Swiftly and on noiseless wing sped on old father Time,
and they who thought the summer would never pass,
were surprised when o'er the wooded hills the breath of
autumn came, bearing the yellow leaf — the first white
hair in nature's sunny locks. The golden harvests were
gathered in, and through the forest “the sound of dropping
nuts was heard,” showing that

It was the last day of October, and over the fading
earth the autumnal sun was shedding its rays as brightly
as in the early summer. The long shadows, stretching
far to the eastward, betokened the approach of night, and

[figure description] Page 297.[end figure description]

when at last the sun sank to its western home, the full
moon poured a flood of soft, pale light over the scene,
and looking in at a half opened window, shone upon a
beautiful young girl, who, with the love-light in her dark
blue eye, and woman's holy trust in her heart, was listening,
or seeming to listen, while the words were said
which made her the wife of George Wilder.

Scarce was the ceremony completed, when the light
from the window was obscured, a shadow fell darkly upon
Robert, and a voice, clear and musical, uttered words
which curdled the blood of the fair bride, and made more
than one heart stand still with fear. They were, “The
Indians, the Indians! — they are coming in less than an
hour!”

The next moment a tall and graceful figure appeared
in the doorway, and laying its hand on Robert's shoulder,
exclaimed, “It is your life they seek, but Orianna will
save you!”

Then away glided the maiden, so noiselessly that but
for the tidings she brought, the party would almost have
doubted that she had been there. For a time the company
were mute with surprise, and involuntarily George
clasped closely to his side his Marian, as if to shield her
from the coming danger. At length, Mr. Gorton asked
Robert for an explanation of what the stranger had said.

Robert replied, “Two days since, I was hunting in the
woods not far from the house, when a rustling noise behind
some bushes attracted my attention. Without stopping
to think, I leveled my gun and fired, when behold!
up sprang an Indian girl, and bounded away so swiftly
that to overtake her and apologize was impossible. This
I suppose to be the reason why my life is sought.”

His supposition was correct, and for the benefit of the
reader we will explain how Orianna became possessed of

[figure description] Page 298.[end figure description]

the secret. The night before, when returning to her father's
wigwam, she was startled by the sound of many
voices within. Curiosity prompted her to listen, and she
thus learned that the Indians who lived east of Lexington
had been insulted by a white man, who had fired at one
of their squaws. From the description of the aggressor,
she knew it to be Robert, and with fast beating heart she
listened to the plan of attacking Mr. Gorton's dwelling
on the night of the wedding.

Owanno heard them to the end, and then, to Orianna's
great delight, he refused to join them, saying he was now
too old to contend with the pale-face, unless himself or
family were molested. The old chief would not acknowledge
how much this decision was owing to the influence
of his gentle daughter. He knew she liked the whites,
and he knew, too, another thing,—but 'tis not time for
that yet.

Orianna had now something to do. A life dearer far
than her own was to be saved, and Marian, too,—whose
very name had a power to thrill each nerve of that noble
Indian girl,—she was in danger.

The next day Charlie waited in vain for his pupil, for
she was away on her mission of love, and the stern
features of many an Indian relaxed as he welcomed to
his cabin the chieftain's daughter. Ere the sun set she
fully understood their plan of attack, and then, unmindful
of the twenty-five miles traversed since the dawn of
day, she hied her back to Lexington, to raise its inhabitants,
and as we have seen, to apprise the bridal party
of their danger.

Not a moment was to be lost, and while they were consulting
as to their best means of safety, the Indian girl
again stood among them, saying, “Let me advise you.
It is not the town they wish to attack,—they will hardly

[figure description] Page 299.[end figure description]

do that,—it is this house,—it is you,” laying her hand
convulsively on Robert's arm. “But there is yet time to
escape; flee to the town, and leave me here—”

“To be killed!” said Robert.

“To be killed!” she repeated, scornfully. “In all
Kentucky there lives not the red man who dares touch a
hair of Orianna's head.”

Her proposition seemed feasible enough, and after a little
hesitation it was resolved to adopt it. The negroes
had already done so, for at the first alarm they had taken
tot heir heels, and were byt his time half way to Lexington.
Thither the whites, with the exception of Robert,
soon followed. He resolutely refused to go, saying, in
answer to his friends' entreaties. “No, never will I desert
a helpless female. You remove the ladies to a place
of safety, and then with others return to my aid.”

So they were left alone, the white man and the Indian.
Together, side by side, they watched the coming of the
foe. At Orianna's direction the doors had been barricaded,
while the lights were left burning in order to
deceive the Indians into a belief that the inmates still
were there. A half hour went by, and then, in tones
which sent the blood in icy streams through Robert's
veins, Orianna whispered, “They come! Do you see
them? Look!”

He did look, and by the light of the moon he discerned
the outlines of many dusky forms, moving stealthily
through the woods in the direction of the house. The
garden fence was passed, and then onward, slowly but
surely, they came. So intent was Robert in watching
their movements, that he noted not the band of armed
men who, in an opposite direction, were advancing to the
rescue; neither did he observe in time to prevent it the
lightning spring with which Orianna bounded through

[figure description] Page 300.[end figure description]

the window, and went forth to meet the enemy, who,
mistaking her for some one else, uttered a yell of savage
exultation and pressed on more fiercely. Loud and deafening
was the war-cry which echoed through the woods,
and louder still was the shout of defiance which rent the
air, as the whites came suddenly face to face with the astonished
Indians.

It was Orianna's intention, when she leaped from the
window, to reach the leader of the savages, and by telling
him the truth of the matter as she had heard it from
Robert, she hoped to dissuade him from his murderous
design. But her interference was not needed, for the
savages were surprised and intimidated by the unexpected
resistance, and in the fear and confusion of the moment
they greatly magnified the number of their assailants.
Accordingly, after a few random shots, they precipitately
fled, leaving Orianna alone with those whose lives she had
saved.

Almost caressingly Robert wound his arm about her
slight form, as he said, “Twice have you saved my life.
Now, name your reward, and if money—”

There was bitterness in the tone with which Orianna
interrupted him, saying, “Money! Orianna never
works for money. All she asks is that you let her go,
for the path is long which she must tread ere the sun's
rising.”

“To-night! You will not leave us to-night!” said
Robert.

“Urge me not,” answered Orianna, “for by the wig
wam door at Grassy Spring Narretta waits, and wonders
why I linger.”

Remonstrance was useless, for even while Robert was
speaking, she moved away, and the echo of her footfall
was scarcely heard, so rapid and cat-like was the tread

p598-306 [figure description] Page 301.[end figure description]

with which she disappeared in the darkness of the woods.
Robert looked thoughtfully after her for a time, and then,
with something very like a half smothered sigh, he turned
away. Could that sigh, faint as it was, have fallen on the
ear of the lone Indian girl, she would have felt fully repaid
for her toil, but now a weight of sorrow lay upon
her young heart, crushing each flower of gladness, even
as she, with impatient tread, crushed beneath her feet
the yellow leaves of autumn.