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"JTiTcir" AN INDEPENDENT FAMILY NEWSPAPER. ("JSS"
Vol. "VIII. JVew Hlooinileld, Xix., Tuesday, January O. 1&7-4:. TVo. 1.
IS PUBLISHED EVKIIT TUESDAY MORNING, BT
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Fur the Bloomfleld Tlmea.
THE MYSTERIOUS FRIEND.
A Story of Old Virginia
riHE incidents recorded iu our story
I take us back to the period when Vir
ginia was a prosperous colony, and when
the vicinity of the now thriving town of
Jamestown was surrounded by a dense for
est. It was on a pretty morning in the month
of May, that a young hunter wot seen stand
ing on the northern bank of the James
river, carelessly leaning on his ride, as he
waited for any gnme that might come
within range. '
As he thus stood, his ears caught the
sound of oars some distance above him, and
caused him quickly to prepare himself
to guard against danger from the In
dians ; which at that time occasionally
gave the settlers some trouble.
Ere many minutes had elapsed, the youth
caught sight of a small boat pulled by four
stout negroes, and in the stern of which
were seated a young girl and her black
female attendant. The negroes were pull
ing at their oars with all the strength they
could command, while the girl, with f ran
tio gestures, was urging them to increase
, their speed if possible. The boat was
now nearly a quarter of a mile distant from
where tho hunter stood, but yet he could
plainly see tho anguish that dwelt in the
features of the fair pleader not that he
could make out those features in form
but tho attitude, the streaming hair, and
the agonized movements conveyed them to
his mind, aud he knew that the vindictive
red man was upon their watery trail. Of
course young Chester's first and only im
pulse upoa coming to this conclusion, was
to give his aid ; but a moment's reflection
showed him that his best course was to
wait till he could see the exact position
and number of the enemy.
Five minutes passed away and the hunt
er could not only see the features of those
in the boat, but he could plainly hear the
entreaties the girl put forth to her almost
exhausted oarsmen. The boat was in the
middle of the river, and three minutes
more would bring it opposite to where he
stood ; and just as he was begiuning to
wonder that the enemy had not come in
sight, the sharp crack of a rifle struck
upon his ears, and on the next instant, one
of the negroes dropped his oar and fell
forward at tho feet of his mistress. Un
the next moment another report, almost an
echo of the first, rang through tho air, and
a second negro dropped his oar. Quickly
throwing his rifle across his arm, the
hunter sprang down the river's bank, and
'on casting his eyes up the stream he saw,
not more than forty rods distant, a larcre
canoe containing four Indians, which had
come down under cover of the bank, in
order to avoid the current which the boat
had buffeted. With a presence of mind
that uever forsook him the young man cast
a hasty glance over the canoe, and his
quick eye told him in an instant who were
the two that had tired, for their rifles lay
carelessly by their sides, while the remain
ing two held theirs ready for use in their
arms while they paddled.
The young hunter saw that he had not
been detected by those in the canoe, but a
glance at the boat told him that the girl
had seen him. Not twenty seconds had
elapsed after he sprang down the bank
before he was back in his place, and with
his cap in his hand he beckoned earnestly
for the girl to h her boat turned towards
the shore. The hunter could see that she
understood his signal, and also that she
trusted bim, for he saw that she was uig
ing the turror stricken negroes to pull for
the bank where he stood. The canoe hnd
turned its head towards the middle of the
river, now that tho bout was brought so
uear, and Chester could seo the heads of
the Indians,(two of whom were paddling,
while the other two stood up with their
riflos iu t'oh hands. The hunter raised
his rifla, and was upon the point of firing
at one of the red men, when a sudden idea
flashed through his mind, and, loosing his
finger from the trigger, he waited with his
weapon still against his shoulder. The
canoe had just beguu to turn its head in
shore again, as the boat changed its course,
and, if it roundod-to enough, the two
standing Indians would be brought within
range of his rifle I Anxiously the hunter
awaited the result. Slowly came the canoe
about in her angle, and gradually the space
between the two Indians grow less. At
length the moment came the line of tho
hunter's never-failing aim passed through
the neck of the nearest, and struck upon
the head of the furthest Indian. With a
a steady hand he pulled the trigger, and
whilo yet the sharp report was ringing
through the forest the two red men fell 1
T'je two remaining negroes heard the
report, and, each believing himself to be
the object of its deathly intent, they both
dropped their oars ; but the girl who had
comprehended the whole, and who had
seen two of her enemies fall, coon managed
to convince the poor creatures of their
safety, and once more they took up their
oars and pulled for the shore, while the
two surviving Indians, completely terror-
struck at this unexpected catastrophe, bad
sprung to thbir feet, and were gazing earn
estly at the spot where the smoke of the
hunter's rifle was curling up above tho
bushes. With that sagacity which ever
characterizes the red man, they seemed at
once to understand that there could be but
one man on the shore, for had there been
more there would certainly have been an
other shot, and instantly springing forward,
one of them seized the only remaing loaded
rifle one had fallen into the river when
its owner fell and turned its muzzle to
wards the spot where bis eagle eye had
caught the outlines of the hunter's form
through the shrubbery. But the Indian
was too late. Nearly a minute had elapsed
since Chester had fired, aud his rifle was
again loaded. The white man caught bis
enemy's movement just as he picked up
his fallen brother's weapon, nnd as quick
as thought bis own trusty riflo was on the
aim, and another Indian full to rise no
more I
The single surviving savage saw his com
panion drop, and on the instant he resorted
to the only means for his salvation. lie
seized a paddle and quickly bending him
self to the task he shot the pliable canoe
up the river. The tide was in his favor,
and as he shaped his course obliquely to.
