The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1874-01-20

"Do you really tnlnK we are losG,cous
in2hy ~ 5000 .sriz a..
Indeed, Carrie, / believe we are. l
can recognize nothing, everything seems
strange. We must have wandered far
from the right trail. y
As he spoke the young man rose in
his stirrups, casting keen glance around
not entirely devoid of uneasiness.
"The sun is setting; it will soon be
dark We will be obliged to spend the
night here in the forest, and-.hark!' y
The cheek of the young woman paled
as she bent her ear in listening Sound
ing from a distance, yet with distinct
ness that seems peculiar to the tones of
that animal, there came long, quaver
ing, waiing cry, abruptly terminating in
a shiiil, eldritch scream The maiden
shuddered, while her cavalier looked to
the priming of his rifle. They well knew
from whence sprung this cry; they knew
that the terrible panther had reused from
it's diurnal rest, and was now setting
forth in quest of prey.
The dying rays Of the setting sun
shone full upon the couple through a rift
in the forest, and though their garb was
fashioned more for comfort and conve
nience than either grace or display, the
picture was pleasing one. Both were
young Though the eldest by half a
dozen years, the man had barely passed
his twenty fifth year.
Carrie Morton was an only child
whose father had been among the earliest
settlers of the dark and bloody ground
When Carrie was some three years o
age, James Morton returned to Virginia
for his family, settling for good at Har
rodsburg. As years rolled on. the hand
of death rested heavily upon the settler S
family. First, the good wife, then the
children, one by one they passed away
until only Carrie was left to comfort hel
father - .,t.sa
Her companion, Ned Campbell, was 8
distant relative, though familiarly called
cousin-a title, by the way. soon to be
changed for a still nearer and dearel
one, if rumor spoke correctly.
In this year-1793-a number Of emf
grants settled along the southern side OF
Green River, among them a family wei
known to the Mortons, and Carrie re
solved to pay them visit So with Net
Campbell for q sole escort, for at thai
time the Indians were accounted friend
ly, she set forth upon the journey They
hid ridden steadily since daybreak, hat
crossed the river at the proper point, bu
since then had apparently lost their way
The vast wilderness seemed uninhablted
Night was at hand,and as vet no sign o
settlement greeted their anxious eyes
Truly their situation was not 10 be en-
We'd
"Well, Carrie, we must ride on, am
trust in Providence. After all, it nigh
be worse; we have only the wild beasts
to dread" cheerilv observed Campbell
urging on his horse.
For an hour more they pressed for
ward through the trackless forest
through the fast deepening gloom, lott
to abandon hope of reaching friendl,
shelter. Then a joyful cry broke upo'
the yourg man lips. From the hiiltoI
a faint, twinklng point of light met hi
eye at no great distance.
"Hurrah! cabin at last! Come, Car
rie darling, only few rods further, ,thel
rest, shelter, and good support
In few minutes more the cabin wa
reached, and in answer to Campbell
hail two women appeared, at the opel
door, through which shone the light tina
had guided the steps of the wanderers
IA pleasant evening to you, friends,
cried Campbel5 as he dismounted. "OD
ly for that fire gIeam Of yours we mus
have camped out in the woods Now
Carrie, go you in with our friends Will
| see to the horses" j"
But we may be intruding," hesitate,
the maiden, seeing the women make NJ
i offer to welcome them
"Its little enough we have, strangers,
at this remarked one of the women, 'bu
such as it is, you're mighty welcome t
it"
Then she added to her companion:
"Mag, you show the place for the hos
critters You know whar the feed is "
Campbell followed his slovenly gnia
to small log corral back of the cabin
and there freed his jaded horses of thei
equ e,placing before them a quantit
of feed, then returned to the cabin Tn
night air was chilly; and he sat besid
Carrie in the chimney cotner. marmin!
by the blaze.
The two women, before mentioned
were almost giantes ,es, coarse, unconth
and almost brutal in appeatanee; thei
garments ill-ftting, ragged and dirty
while third sat upon low pallet,try:n!