one son, and two
daughters, the eldest of whom was some
sivsecp years Of age. She was a young
ature-Tlovely in her innqcentogc.,d
ncss, and she wsassbeleved by q yonne
man harmed Edwin JloberL =
,Hobcrt had formed 4tllis attachmeH:
fapihe young creature whilea&he yet ri
sided in the east; aud when her f:l;he,
removed to the West Che young man fol-
lowed But he had never been the espe-
cial Eivorite of the 'father, and no. he
appeared to be less so than ever.
Mary Denver had formerly received
she address of the young man with some
degree Of favor, but she saw The dislike
her father entertained towards the young
man. and although she could not give
:,ny reason for it. she felt that it could
ret be ai,hout foundation. So she frank
y ipiormed, Heberbs that he must CEASE
to address her until her father should feel
differently in the matter,
To this Hobert repledi:s
aMsry, 4 have loved ourlong and
tenderly-even from my earliest recol-
lection. i,haye left my home to follow
yop.., have carefully examined every
act of my life, and cannot find au' intell-
donal> dishonest one. believe your
fatker's dislike to be entirely without
foundation. But You know Your ogp
Feelings. if you will love Inc and con
sent 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 a frozen heart; and Goo
Anly Knows ii, my impnlsiveness, what J
might do, ol. what would become of me. :,
This sounds something like a threat,
returned the girl proudly, and turned
away. .
Two nights after this conversation the
alarm; Of indians was given. Mothers
sprang from their couches and clasped
their little ones to their bosoms in terror
Strong Ia.f seized their weapons, and
prepared TO defend their homes to the
last. dY 1
One dwelling was already in flames.
A few shots had been heard, shriek had
risen upon the still night air, and then ali
was still save the cracking Of the fire.
No other house was molested and the
savages appeared to have withdrawn.
IN 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
4 search Tor tine inmates was at once
instituted. The mother was found horri-
bly, mutilated and sealped: The son had
dicd' 'nobaf fighting. as his wounds attest
ed. aud the Youngest daughter was nisn-
gled in an equally horrible manner. y
a still further search resulted in the
discovery Of Mr., Denver. He had been
scalped, but llslive, had crawled into
a ditch for coneealment: but be was in
sensible.
All search for Mary was in vain: she
was nowhere to be.found. ,ss,s.ys
Among those present was a young
aslan who appeared to be deeply affected
BY this, terrible deed, and even wept.
But drying his tears he exclaimed:
~ must leave tears for women. Men
ssssst think of revenge. Where is Ed
sin Hobert9"
Z" He does notappear to be here"
z" Not herely He must be found az
once. He is a young man like myself
and must become one Of the leaders ia
this matter. 1t shall be followed up to
the bitter end.'''
iiobert Was no where to be found
and Cherries Barry the weeping man. ip-
ppeared somewhat uneasy. Then he hint
ed his suspicious, and at last declared
openly that if Hobert did not soon re-
turn he should believe that the deed was
committed under his directions, by sava-
ges whom he had employed. Allusion
was then made to'the rejection of Hobert
by Mary and he was understood TO have
made a terrible threat at that time.
Mr. Denver was now able to speak n
few words. lie told them that savages
s,aa done the work, but lie beieved9them
10 be beaded by white man disguised.
'Couid that white man have been Ed
win Hobert Z" asked Barry.
Mr.. Denver remained silent for time.
r. appeared to be difficult question to
Bus.he finally said:
). .(f Hobert had any motive for doing
this. snJ could ! believe him capable.ef
commitiag SO terrible q deed, Knight
fix ,fie,guife upon hin;for certain it us
that @ the white naaa is about. the size of
Hobsrt, and bis movement much the
sahle.a