wards the opposite, bank, he was out of
danger ere his dreaded foe could reload
his riflo.
Just as Orlando Chester had finished re
loading bis rifle, the. bows of the boat
touched upon the shore, and as he hasten
ed down to meet it, the girl sprang out
upon the sand, and foil upon her knees at
the hunter's feet.
"O, kind sir, whoever you be," she ut
tered as she clasped her hands in gratitude,
" how shall I repay you for this."
" Lady, you can easily pay me for what
I have done. I have but performed a duty
I owe the world ; go you and do the same.
Whcu you can assist a follow-mortal, do it,
and I shall be amply repaid."
The girl had expected to havo seen the
rough hunter, and to have heard the harsh
tones of a voice that only answered to the
howl of the wild beast and the yell of tho
red savage ; but, instead, she saw a coun
tenance of rare beauty and youth, varyiug
with a hundred shades of noble- generosity
and kindness, and the voice struck upon
her ear in tones of a rich, melting cadeuco,
tinged with the plaintive cast which ever
excites sympathy iu the bosom of the
hearer. A light smile flitted across the face
of the young hunter as be noticed the
maiden's passing emotions, and letting go
the hand which be seeped to havo forgot
ten he held, he continued :
" I know your thoughts, lady. You
wonder that a poor hunter should have
asked no boon in return for his services,
but should rather have given only a piece
of seeming advice."
" And as for your tfUvleo, as you please
to term it, I take it most kindly, though
the being does not live who can say that
assistance within her power was ever asked
of Ada Wimple, and she refused it," she
replied.
"Ada Wimple 1" uttered the hunter.
" Then you are the daughter of Sir Ol
iver, whose plantation is below lieio."
" I am, sir."
A moment young Chester seemvd puzzled
by the manner of the being he hnd rejeuod,
for he had not the assurance to think that
anything in his own form or features had
so moved her ; and yet her words were not
without a turn to that effect, nor could he
fail to see that in her eyes there shone a
light which must have emanated from some
other cause than that of mere wonder. Her
father Oliver Wimple, he had often seen,
and he knew him as one of the most wealthy
and influential men in the colony. It may
be that the hunter experienced a momen
tary regret that the maiden was not poor
like himself ; but be that as it may, he soon
banished all thoughts to that effect, and
resuming his wonted composure, be said :
' You were venturesome to go so far up
the river, lady."
"But I thought no that the Indians
were so near us, sir."
"O, yes, tho red-skin ventures even
below here ; and if I mistake not, they
have lately paid your father's plantation a
visit."
" Yes Bir, they have ; and he had some
of them, whom he caught, severely whip
ped, and I think those who chased my
boat were the ones."
"No doubt of it, lady. The red man
has keen eyes, and if ho has once seen your
father's boat he will never forgot it. If
they had cause of enmity against him, they
would venture far to be revenged ; and had
they overtaken you, you would doubtless
have been a corpse ere this. Bo more care
ful in the future."
" But come, you should be on your woy
home for the day is far advanced, and your
parents will be anxious." '
"And will you not go with me and re
ceive the thanks of my father?" asked the
girl, casting an earnest look on her com
panion.
Only for a moment the young man
hesitated, and then replied, " No I cannot
go."
" There is no danger for you on the river
below here, and your two remaining negroes
can easily row you down. There is ono
not far from here whom I must protect and
comfort ; but yet I trust this will not be
our last meeting. Something tells me we
shaH meet again."
" If 7e both live we shall," uttered Ada,
with more earnestness than she was aware
of. " But before I go, 1 would know tho
name of him who saved me."
" Orlando Chester is the name I bear ;
but few know it, however."
" There is one who knows it uow, and
who will ever hold it in grateful remem
brance," Baid the fair girl, aud as she
spoke, she extended her hand. Orlando
took it, and raised it to his lips, and on
the next moment ho assisted Ada into her
boat.
