Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1869-04-01
CHAPTER 1.

Towards the close of beautiful day In
June, 1867, man and woman, mounted
upon feet horses, came galloping over one
Of the great plains of the West, and drew
rein in the shade ola clump Of cotton-woods
upon the bank of beautiful river. They
had ridden far and rapidly. Their steeds
were painting, and covered with sweat and
foam.
awe must give the horses breathing
SPELL" said the former, slipping to the
ground and his companion nodded
graceful assent, as she followed his ex-
ample.
The couple were evidently father and
daughter.
The man was in the prime of life, hale
and hearty, with large frame, which was
sinewy and athletic, without ceasing to be
refined and prepossessing. He had the
keen, shrewd look peculiar to the advance
guards of civilization, and there was an
honest, frank expression on his sun
Drowned face that proclaimed his integrity
and courage.
In her way, his daughter was equally
picturesque and attractive.
In the early flush of womanhood, with
pure, sweet, and tender face, with eyes
darkly glowing, with coral-tlnted lips, and
cheeks softly flushed with the hew of the
rose. with amber curls floating behind her,
she was as graceful as a gazelle, as light
hearted as a bird, as lovely as flower,
and as spirited as an untamed antelope
The stream by which the couple had
halted was Wood river, branch of the
Platte, in Nebraska, at point fifty miles
northwest Of Fort Kearny.
care you tired, Miriam % asked the
hunter, George Dane, with fatherly solicit
tude.
"Tired, father 2" rejoined the maiden,
with happy laugh. ''Oh, no. How
could | be tired after day like this
Every minute has been filled with pleas
ure and excitement. ] feel as fresh as
yonder bird"
The father smiled Understandings, with
look full of the fondest affection
81 can guess the cause of your light
ness of heart said he, smlingly. 1.-The
return, now daily expected, of certain
Hubert Earle, from the mines of Idaho
may account, | suspect, for your present
gladness."
A heightened color appeared on Miriam
face, for the name mentioned was that oil
her lover. She answered the glsnces o
her father, however, with frankness that
attested his entire sympathy with her
and SAID;
sTrue, father, my heart has been un
usually light for several days past. How
could it be otherwise, since know tina
Hubert is coming 2"
Mr. Dane did not reply He was look
ing, with klndlIng eyes, over the fan
flower dotted plain; and his next remark
showed how widely his thoughts has
strayed
II wonder what mother has been dom!
without US all day, Miriam. She must 10
lonely, with no one TO speak TO or shar
her meals. shouldn't wonder if ",
could see our home from this point" anc
his face lighted up with soulful glow
"Our cottage is not more than seven ME
distant let me see ~
He drew from his coat a pocket glass
adjusted it to his sight, pointing It IN
nor,herly direction, and gazed through
long and earnestly, towards his ranch
upon Carrey's Fork.
? long, deep, and joyiulinsPlratlon,' a. II IN
!. sight refreshed. him in every nery,
tThere is our cottage, as plain as day.
can even see the vines YOU planted beior
the windows, Miriam. And there, on tn
: grapevine bench, under the big elm, sil
your mother, busy at her sewing. Bles
her She does not imaginge weare look
ing al her. Look, Miriam"
He yielded the instrument to his daugt
ter, who obeycd his Injunction, her Lowell
face glowing with smiles as she regarde
the distant horle-scene.
"Dear mother :" she murmur.d. 1t
treat to her to be able to SIT out ind,
the trees without fear Of molestatIol
There are no hostile Indians hereabou
now are there, father ~
s'No. Red Knife, as YOU have alread
heard, was killed Yesterday 10y settle
and his band has retreated towards ii
mountains. | VIII confess, Miriam, III;
during all the time We have been in Il
West, have not felt so light hearted an
care free as since We received news Of Re
Knifr's death You have just seen no
this Joy bubbles over in me. Red km
was demon, rather that savage
Miriam shuddered and Ter feature
even paled at the memory Of the India
mentioned.
He never spared pale face she sal
striving to speak calmly. 'DesolatlC
and cruelty maj kvd his path. For mo
=, than three years he has ragged to and f
> upon the plains like ravening wolf |
was the terror of the border
"lou have named him appropriated
Miriam" said the hunter "He had
fiendish hatred of the white race, and h
victims have been many"
Mr. Dane held out his hand for Il
glass, and Miriam was in the act of r
storing 1t, when strange, gasping, pan
ing sound startled them both, and Sc
them quickly TO their saddles.
The hunter wheeled his horse and lool
ed down upon the river bank, from whiC
direction the sound had come, his mann
self possessed, but his cnuntenance indie
tive of alarm. The maiden followed b
example.
Her eyes We're the first to discover Il
cause of the sound that had startled ther
detecting a mans figure creeping alol
through the underground of bushes linil
the shore.
At the same moment, their presence
y turn was detected, for the man dropp'
suddenly among the protecting bushes,
if he had been shot.
can Indian 2" whispered Mirial
drawing from her bosom a revolver.
The hunter shook his head, continuir
to watch the spot at which the man h;
fallen, his hand on his rife, his mann
be that of one ready for action.
Suddenly, as the man showed ha
gard face peering cautiously from his co
cealment, Mr.. Danes anxious countenan
broke into smile, and he cried out:
tlHalln lie fhaf unn Thnnnnrnn z L