The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1879-01-08
A TALE OF THE OLDEN TIME.

Tn the summer Of 1857, when we were
fighting against the encroachments of
France on the northern and western Dor
,ders, there lay among the picturesque
hills of Northern Virginia a large planta-
! ton. The family mansion stood GA ela-
waited ground, with sloping lawns and
broad piazzas, shaded by an abundant
growth Of ivy and tall poplars.
The owner Of this beautiful estate was
an eccentric old planter, whose ch'af
pride lay IN the imn,utAbility of h'e
word. A law Of the Modes and Persians
could sooner have been broken than his
commands changed; and under his ar
arbitrary rule he had brought up q
oaughter--his only child Size was Just
seventeen, and was possessed Of 3 beauty
SO rare and unconscious that, added to
her prospective wealth, it caused her
frame to spread far and wide.
| About this time the atrocities Of the
| Indians grew SO daring and terrifying
that the planter determined on getting a
! son-in-law possessing strength and cour-
age, even at the sacrifice Of mis- daughters
! happiness; but he matarsd his plans be-
! fore he revealed them,
| One afternoon, late in August, the
planters daughter stood on the western
| piazza, leaning against g pillar covered
| with climbing roses. She was detected
~ gazing into the golden, hazy clouds
that lay piled in the distant west, and
nervously pulling apart the roses, until
| the floor at her feet was covered with
petals. "Oh, dear 'she exclaimed at last,
II wonderif any thing can be doner'
"About wheat, honeya" asked a moth
| erly-lookingssco lored womap, looking up
from her knitting through pair of large
brass spectiales. s.
Haven't you heard, nanny, of faith
er's last whims" sighed the girl. 1--WE
| are to have jumping match on the east
lawn in two weeks. All the young men
Of the village are invited to take part, and
[ am to marry the one who jumps the
farthest"
"Lord O massey, chile! de butchers
son might jump de furdestH'
ooh, no: there IS little danger Of that
fear others more"
81 reckon, darlin', dem savages is de
cause of all dis here trouhle,'', said the
woman thoughfully. "Massa is awful
ly 'fraid dey'll come up here and butcher
us wiaout Judge or jury, an he's get:in'
ole, honey, and needs son dat can fte-
an larn the boys to tite, too"
A quick step on the gravel walk made
the young girl turn. '.Oh, here is Tom
! tt last!' she exclaimed, as, with beamlng
face and heightened color. she sprung
lightly down the steps to meet fine
looking young military officer
ri fD 81, ri
extending both hands. ''And SO old Tim
actually found youS'
"Yes," he replied, taking her hands.
and then lifting her tell-tale face to find
q confirmation Of her words in the inno-
cent depths Of her dark eyes. s'Tim
| found me, and here I am, Nettie: but I
| have only ten or fifteen minutes to stay.
Let US walk III that pata Yonder, where
we can talk Enthusiastically and he
drew her hand through his arm. .tYour
note tells me Of this jack a napes within
of your fathers, and the consequent SON
in-law business It fairly makes my
blood boil to think he would subject YOU
| to such q trial.
But YOU can jump frather than any one
else, Tom; and you won't have to 90 TO
Carlisle, will your
| mo, thank fortune, not for some time
We are at Fort Cumberland now, but in
few days will be nearer this plantation.
Col. Stanwix sent me down with party
Of men to help dose these Indians with
gnnpowder They have committed such
fearful ravages notvery far Off if 5.
~ wonder where Col. Washington is?
Why DOESN'T he stop these cruelties, if he
is as braveas they say?' asked Nettie.
/ Because Gov. DinWiddia ii always in
terfering with him, He has scarcely
more than enough men at his own head
quarters in Winchester to protect Fort
London alone. AS. to his bravery, it can t
be questioned. He received four bullets
through his coat at the battle Of the Mon
ongahela, two years ago, and had two
horses killed under him, and he was Just
recovering from fever, too. But, Nettie,
we can talk of this some other time,
Now to business; On the day OF the
match, if II n s.s# .8.. !. I;
sob, don't say il, Ton,' interrupted
i Nettie, hiding her face on his arm Oh
know father is inexorable, and it you failr'
I "Fail or not fail, you belong to me,