Year: 1865

him with tolerable ease and assurance,
upon subjects especially interesting to thom
at that crisis; and she was inwardly pleas
ell to find him man of learning aud feel
ing, differing from all those wko bad. to
her knowledge, been her fathers friends
aud guests.


Grssier suggested to Delcroix the pro-
priety of abandoning the cabin, and set
ting out for Fort Leavenworth. without
delay; but was assured that such step
would he attended with more danger than
remaining where they were; for their
unprotected situation during the night
time would give his enemies chance to
carry out their designs. This certainly
looked reasonable, for the cabin would be
fortified in such a manner as to enable
them to make very good defence, for it
was built of the heavy trunks Of the lar
gest cotton woods


"We must make ourselves as strong as
we can here" said Delcroix, ''for we shall
be attacked tonight, or tomorrow night,
and shall have a hard battle to fight;
but it will be very strange if they do not
have the worst of it in the end"


"How many do you suppose there may
be. who have such an inveterate feeling
of hostility against you?" asked Ora,
vier


"Only the relatives of the one shot, as
| have told you. | shall have but little
peace till they are all dead You know
the old proverb. that Indians do not for
get or forgive"


During the day, the cabin was put into
as good a condition of defence as possible.
The guns were put in excellent order, and
loaded with unusual care. while all other
available weapons were placed where
they could be used in case they should be
wanted,


The feelings Of Kathlecn-a young
girl who though reared in the backwoods
possessed all the refined senSibilities oI
the more favored of her sex-cannot well



be analyzed She did not fear for her.
self alone. She confessed feelings more
ennobliug to human nature. and woman
in particular, She feared for the safety
of her father, whose locks we're sprinkl LED
with gray-her natural protector and hel
best friend; for her brol olher-the compan
ion and friend of her childhood, destined
to be her counsellor. when the first shou(
he no more; for the stranger about to per
il his life in her defence.


Kathleen possessed much of her father
irmn, IS of character, and the circum
stances and associations which had sur
|
rounded her from childhood. had delvel
oped an energy and sclf-relianee no
found in young women moving in th
more fashionable circles Of life conse
quently in hours of danger her deport
ment was more calm and digui6ed, thai
could possibly have been expected. hat
she been reared in a different manner.
! This was SO apparent that it did no
escape the observation Of Gravier, ant
his respect for her character Increased
Though her face was pale. and Ter ex
preston grave, and even melancholy, sh
was not seen to weep in prospect of tn
danger 40 near and so imminent
though her heart was full of pent-up emo
tions.


From a small aperture in the cabin sh
watched the sun 60 down, aud saw it
last red rays falling across the grave o
her mother. The feelings of the back
woodsman's daughter, at that moment, W
will leave to the kind reader to imagine
If her heart ever wished to discharge it
load of sorrow, it was undoubtedly at tina
crisis of her life.


The sunlight faded from her mother
grave, and the soft, pensive twilight pre-
vailed An ominous stiffness seemed t
pervade the air The winds were hushe
and the vesper song of the birds ha
ceased. With the gloom Of the nigh
came gloom Of the spirit, which di'
coursed of danger, captivity tortures an
death. All felt an oppression of the sou
which they strove in vain to dispel by a
air Of cheerfuness


I 1t was one of those nights whose yer
darkness has something mournful in j