The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1868-06-25
TIE FROZEN HEART.
\ FRONTIER SKETCH.

Ii was here the Indians met lii treaty sew
erlll years aso, and from that fact city
has taken its name-Council Bluffs.
Among the early settlers Of this section
. of tie 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 sixteen years Of
age. She was lovely young creature
lovely in her innocent goodness and she
was beloved by young man named Ed
win Hobart:
Hobart had formed this attachment 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 favorite
/ Of the father, aud now he appeared 10 be
/ less 50 than ever.
Mary Denver had formerly received the
/ address Of the young man with some de-
/ gree 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 it could not be without
/ foundation. So she frankly informed Ho-
/ bart that he must cease 10 address her
until her father should feel differently in
the matter.
To this Hobart replied:
"AIary, have loved you long and ten
derly-eqen from my earliest recollection
l have carefully examined every act OF
my life, and / cannot find an intentional
! dishonest one l believe your fathers dis
like to myself to be entirely without foun-
! dation. But you know your own feelings
| If you will love me aud consent 10 be
lssne, your father will soon learn that he
! has hated withCut'a cause. If you reject
! me, you viii send me upon the world with
u frozen heart and God only knows, In
! my implusiYeness, wh..t l might do, or
| what would become OF me-"
This sounds something like threat
returned the girl proudly, and she turned
away.
! Two nights after the conversation, the
alarm of Indians was given. Mothers
sprang from their couches and clasped
! their little ones to their bo5oms in terror
| Strong men seized their weapons and pre-
! pared 10 defend their homes t. the last.
! One dwelling was already IL flames. 4
few shots had been heard, a Shrek had
arisen upon the sill night air, and then AL
was still, save the cracking fire. No
other house was molested, and the gaya-
! ges appeared to have withdrawn.
! Ia a short time the daylight dawned,
and the neighbors commenced to assemUIe
around the desiroye ed home, which proved
to be that belonging to Mr. Denver and his
family.
! 4 search for the inmates was at once
| instituted. The mother was found horri-
! bly, mulilated and scaIped. The son had
| died nobly fighting, as his wounds attest
| ed, and The youngest daughter was man
gled in ah equally horrible manner.
! a stiR further search resulted in the
discovery of Mr. Denver He bad been
scalped, but was still alive, and crawled
| into a ditch for concealment bat he was
/ insensibIe.
/ 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, and even wept But
drying his tears, he exclaimed
u must leave tears for women. Men
must think Of revenge. Where is Edwin
Hobart 2"
I1S OCSS t1Ol lpcdI 10 Oc mere
''Not here he must be found at once
! He is young man, like myself, and must
| become one Of the leaders in this matter
! 1t shall be followed mp to the bitter end. -
Hobart was nowhere to be found and
| Charles Barry, the weeping man, ap-
! peared somewhat uneasy. Then he hinted
! his suspicious, and at last declared openly
that if Hobart did not soon return he
/ should believe that the deed was commit
ted under his direction by savages whom
he had employed. Allusion was then
made to the rejection of Hobart by Mary,
and lie was understood to have made
terrible threat at that time.
Mr Denver was now able to speak
few words. He told them that savages
had done the work, but he believed them
to be headed by white man in disguise.
Gould that white man have been Ed
win Hobart - asked Barry.
Mr.. Denver remained silent for a time.
1t appeared TO be a difficult question to
answer But he finally said:
''If Hobart had any motive for doing
this and / could believe him capable Of
committing SO terrible a deed, 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. -
''He is the guilty one," said Barry !;
sand by Heavens he shall suffer FL
hunt him TO the very end of the earth but
l will find him and bring him back
The day passed, and the excitement in
creased in The little settlement. Hobart
was still absent Scouts had been sent
out, however, in search of him and just
as night was coming on he was brought
! back.
BY this time the excitement had reached
such high pitch that the infuriated peo-
pie could scarcely be restrained from rush
ing upon him and tearing him to pieces.