THE GORTONS.
Five years prior to the emigration of Deacon Wilder, Mr. Gorton, a
former neighbour, had, with his family, removed to Kentucky, and found a
home near Lexington. Around his fireside in Virginia once had gathered
three young children, Robert, Madeline and Marian. Robert, the eldest,
was not Mr. Gorton’s son, but the child of a sister, Mrs. Hunting, who
on her death bed had bequeathed her only boy to the care of her brother.
Madeline, when three years of age, was one day missed from her father’s
house. Long and protracted search was made, which resulted, at length,
in the discovery of a part of the child’s dress near a spot where lay a
pool of blood, and the mutilated remains of what was probably once the
merry laughing Madeline. As only a few of the bones and a small part of
the flesh was left, it was readily supposed that the wolves, of which
there were many at that time in the woods, had done the bloody deed.
Amid many tears the remains were gathered up, placed in a little coffin,
and buried beneath the aged oak under which they were found. Years
passed on, and the lost Madeline ceased to be spoken of save by her
parents, who could never forget.
Marian, the youngest and now the only remaining daughter of Mr. Gorton,
was, at the time of her father’s emigration, fourteen years of age. She
was a fair, handsome girl, and already toward her George Wilder, who was
four years her senior, had turned his eyes, as toward the star which was
to illuminate his future horizon. But she went from him, and thenceforth
his heart yearned for the woods and hills of Kentucky, and it was partly
through his influence that his father had finally determined to remove
thither. Thus, while Charlie, creeping to the far end of the waggon,
wept as he thought of home and Ella, George was anticipating a joyous
meeting with the beautiful Marian, and forming plans for the future,
just as thousands have done since and will do again.