Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1871-11-11

tnlnk IT IS nigh on to thirty years
since | came up to the sound, and put
up my wigwam at the fort built by the
Company, few miles below, on the
river. | amt very good at figures, con
sequently the dates may get a little
mixed, but the facts are remembered
just as vividly rs if they happened only
yesterday.
Al the time of my arrival there were
hardly any white men in this part of
the world; and what few there were
owed allegiance to the Company, and
dared not object to anything decreed
by factor.*
A factors word was law among those
employed by the Company, as well as
among the Indians that made their
homes at the forts; and | can remember
more than one instance where sentence
of death was pronounced, and carried
into effect, upon persons whose offenses
were not hanging matters, if they had
been tried by the law.
mention these things in order that
you may know why | never got at the
bottom of the mystery. A short dis
tance from the factors residence was
little cottage, inclosed by a high fence.
The only means of ingress or egress to
this cottage was through a heavy gate,
which was always kept locked and
guarded by a sharp eyed, close-mouthed
Scotchman, who would make no ac-
quaintance with any of the other en-
ployes. The only thing lie was ever
known to do was to stand guard at that
gate, and to follow and watch the per-
son held there as a prisoner, when she
was permitted to go abroad-or, rather,
when she desired to go abroad, for, with
the exception of keeping her strictly to
herself, she was permitted the largest
liberty.
| had been at the fort only few
days before | discovered that the cot.
tage was the prison house of female
young woman-about as pretty p,
human flesh could be made. AZ hain't
got no good descriptive powers"-to use
his exact words" or I'd tell you how
she looked; but I'm a first rate judge
ov beauty, and will pledge you my
faith that she was regular stunnin'.
That old Scotchman, standin' or sittin'
in front of that gate all the time, had
aroused my curiosity, and Iaxed good
many questions. trying to find out what
it all meant, but could get from them
only a shrug of the shoulders and
peculiar grimace, which meant very
little or good deal, just as it hap
pened."
finally made bold enough to ask the
old Scot, but got from him only surly,
growing intimation that | had better
mind my own business, and not meddle
with the concerns of others. Shortly
after was called into the store by the
factor, cautioned against pursuing my
Investigations, and dismissed with
warning.
The evident desire to keep the secret
of that cottage was sore temptation to
me, and determined to risk everything
to solve the mystery, but was compelled
to bide my time and opportunity. My
rashness had caused me to be watched,
been allayed, that could, with safety,
make another effort.
One day, | was returning from the
excursion up the Payullup River, and
was leisurely walking across one of
those beautiful prairies which abound
in this region. Now, these prairies are
about as pretty pictures as one can see
in days walk, but they "ain't worth
shucks for farmin' purposes" The soil
is hard and unyielding. the herbage
meagre, sour, and fit only for sheep
even the deer refuse to browse upon it.
A wagon or vehicle could travel over it
as lightly as over beaten road, while
the boots Of animals hardly more than
bruised the grass butts thev fell upon
the ground they made noise that
could be heard long distance. Stop
ping for moment under the shade of
solitary tree, to enjoy the beauty OF
the scene, my ears caught the sound OF
approaching horses. Looking in the
direction whence the sound came, |
saw that one of them was ridden by q
woman of not more than six and twenty
years of age. Her hair was about the
color of corn-silk in August, while her
features, Notwithstanding they showed
traces of sorrow, were very beautiful.
The other animal, which was fully two
hundred yards in the rear, was ridden
by the Scottish guard of the cottage. |
instantly surmised that the beautiful
female was the prisoner, and stepped
out for the purpose of attracting her at
tention, and giving her an opportunity
to address me. The woman no sooner
caught sight of me than she turned her
horses head toward the spot where |
was standing. The movement was OBJ
served by the Scot, who, sinking his
heavy spurs into his horses sides, urged
him forward at the top of his speed, at
the same time shouting:
Dinna ye spake to her EFF ye value
yer life p
The lady had the advantage of her
guard, and was soon beside me, but did
not stop to speak. AS she passed. she
gave me look full of meaning, and
which seemed to say, 81 would give
worlds for half hours conversation
with you, but will have to postpone it
till some other occasion"
AS the Scot rode past, he said, " 4e
did weel to keep yer tongue within your
mouth"
This little incident increased my de,
sire to know more about the fair pris-
oner, but my judgment told me that if
would learn | must use strategy. !
could not understand why the girl
should be guarded SO closely, nor why
she had been sent to this far, out-of-
the-way place for imprisonment. After
this, ] quite frequently caught sight OF
the prisoner, but she was always at
tended by the Scot, who never, for
single instant, relaxed his vigilance, or
gave her an opportunity to speak to
single soul. Many night have laid
awake puzzling my brain over the mat
tor and woD6eripu if tho uyStery