THE FRONTIER ANGEL.



of a hardy, muscular frame, and a rather handsome
appearance. Beside him was a maiden of eighteen
or twenty years, who, without the least exaggeration
on our part, might be pronounced beautiful.
  The first couple, as said, were man and wife. The
second two intended to be at some future time-that
is, they were lovers.
  The name of the parents was Abbot, and the
maiden was Marian Abbot, their daughter. They
were farmers, who, not having succeeded as well as
they anticipated, had come to the determination to
emigrate further west-in fact, into the very heart of
Kentucky. A flat-boat wvas to start the next morn-
ing down the river, in which a number of their
neighbors were going, and in which they intended to
send Marian; but, the parents themselves were com-
pelled to wait several months in order to bring their
affairs to a settlement. Their resolution had been
taken rather suddenly, but, as said, they were com-
pelled to wait before fulfilling it.
  The flat-boat which was to start on the morrow,
carried with it more men than Abbot expected would
accompany him, and hence he deemed it much safer
for Marian that she should go with it, and, in their
western home, wait for his coming.
  The young man to whom we have referred, was
Russel Mansfield, the only son of his parents, as was



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