South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1837-04-29
CIRCUMsTANTIAL EVIDENCE.
A TALE FOUNDED ON FACT.


From the Western Monthly Magazine.
The circumstances which am about to re-
late, are familiar to many now living. The
event excited intense interest at the time of
Its occurrence. If shall succeed in impress
ing upon any one the delusive character of
CIRcUMsTANTIAL EVIDENCE, my object will
be attained.
Beneath the magnificent syeamores which
bordered lovely stream in the southwest
part of Kentucky, a company OF emlSrants
had>pitched their encampment for the night
The tents were set up, the nighttime threw
its CLEAN upon the water, the weary horses
Were feeding, the evening repast was over,
and preparations were made for repose. The
party consisted of three brothers, with their
families, who were vending their way to the
new lands of the distant Missouri. On their
visages, where the ague had left the sallow
traces Of its touch, few of the noble traits OF
human character were visible. Accustomed
to reside upon the outskirts of society, little
versed in its forms, and as little accustomed
to the restraints of law, or the duties of NOR
ality, they were the fit pioneers efclvllizatlon,
because their frames were prepared Tor the
utmost endurance of fatigue, and society was
purified by their removal. Theirs was not
The fearless independence and frank demeanor
which backs the honest backwoodsman ofour
country; but the untainted license, and the
willy department of violent men, who loved
not the salutary influence of the law, nor min
gled of choice with the virtuous Of their own
species.
umn of light, mingled with the smoke and Gin
der that rose toward the clear sky of the mild
Nav night, revealed travellers Of q different
appearance, who had encamped on the mar
gin of the same stream. One was a man of
thirty; several years passed in the laborious
practice of medicine, in southern climate,
had DESTROYED his constitution, and he had
come to breathe the bracing air of the higher
latitude. The wing ofhealth had famed into
yigor the waning fires oflife, and he was now
returning to the home ofhis adoption with a
renovated frame The young man who sat
by him, was friend to whom he had paid a
visit, and who was now attending him short
distance ON his journey. They had missed
their way, and reluctantly asked sullen per-
mission of the emigrants to share their coarse
fare rather than wander in the dark, through
unknown forests. Hamilton, the younger Of
the two, was, perhaps, twenty seven years OF
age, and was gentleman Of prepossesslng APP
pearance, of cultivated mind, and ola chival-
iOuS anu oOuolllFC uiotloo'NAOii' @A@S fN
were, INDECENT, and he had by the energy oil
his own talents and industry, redeemed them
from poverty, and placed them in easy cir
culnstances In one of his commercial expe-
ditions down the Mississippi, he had met with
Saunders, the physician. An intimacy ensu,
ed, which though brief, had already ripened
into mature friendship.
"Affection lSnoweth not Of time,
1t riseth like the vernal flowers;
The heart pulse is its only chime,
And feelings are its hours"
Together t6ag bsas tatated over the fowery
barrens. and I'll ouch attle majestic forests o.
their native Stat2ass had sealed the precipice
and swan the tore lt-sliad explored the ca
vern, and visited whatever was wonderful o.
curious in the region around them ana potn
looked forward, with painful feelings, 70 the
termination Of an intercourse which hao oee ~
pleasinp and instructive. AS they were u
senarate in fhe morning, the evening was pass
ed in conversation-in the copious and lnvol-
untarv Aoy of kindness and confidence Which
tha heart hours out at the moment when irlenas
are about TO sever, when the past IS recalled
and the future anticipated, and friendship no %
LONGER silent, nor motionleSs, disPiays l,seil
like the beauty of the ocean wave, Wliich -
fhe most obvious at the moment oil us oisso-
luton. al, ,r
Early in the morning the two friends puI-
sued their Journey. As they were ABOUT 10
depart, one fthe emigrants advanced towards
them, and remarked: -
81 reckon, strangers, you allow to camp al
Scottvile to-night!''
8. "Yes, "said Saunders, 81 do
"Well, then, can tell cut that's q heap
shorter than the road you talk OF kins-al u
at the forks of Rushing river, there's sina ii
chance of blue clay, that's miry like ana It's