Until the departing boat was lost to his
sight did the young hunter stand upon the
river's bank aud gize upon tho form of its
fair occupant. His eyes were moistened
with a new and strange emotion as the
frail bark disappeared, and after gazing a
moment upon the vacant spot where last be
had scon it, he threw his trusty rifle across
his shoulder, and whistling to his dogs, he
turned away and struck into a narrow
path that led off through the deep forest.
The hunter's way lay towards the Chick
ahomlny branch, and at the end of nearly a
mile and a half he camo to a small clearing
in the centre of which stood a well built
log-cabin. A single oaken door, formed of
hoavy plank securely pinned together, with
a small square window on each side, orna
mented the front of tho humble dwelling,
whilo the narrow walk which led to the en
trance was flanked on either side by several
flower beds, which beds betrayed taste and
refinement. Close by the cabiu ran a mur
muring brook, upon the mossy banks of
which, unaided and uncultivated, grew a
thousand wild flowers, and the waters of
which lent a soothing, cooling influence to
the surrounding atmosphere.
Tho interior of this cabin presented the
same peculiar tastes that were apparent
without. The walls were neatly plastered
with a cement made from tho red clay that
formod the lower stratum of some of the
uplands ; and all about, iu strange, fantas-
tic wreaths, were hung evergreens and wild
flowers. The floor was white aud clean,
and every arrangement spoke of the strango
genius that presided over the place.
The young hunter went to a small shed
that extended from the back of the house,
aud having deposited a deer he had shot,
and cut off several slices of the venison for
the dogs, he turned towards the door.
"I have returned, my mother, aud
brought with me some vonison," said
Orlando, as he entered the dwelling
" So you are a good boy, Orlando ; but J
shall have no need of meat to-day. See I
I hove been busy since you were gone. I
have plucked fresh flowers, and to-day I
shall live npon their fragrance. Alas I that
flowers should die I That the only faith
ful things that Qod has made should be so
frail I"
"And am not I faithful, mother?" asked
tho youth.
" Yes, my son, you are faithful ; and
though you are your father's child, and
though that father was my husband, yet I
love yon. But h 1 Ah I why did he desert
me ? When be went away he told me that
I should see him again ; but years have
rolled by since then, and still be comes not.
O, how cruel for him to desert me thus !
But you will not leave me, my dear boy."
" Never," uttered the youth ; and as he
spoke he threw his arms about his moth
er's neck and kissed her.
The poor woman drew 4ier son to her
bosom, and after returning his kiss, she
said :
" There, Orlando, go you now and bid
Elpsey prepare you somo food, for you
cannot live upon these flowers, as I can."
Morgiana Chester was what tho reader
must have already suppose insane ! She
could not yet have seen forty years, and
though there was no bloom upon bor cheek,
yet there was a transcendent beauty in her
features. Her eyes were large and dark.
and into their brilliant depths one might
have gazed for hours and not guess that
reason had flown from the mind that look
ed through them.
Orlando could remember nothing back of
his mother's strange mania ; and the first
thing plainly fixed in his memory was of
having lived somewhere in Massachusetts
colony, and of having come from there to
Virginia in a vessel, accompanied by his
mother and a negro woman named Elpsey.
1 et he knew that his mother was grown
to womanhood before she left England,
though he could not ascertain from her
whether he was born there or in Massa
chusetts, The old negress said that her lady had
much money when she first lived with hor ;
hut as it had been long since gone, Orlando
supposed that the amount could not have
been very considerable, though it might
have appeared so to the eyes of Elpsey. In
fact, the only thing that Orlando could gain
with deflniteness from bis mother was, that
his father had deserted her ; and he rea
sonably supposed that circumstance caused
her mental derangement ; and yet Morgiana
never breathed a word against her husband
in anger she only mourned his faithless
ness and somotimes wept over her loneli
ness. The old negress was not long in pre
paring a meal for Orlando ; and as he sat
down to the repast he urged his mother to
partake with him, but Bho persisted in the
assertion that she hoeded no food and so
the youth ate alone.
The young man had finished his repast,
and already bad the sun sunk behind the
tree-tops as he arose from the tablo. As
be turned towards his mother he was- some
what surprised to find her in a seeming
meditation. Tho vacant look that usually
rested upon her features when she assumed
a musing attitude was not there, but the
same strango, sparkling light that shono
upon her more active movements was still
Iu her eyes, though its beams were more
steady and intense.
"Yes, yes,, I did put it in there," sho
murmured, as bIio rose from her seat a mo
ment after her son had commenced watch
ing hor. " Yes, 'twas yesterday I put it
thoro, for I romembor it well. How could I
have forgotten it ?"
