The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1890-02-14
.,nYENGE.
4rRAoic ROMANCE oFrhELAsr
CENTURY.
CHAPTER {.

IHA0IC HOMANSE 0f TIE kAol
CENTURY.
CHAPTEH {.
Oh, seldom in hnll or bower are seen
So Queenly form, no noble mien,
As, freely and smiling, she welcomes them
there;
But her eye throws q glance more STORMY
Tlnn oven that Of forest child
In it's ;ear,ess aud unframed freedom
should dare.
WHITTIER.
Our story opens in the gr.nt primeval for
est lying between the Allceiany Mountains
md the Blue Ridge in Virginia, while that
stnte wnsy yet colony Of the British empire.
The forest infested US 1t WIS then by row.
ing tribes of wnrlike md ruthless savages,
and numerous wild beasts, might indeed be
called a bowling wilderness THIS boundless
contiSuity Of shade was unbrokcn save by
one rude war path that trnvcrscd its whole
breadth. known us "Braldock's Military
road" This road hul been cut by Brad.
docks III fntc,l army on their march through
the vast wilderness toward Fort Dnquesne.
Mt the time the French disputed with Eng.
land the possessions OF the latter in Anieric;.
All know how that fatal enterprise termin-
atcd. The doomed army fell into an ambus.
cnde Of savugcs, nnd were cut to pieces-.ew,
very few, cscapins to tell the tale of that
ruthless massacre.
II VAS late on close and sultry day of the
September succeeding this fatal event that Il
young lieutenant Of the Provinrials urged his
weary war horse along this rugged road,
where 1t wound up the steep ascent Of the
Ridge Of Spears" one Of tue Hjldest aud
most dangerous Of the mountain passes III
the l,lne Ridge.
Behind li,m, ut e0lnc distance, rode toll
so;nely his taitllul servant.
"" young officer seemed not more than
twenty yenrs Of age. His figure was tall and
finely prapattjone,!; his fentpies we're cast' in
tie purpst clnssic mould, his complexian WIS
very mir; his clustering curls were of pale,
golden hue; and his dark, blueeycs were firing
cd with lasllcs a shade darker. This really
lenuti I'll countcnnncc was saved from
efTeminacy by the spirited character
the falcon eyes, the curve OF til, encle nose,
the curl D t!leshort upper lip. the protrusion
nf the Wejlturnetl chin. the stately carringe
of the bend, the erect position of the body,
md, in short, Ivy tho unmistakeable mir Of
cOns:iOus str9ngtb, invincible courage, AM.
almost inspforablo arrogance thut tlistin.
guished his whole bearing.
lie wore tho blue md buff uniform of thu
Frovincinis. and snt his chestnut steed with
the mir of prince.
His servant was tall. rawhoned. red.
headed, and frrck!ed fnced Scot, somewhat
pnst middle oge. and whom long service in
his young master's family had endowed with
ccrtnin privtisges Of familiarity, whirl would
never have been tolerated in any other thall
an old and tried domestic.
He wore tho blue and bun livery of a Pro.
vincial officers attendant, and was mounted
OH strong, buy roadster.
As they drew rein ut the summit OF the
mountain, the lieutenant took from his sad
die pouch o pocket telescope, arranged it,
and pointing 1t eastward took tho sweep Of
the horizon.
The features Of the landscape wore grand
aud simple. Fellow his stand. point fell q
precipice Of rocks, broken with waterfalls md
that gave the range its name Of tho "Rijge
OF Spears"
From the foot of this mountain eastward
stretched green plain Ofinterninabs forest
land, veined With broad rivers aud their
tributaries, md reaching to the base of the
distant Hue Ridge TINT was distinctly marked
against the grey horizon.
Westward wooded wiley, diversified with
bill and dale and river, stretched from the
base Of the mountain to tho Cumberland
heights. iinWediately over which the setting
I sun, breaking tkraugh q blnck cloud. pro.
jectei level ! nys OF golden light. that for thu
moment kintlled oil the vale In q prismatii
conHngration.
