Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1890-11-13
Marden MS silent: LIS snlrits were

under a cloud this morning He
could not account for his interest in the
boy; he reproached himself for sending
him on such dangerous errand, and re.
called with anguish of soul the parting
look of devoted affection in those dark,
expressive eyes.
Jabe. observing his companions troub-
led face and guessing it's cause, was
silent also, and they journeyed on with
scarcely word spoken, guided by the
sun, the moss on the trees, and a pocket
compass which Marden carried, until
noon, when hunger and fatigue COM
PEELED them TO rest. Thus far there
were no Indian signs in the wet ground
which retained the tracks of numerous
wild animals; yet caution and silence
were advisable.
Toward night rain began to fall, and
they looked around for a hollow tree or
projecting rock.
"There is something looks like a
house, or is it rock?" said Jabe, point
ing to an object, which in the growing
darkness might pass for either. 1t
proved to be the remains of log cabin,
part of which had been destroyed by
fire, although portion of the roof, sup
ported by the chimney, and the walls
remained, charred by FIRE; doorless,
windowless, it presented a CHASTITY and
| forbidding appearance, but it was a
| shelter, and Jabe, who was not troubled
with aesthetic tastes, boldly entered,
and with the aid of Ratchet and some
1 III 1.s~lls.rr
| the hearth, the smoke of which dis
turbed an owl who had long made the
chimney his home, as the bones and
feathers beneath testified.
Marden's foot struck something as he
entered, and as the fire lighted up the
| blackened walls he saw that it was a
| human skull with fracture across the
forehead, to which still elung few
long brown hairs.
"Some devils work has been done
here" said Jabe, pointing to the skele-
ton to which the skull belonged, and to
a smaller one, that of an infant, lying
close to the wall against which it had
been hurled, as the bloody marks testi-
! fed.
| "Yes," continued Jabe, the fierce
light in whose eyes when the dismal
spectacle revealed itself was now ex-
tinguished by tear. Eyes, Captain,
can see it all as plain as If l had been
here when it was done. The red devils
attacked the shanty and killed the
mother and child while the father was
absent; or may be we'A find his bones
outside; and the wolves have made q
meal of them, seel" and he held up 8
bone on which the marks of teeth were
plainly visible. Marden turned away
with shudder.
"We will bury them out of sight
Jabe," he said.
By the aid of knife and Ratchet shall.
low grave was dug in corner of the
room, for there was no floor but the
mother earth, to whose bosom the poor
remains were consigned, while the
grave-diggers, each according to his
light, hallowed the spot with a silent
prayer. Jabe then prepared supper,
after which he seated himself on a
block of wood which had evidently been
used by the former occupants for that
purpose, lit his pipe with a frontiers
man appreciation of present comfort, nc
natter how far short it might come OF
the genuine article.
Marden followed his example and
tried to Danish from his mind the gloomy
thoughts incident to the situation.
sits strange" said Jabe, thoughtfully.
show things happen accidental-like that
bring to mind some other thing that
may be you haven't thought of for years
and as good as forgotten" He paused
for moment, and then in answer to
Marden's inquiring look h9 went on:
4'You see, Captain, | was thinking
about what happened here where we ara
sitting, and | made sort of picture of
it in my mind, with that poor woman
and her child. May be there was others,
CARRIED off to Canada to be slaves to
their redskin masters; and the figure
that came into my mind to represent
this woman was the perfect picture Of
haven't othought of since, although
have been hunting for her in my mem
DRY for months past"
"Why were you seeking for a thing
forgotten?" asked Marden.
THAT is the queer part of 1t, sir;
was trying to think how this poor
mother looked when she was alive, and
when her child was killed before her
eyes, and another, may be, dragged away
by the red devils, before they sunk che
tomahawk in her head-when up comes
before my eyes, as plain as day, that
other mother, grievlng for her children
that was lost in like man aer, and there
they stand, all three of them, as ike as
ears of corn"
"All three?" repeated Marden, "who
is the third?''
"rll tell you, Captain. 1t is twelve
years ago, and | was working on faith
er's farm near Deerfeld. Mass. The
Indians were friendly and went about
the streets selling their bead-work and
baskets-that is, the women did. One
of them was the daughter of chief
Old Red Blanket, they called him, be-
cause the Governor made him present
of piece of red cloth, the same that the
English soldiers coats are made Of. And