As sho spoko she wont to a large oaken
chest that stood in one corner aud com
menced taking out the contents and pla
cing thorn upon the floor. Orlando gazed
a moment upon his mother's movements,
and thou a bright tear-drop stole down his
cheek. A thousand times had he seen the
poor woman do this, and he knew that she
suffered extremely wheuever the strange
delusion came over her. Slowly and care
fully Morgiana Chester took article after
article from the chest ; each one she would
unfold and examine, then lay it aside for
the next. And so she went on till every
articlo in the chest had been examined,
after which she diligently aoarohed every
nook and corner of the inside. The chest
was perfectly plain, with not even a till to
break the samenoss of its interior, and after
a moment's examination she turned to ber
son and asked :
"Orlando, have you been here since
yesterday ?"
"No, mother, I have not."
" Some one has been hero and stolen my
luOuey. O, how could they be so cruel I I
put it in here yesterday, I am sure."
"Was it money that you put there
mother?" "
" Yes, 'twas money. 'Twas money to
me, 'twas money to you j for 'twas my life
that I put there. 'Twas a simple thing ;
yet I would not wish to lose it, and so I
put it in here and locked it up, and the
key I have worn about my neck. O, cruel,
cruel I Why, why, should they have sto
len that?"
"Perhaps you may find it yet, my dear
mother," urged the youth, in as hopeful a
tone as he could command. "Surely no
cne could have taken it, and besides, per
haps you have mislaid it."
"No, no," returned his mother, while
tho big tears began to gather in her eyes,
" I shall never, never find it again. Yes
terday I placed it there, and now it is
gone 1 Was it not wicked, Orlando, for
them to steal my only treasure? My
husband gave it to mo the night he went
away," and as she said ' this the poor wo
man covered her face and sobbed aloud.
Though the son had often seen his moth
er go through the same fruitless seacrh, yet
he could not help wondering what could
be the nature of the lost Becrst, and what,
treasure had thus been concealed. That it.
was some paper of value he felt assured,
while he was equally confident that ita.
recovery would have a powerful influence,
on the mental disease of his mother, and.
perhaps on his own condition iu life..
Whether his impressions, were correct or
not, our readers will learn in due timo. ' u
CHAPTER II.
THE MYSTERIOUS BTBANOKR APPEARS.
About a week after the events recorded
in the preceding ohapter, as Orlando was
one morning arranging bis furs near the
house preparatory to a trip to Jamestown,
he was startled by the approach of a hunt
er whose appearance was not calculated to
produce a pleasing impression.
The gigantic form of the stranger was
clothed in a rough hunter's garb, and the,
skins of which it was formed plainly told
that he must have procured thera far north
of Virginia. A long, heavy rifle, ponderous
but comely in its proportions, a hunting
kuife, shot-pouch and horn, completed the
the new comer's outward attire, aud, take
him all in all, he was one whom few would
dare to excite to anger.
. " Good morning, stranger," said Orlan
do, as the man came up, at the same time
advancing to offer his hand.
The new comer started at the tones of
the young man's voice, and ere he spoke,
he gazed for a moment eagerly into young
Chester's face. A shade of somo strong
emotion passed quickly over his bronzed
features ; but it was gone on the instant,
and taking the proffered hand, ho said,
in a voice of much power, but yet far from
unpleasant !
"A pleasant morning to you, sir. In
faith, but you've a paradise of a spot here
in the wilderness,"
" It's a pleasant spot, sir," returned
Orlando, seeming grateful for the encomi
um thus passed upon his homo.
" 'Tis such a one as I could almost fan
cy," the strangor said, as ho cast his eyes
around upon the blooming flowers ; "but
I fear me these pretty things would soon
run to ruin under my care. 'Tis a wo
man's hand, though, that tends them now!
Your wife, I suppose."
"No, sir," replied Orlando, whilo a shade,
of sadness swept across his features, " 'tis
the hand of my mother."
Tho strangor cast a searching look into
tho eyes of the youth, and oneo more ha
glanced over tho garden. Then he said :
" She's a strango being ; but," ho con
tinued, suddenly changing his tone and
manner, " are you not fearful of danger in
so remote a place? Thd Indians somotimes
venture here,' do they not?"
" Yes ; but I harm them not, and they
harm not me." '
" How was it on the river, a week
ago?" .
" Ha ! bow learned you of that ?"
"How could such a deed remain un
known?"
" But why think you it was mo ?" ,
The stranger gazed into the young man's
face for a moment, and while a pcculiai
meaning played over his countenance, he
answered :
" Could you have heard Ada Wimple -describe
the fair youth who saved her
even to the tones of bis voice, the sparkle
of his eyes, the color of his hair, find the
kind feelings of his soul, you would uot
imk me such a question."
The rich blood mounted to the brow of
tho young hunter, and his eyes full to a -downcast
turn, for the stranger's words
bad sent a strange thrill to his soul ; but
soon recovering his composure, he said :
leONTINUlSD ON BJiOC-NJUPAOXJ
"3