g and almost
undisturbed peace along the frontier was inaugurated, where, for years
before, all had been strife of the most revolting kind. But, profound
peace and security never existed on the border until the final removal
of the Indians beyond the Mississippi. Isolated families, small bodies
of men, and the lonely traveler through the forest, never were secure
from the stealthy attacks of the red-men. Deep in the gloom of the
solemn wilderness, many a deadly conflict occurred between the hunter
and the Indian. Often the victim sunk noiselessly to the turf, and his
bones bleached for years in these wilds, while none but his slayer knew
of his fate.

Captain Prescott, placing great faith in the treaty of Greenville, had
erected a fine mansion upon a tract of land received from Government.
His residence was upon the extreme frontier. He had misgivings when he
removed his wife and two daughters to that wilderness home. He
provided a number of trusty servants for their protection in his
absence with the army. Circumstances transpired which prevented his
fulfilling his promise to return home to remain, and he continued
absent nearly three years, occasionally making a short visit, and
returning to his duties again before he had fairly greeted his family.

On one of these visits, Captain Prescott took, as his companion, a
young Lieutenant named Canfield. It so happened that this visit lasted
several days, and a period of greater happiness to the young Lieutenant
probably never occurred. Mary Prescott, at that time, could not
properly be called a woman, except in the grace and dignity of her
character. She inherited the rich fancy, the nervous sensibility, and
stern will of her father, and what may seem like a contradiction, the
gentleness and modesty of her mother. She was the youngest child, and,
naturally enough, the pet of the others; but, the parents were too
sensible to spoil her by flattery or foolish indulgence. She was of
that age when the female mind is most susceptible to the great passion
of our nature in its most romantic phase, when Lieutenant Canfield
visited their house. His frank bearing, his gentlemanly deportment,
and, above all, the favorable reports which her father gave of his
gallant conduct, conspired to enlist young Mary in his favor.

[Illustration: Mary Prescott.]

They were scarcely thrown into each other's society before the natural,
though sometimes tardy, results of the virtues