Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1922-10-19
AhOlaha
An Historical Romance of the Pioneer History
Western Maryland
A LITTLE MARYLAND CAPTIVE


,vulsed her body, adheing in every
limb.
"Oh Dannie! Dannie! Dannie broth
er!" she softly murmured," why don't
you come to help me! Oh why didn't
you stay with me, Dannie dear!"
1t had grown dark, but she was left
alone, as though forgotten, without
offer of food or drink.
At last, weary and worn, the good
angel of sleep touched her quivering
eyelids, and bade her forget for awhile
her sorrow and trouble, as she did
that first night with the Indians who
had taken her captive. She slept; and
was again in the wigwam of her good
squaw-mother, and at the traders post
and awoke with his name on her lips.
"Ah," she thought, as she saw where
she was by the light of the moon shin
ing through the little, broken window,
"that was paradise compared with
this misery!" Again she wept as she
thought of those happy walks and
talks with Dannie, Of kind Friend Will
hanson, of Gertrude and Pauline,
now happy with their relatives, and of
her own parents and brothers and sis
ters, who were doubtless waiting for
more news of her. Would she ever
see them again? Would Dannie ever
come to her again? Was he on the
ocean yet, on the ship that looked so
beautiful as it sailed, bearing him
away from her?
All, gentle, living Marie; it is we'll
you do not know! 1t would only add
more blackness to the clouds that are
so dark and heavy over you. That
beautiful ship, and those on it, will
never again enter the port from
which it sailed, nor any other; but
you will not know it, and it is better
so.
A while she lay quietly hearing no
sound in the house save the loud
breathing of some heavy sleeper. The
thought flashed through her mind
could she not escape from this brute
who falsely claimed to be her father?
To think, with her, was often to act,
and her free life among the Indians
had intensified her natural traits of
courage and caution. Noiselessly she
crept down the dark stairway to the
street door, which had been carelessly
left ajar and she was out on the street.
But now, whittier, in this strange city?
She knew not which way to turn; only
thought to go as far as possible from
the brutal wretch who had kidnapped
her. Scarcely able to walk, she tot
tered weakly along the moonlit street
with its dark row of houses on each
side. Suddenly she heard the sound
of approaching footsteps, and voices
that grew louder by degrees, singing
some snatches of drinking songs in
maudlin way, and she hastened to con-
ceal herself in dark alley until the
revelers had passed. Then on and on
she wandered, wondering where to find
a place of refuge. Now she saw
some one coming with a lantern, and
turned a corner into another street,
and then down another, until she found
herself in a large open square. The
moon had gone down and there was
only faint light from streetlamp
in the distance She began to feel
very tired, and was conscious that she
could not go muchl farther She
would sit on this doorstep, and rest
awhile.
'Hello little girl, where do you come
from?"
She opened her eyes-it was broad
daylight, and people were passing to
and fro. The man who had aroused
her passed on as she arose and started
, to go farther. Many others looked at
the child in her Friends costume which
| Brokers wife had neglected to take
from her, but no one molested her un-
!, til suddenly she felt her arm clutched
from behind, and the voice she dread
ed above all others to hear, the voice
of her cruel captor, exclaimed, "I've
found yuh, hev /? Tryin' to run off
already, Ell? Been lookin' fer yuh all
over town. Now come right along
home with daddy"
Helplessly she yielded obedience to
his command, as she knew it would
be useless to resist, and after a long,
long walk, they arrived at Brokers
tavern. Taking her into the room
she had first entered, he took horse
whip and shaking it at her, said, "Yuh
See this here? Now yuh try sech a
trick agin, an yuh1l feel it; yuh
hear?" Calling his wife, he COM
manded, "Take her right up an change
her clothes, ez / tole yuh. / reckon
she won't want to parade no streets
then. An take her to the kitchen an