The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1874-12-09
For the Somerset Herald.
ATHANASE
I I I AVBDGBR! +!
A LEGEND OF THE EARLY SETTLERS
OF SOMERSET COUNTY.
BY L. Il. RoDDY,
AUTHOR OF THE BANDIT OF THE
ALLEGHENIEs, TIE MANAGES
RIDE, &C.
Concluded.

Her repertoire WAS limited one,
containing only few ballads then
common or the border, and generally
Of a mournful character. One of
her dismal ditties always affected
her 1t told in dreary numbers how
some young maiden drowned herself
in the deep, deep sea, for love of one
who left her for fairer, richer bride.
Her assumption Of a sensibiliiy,
which perhaps she did not possess,
touched him to the quick One day
when she seemed more than ordinari-
ly affected. by the song, he suddenly
and gravely asked:
What for maiden drown? Why
10 kill?"
"Wby, Atbanase How wicked
Ain't you too bad 10 talk that way p
she asked in pretended horror
"Would you do so?"
"Ob, yes" he gravely but courte.
ously replied
An uneasy sense of her own little
ness, compared TO this honest saw.
age, and a partial awakening to the
danger Of the path she was so reck
lessiy treading, came over her. Fol
brief moment her better nature
struggled to assert itself, but vanity
and her innate coquetry urged heI
on in the path she was going-in the
path that threatened to end in blood
and sorrow for her and all her friends
Then came time when the Indian
lover was TO start for Canada, with
q young French officer TO whom be
was much attached, to be absent
a long time The people of the set.
tlement thought this a good oppor.
tunity to rid themselves of all com
plications by Fastening her marriage
during his absence, not dreaming Of
the extent of the encouragement she
had given him. She would only con,
sent on condition that her husband
would agree to cross the mountains
to their old home, to which be reluc.
tan.ly consented.
At the last interview between the
coquet,e and the Indian, she with
reckless persistency, perhaps fasci-
mated with the very danger, reverted
to their former conversation.
80 you think that girl ought tc
kill her lover and not drown berself?'
lie nodded gravely in reply.
"0b that's wicked. You wouldn't
kiIl me, would you, Athanase 2" she
asked with coquettish grace and ten
der information Of the voice The
young brave was reused from his
natural s,oici>m and hotly answered
"No ! No! Only kill when hate
Don't hate the pale maiden. NJ,
love. When six moons go Indiar
come for white wife y
The calm decision of his manner
and undoubted earnestness Of pur
pose convinced her that, when sh'
WAS married, distance and the huge
range Of mountains between then
could alone save her from the jus
anger of her dusky lover.
Preparations for the marriage wer,
set on foot The little settlemen
was reused from its apathy and de
termined TO celebrate SO joyful al
event with real border heartiness
Although not secret, yet the sensibl'
portion of the settlers did not wisl
the news to travel too far. The In
dian vas far away, but nigh
return; aud even the most thought
less Dreaded that possibility withou
exactly knowing why As they wer'
to return TO the other side of th,
mountain it was determined to Civ,
them splendid wedding and max
their thoughts Of their valley hom'
pleasant remembrsnccs. One da,
was not sufficient for SO importan
an event, SO three were set apart t
be exclusively devoted to festivities
The company had gathered for th
frst days enjoyment Everything
progressed charmingly. All were il