II think. Sandy, there Is no doubt hut
TINT We ahnll have IL storm before wo find
shelter for the night.
"That's encouraging" cody remarked the
Scot.
"Thcre is not" continued the young man,
90 Ito swept the landscape with hia glnss,
there is not sign Of human habitation
in sigllt-not II roof. not q chimney. ncr
even an eldying curl o. smoke to mark tile
presence of nun. "
THAT'S moreencournging thnn the other. ~
Rascal" sud the young man, half smiling,
'.get down and See to my saddle girth,. and
tighten your own, for We must descend the
mountain to find u resting.place, and the
steep in reully very difficult"
"Aweel, sir, max me doubt We shall gang
to the bottom ane gait or anither," said
Sandy, very drily, as ho looked down the
fearful pre''irice, where Jagged rocks, spiked
cedars. trcarlerous sliding stones, and rush.
ing waterfalls nike threatened interruption
or destruction to the during adventurer.
True: it IL o very dangerous pass. p
said the young gentleman replying to
his servants look; "but what then? You
nnl aroused to these things; We haves shared
many dangers together"
Eve have shared danger, butt have shnred
all the glory. which shows equality ofhuman
fortunes" added Scot as he frightened his rein
to precede his master down the precipice.
At thut moment o low muttering thunder
reverbcrated through the sky. and was ecli.
ocd sullenly from all the eaverns. The black
cloud. driven before the willing wind. over.
Gust tho wh0le heavens; its shadow fell darkly
over the whole mountain. and heavily upon
tho hearts of the travellers. As the youth
looked up a large drop Of rain fell full upon his
forelead. Agnin the thunder rolled over.
head and WIS re-cchoed from the gorges
ut ia coming-it il upon u.s." exclaimed the
young soldier. looking around less In dismny
than in admiration ut the nubmity of tile
gathering storm. But just Us theseconl peal
Of thunder rolled away. md died in silence
among the distant dales, another and u diff.
ferent sound was hcard-a sound full Of hope
nnd pronlise-in fact, huntsman's horn,
FINDING the sweet, clear, short notes of the
recall.
Both master and man drew rein to stop
and listen, and looked In euch others faces
with joy.
."rbere il ut least prospect ofslieltcr.
Some stuncll sportsman who has been out all
day, warned by the rising storm. IL nov re-
turning home by this pnss-good, We will
wait until this huntsman comes up By my
)i:e q sweet MOTEL" said the young gentleman,
as the hunting horn wns heard again, sound.
ing nearer.
But Just then q crash of THUNDER, attended
ny Riht0 0I ukNtnlnS, DfORe over
the eartll. The uir sho1k, the
horses trembied under their riders. Yet, when
the shock was passed. and the smoke, us it
were, cleared oil, again was heard the silver
notes of the huntsmuns horn winding the
recall.
"TrsHal lnlln! Trallal lula! Trallul lallal
misunderstanding"
"A very sweet motel" exclaimed the YOUTH
] wish lie would hurry along" said the ser.
vant.
And, az II in answer to llis prayer, the horn
suddenly wound up its notes aud ceased. and
the sounds Of a horse hook were heard up.
pronching ut iull gallop from the opposite OF
western declivity Of the ridge.
"Ah! he liz mounted. So much the better,
We shall reach shelter oil the sooner"
"An.l he has whole pack OF hounds Mt his
heels! Listen, ! hear the pnttering Of their
1--WE hear everything in these echoing
passes."
=, sir. wish We could see Us well-can you
zee him."
"No; he has not vet appeared nhove the
edge Of the ridge-yes! there he iSl'' snid the
young man, as an equestrian figure wns seen
rising upon the edge Of the moutain.
When, just ut that instant, II binding glare
ofligiitning seemed to set the whole heavens
and earth In flames. and deatcning pcnl oil
thunder broke, and rolled, crashing down the
abyss ofspace. followed by asudden darkness
that seemed to have swallowed up all nature
in.9Iginai night and chaos!
For . iulI lnnute tho young soldier re.
mained transhxed 10 the spot.
~Az n