Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1875-04-01

lower than the Angels, stamped with
the image Of God, and breathing Ills
breath, now despises the dust from
: which he was formed, defes the On
impotence that created him, and with
} eroveling idolatry bows down to the
Goddess Fashion, and offers up SUI
preme worship and constant adula-
ton to the Golden Calf which she has
set up and defied.
But | have depressed, and must re-
turn to the party. This notice of the
attendants is only made to introduce
them to the reader and apprize him
of their fitness for the part which they
were called upon to enact before the
adventures of the day were fully con-
cluded, and | need only add to my
description of them that they were
both old settlers and acquainted with
the region round about and were both
skilfull marksmen.
The afternoon passed rapidly away,
and all made preparation to return
homeward. This was now only de.
layed by the continued absence "of
Charles and Caroline. Their nonap-
pearance all were satisfied was occa-
stoned by no ordinary cause, though
what that cause might be none could
divine; strange, deep and indefnable
fear settled upon all, each exhibited
their anxiety in emotion, differing
more in intenseness than expression.
Lucy Ashton, who during the after
noon had appeared unusually gloomy
and distracted, and had often seclud-
ed herself from her companions, could
no longer conceal an intense interest
in the fate of the absentees, although
she made no outward demonstration
of her feelings; but her appearance Of
alarm sank into insignificance at the
deep, passionate and fervent emotion
which was felt by Edward Sanford,
and which in spite of himself his coun-
tcnance exhibited and his actions ex.
pressed. He had a better knowledge
of the country around than any other
member of the party; he had travelled
over and through it for days together,
either hunting up his fathers stock, or
in pursuit Of game. He knew that
the woods and thickets were still in
tested with wild animals, at times fe-
rocious and fearful. He had had
many Encounters with them and some
narrow escapes. These adventures
had occurred when he was we'll armed
and vigiliant; how easy was it then for
him to imagine and magnify the dan
ger of his friends, who were unarmed
and unsuspecting. He knew more
than this, that but few miles beyond
them flowed that mighty river, which
alone separated the comparate Ca
naan in which they now dwelt from the
untried, and unknown wilderness be-
yond. That the wilderness, only
few hours march distant, and barricad.
ed only by the broad but shallow riv-
err between, was the abiding place of
tribes of Indians now more vindictive,
barbarous and unsparing, than was
even natural to the Indian character,
and far beyond any denominations of
hostility which they had heretofore
made. This spirit was aroused by a
renewed effort on the part Of the Gov
eminent to persuade them, by prom
Use and money or by the bayonet, to
move on still further toward that
Jumping off place, to which they must
at no distant period finally arrive.
Edwards knowledge of these facts
and of the Indian character, filed his
imaginings with direful forbodings
and in spite of his efforts, disclosed a
sincere friendship for Charles and
love for Caroline, deep, sensitive and
unfathomable.
The sacred writer has said, "per-
feet love easiest out fear" but if he
referred to such affection as was ex-
hibited by our hero, with all defer
ence to divine writ, we must say that
our own experience and observations
which have not been limited, impress
upon us an opposite effect. He i'm
mediately determined upon his course,
and with him to decide was to act.
He quoted the feelings of his compan-
ions, as much as he conscientiouslv
could, by assuring them that he would
at once 60 in pursuit of, and would
probably soon return with the wan
derers He directed the rest of the
company TO return to his fathers
house, and as they had anticipated de-
voting the evening there, and prepar.
atoms had been made for them to re-
main there, instead of Immediately
going to their several houses. This
he wisely thought, would prevent any
needless alarm, aud he knew his faith
er would further the search to all ne
cessary extent He declined the as
sistance of volunteers from the party,
but he requested the two attendants
Of the camp, with their rifles to &C.
company him. They willingly com.
piled, and the three at once rapidly
started out in the direction where
Charles and Caroline had last been
observed.
OfEdward Sanford we have said
but little; in fact he was of that class
whom it would be difficult accurately
to describe. He was born in the val
lev of the Mohawk river in the State
of New York, and his ancestors were
Hollanders commonly known as Mo-
hawk Dutch. His mother was Van
Reunsalear. The Sanfords and Van
Reunselears were prominent as to
| wealth, character and influence from
the first settlement of the valley, and
many Of their defendants are still liv-
ing in that region of the country.
Colonel Sanford, the father of Edward,
had emigrated to the far west when
Edward was only fifteen years of
age, and he, the two sisters above
mentioned, and their mother still
blooming matron. comprized the whole
of Colonel Sanford's family. They
were indeed pioneers and had partial
| ly endured the many privations
which are necessarily attendant upon
settlement in new country