The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1890-05-14


cred the beautiful form many inches
deep, andy then the elods were gently re-
placed, and little mound was heaped,
and the child, transferred from her moth
er's bosom, was sleeping at last in the
bosom of that greater mother-Eafth.
The two sad mourners knelt again beside
the grave and seemed to be engaged in
prayer, lifting their, faces now and then
to the sky, rs if in its infinite clear depths
they saw the future hopes
All this-though still thought 1t I'M
real-had awakened in. me the keeuest
interest and sympathy. But my atten-
ton was now suddenly diverted to a line
of figures in the distance, somewhat be-
yond the spot where l had seen the
wagon when first awoke. These We're
horsemen, who came sweeping ON ct a
rapid pace, as if engaged in eager pur-
suit. From the manner in which they
rode Il1new they wero Indians.
All! saw it all now, and understood
why these spectral visitors had SO often
. looked back SO apprehensirely in the di-
rection from which they had approached.
These pilgrims across the plains had seen
signs of savages, and had used the night
to push ON beyond their reach, if hap1y
they might bury their dead in peace and
find safety for themselves. But the foe
had discovered their trail and followed
them, bent ON massacre.
| laid my hand instinctively ON my
rifle under the edge of my blanket, that
might join in the defense, and was
about to cry out i'll warming of the dan
ger saw approaching, but instantly be-
thought myself that this was unreahty,
a mere vision, calling for no practical
action, and | might better let these
shadows work out their tragedy to the
end. | again restrained the dog, who
seemed agitated, whether because he
saw what was seeing or out of sympa-
thy with my emotion-l know not
which.
The two at the grave seemed uncon-
scious of the threatened danger until
their enemies were within hundred
yards, when the man sprang up and
lifted the woman also to her feet. They
turned toward the wagon, as if to gain
its shelter and secure weapons for de-
L
fire and also II flight of arrows, still
without sound, however, to break the
calm of the night.
Both the man and woman staggered as
if wounded. They stopped and turned
face to face, throwing their arms about
each other, as if realizing that this was
their last embrace. Another volley and
still clinging to each other in the agony
of death. they fell together upon tho
grave of their child.
The Indians were not long in com
pleting their work. Then catching the
horses and Harvesting them into the
wagon they FASTENED away, as though
themselves in fear Of pursuit watched
them until they disappeared, and then
was alone with my thoughts and the
brilliant night.
realized that had seen a vision, and, ,
although ! turned myself resolutely 20
rest. my sleep for the remainder of the
night was iitful and disturbed. When
finally | awakened again the sun. had
risen, and under the influence of that
great dispeller of illusions, and in spite
of the Yiyidness of the night experience,
beoan to 4b;nl, that ofta, oil 7 MIGHT
have heon onIv dreonino. e,,ac;sl1,,
wban I cow +bat +ha snaoa n,hora 7 ha2
saen tho hn,;aI onJ tba trn,,ad,, that so1
lowed WIG MOI onon aud La b,,t o,,e,.
grown with brush and young trees.
Nevertheless, yielding to curiosity of
which was meanwhile almost ashamed,
parting theee With nv bonds 40 7 went
forward md acann;n1 tho arorna cIosa'
" I shortlv , eyncr;enced y now ahocL o., -
s,,,,,,;,,,,. e., r. l., tha ",,nnt a,,,t
narkcd py inc iiBhU scene, was nttie