Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1877-03-05


be understood, that as soon as Robert
should get his farm cleared up, and
comfortable house and barn, they should
go and occupy it. And so manfully had
Robert applied himself, that the crops
were in, the house raised, for the second
generation of houses in Vermont were
all framed houses, the barn was built
and partly filled, and hughorn COW,
that would have been admired at any
agricultural fair, had such things been
in vogue, fed in the pasture near by.
Mary had her preparations well under
way, her chest of towels and sheets of
pure linen, and most of them the work
of her own nimble fingers. In two
months they were to be married.
They we're walking together towards
Mary's house just at evening, and en-
gagged in conversation in the twilight
voice of love, when suddenly light
glanced through the trees, red and fierce.
Robert turned his head, and saw in
moment that it must come from his new
farm. "What can the matter be? said
he. The red glare increased. "Mary,
can you get home alone, dear? There
must be something wrong up yonder.''
Certainly, Robert, I can already see
our house, and shall be there in a very
few minutes.
The lover gave the hast; hasty y.kkiishdfRg kissfh fRg
q rreesaech his new farm by shorter way
than the usual road. That determination
saved his life. Although he ran like
deer, yet the distance was over mile,
and the woods were dark, and so full of
bushes and fallen trees, that it was long
before he reached it. But when he did
reach it, how his heart sunk within him f!
His house, and barn, and their contents,
were burning into ashes. Elsie, his
pretty cow, was in the agonies of death
h~ inhuman butchery, and his pigs, and
pet lamD, were dII rnL
fellow could hardly keep from weeping
aloud. He sat down on stump in the
edge of the woods. where the light of
the fires could not reveal his person, if
the foe were anywhere around, and there
sat as motionless as the black stump on
which he sat. He knew that this must
be the work of hostile Indians, but why
they should select him he could not tell.
The only imaginable reason to be assign
ed was, that once, on a hunting excursion,
he delivered tie old chief, Tomo, from
th~ ~ e I:-----:~---- l: IL l. ! -- y
surrounded him, and were exulting that
in few hours they should have him in
their power, and under their tortures.
He did it by stratagem, or 'head work"
as Tomo called it. Since that, he and
Tomo had been the best of friends. Tomo
gave him an Indian name, signifying
"Saranac Hawk" But wniiu-taia gave
Robert one warm friend in Tomo, it
made all Tomo's enemies to be his. They
marked him for their vengeance. While
thinking over the present and the future
he happened to turn his eyes back, and
another stream of fire sent out its red
light. 1t was in the direction of Mary's
home. Like lion, he bounded away in
the path which ne ,->,>-.-,----L L.,+
which the Indians had. regardless of
nothing Away the poor fellow bound
ed, till he reached the well-known open
ing, and, truly enough, Mr.. Parker's
house and barns were in bright flame.
Not soul was to be seen. The Indians
had done the mischief, and were off. By
and by neighbor came cautiously up,
and among others, the Parker family,
who had fed into the woods at the shouts
of the savages all but Mary, no one
knew what had become of her. There
were no signs of blood or murder, and it
was evident that she had not been con-
sumed in the house, unless she had first
been murdered. But oh the agony Of
doubts and fears They lifted up theil
voices and wept. The fires sent up theil
bright light on the surrounding forest
only rendering it more intensely dark
beyond their glare. They hung around
the smouldering ashes, till, after mos
weary night, the morning came. Ther
!, how anxious to find the trail of the foe
and to find who and what they were
Long and anxiously did they search ant
follow the woods; but so cunning haC
J the Indians been in concealing their re
treat, by walking backwards over sof
, places, wading and following brooks
and the like, that it was almost impossi
l BILE to follow them. But in the cours
: of the second day Robert Ralston 60
r fairly on the trail, and with thrilling
a joy found the footprints of Mary Par
4 ker She was then alive These wer
' the prints of her own little feet The
e were even and regular, too, as if she wa
we'll and strong, though undoubtedl
t sore at heart. Without stopping fc
f food, or anything save his rife, Robel
e followed the marauders, determined
d rescue his betrothed, or die in the a
e tempt. In light bark canoe, he follow
/, ed them on the waters. and carried
s...-. ..A..n4a:nn ali ho bod found the,