The Rodney telegraph. (Rodney, Miss.) 1838-1840, 1839-05-11
CfRcUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE.
A TALE FOUNDED on FACT.

C1REUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE.
TALE FOUNDED on FACT.
The circumstances which am about to
relate, are familiar to many now living
In some particulars have varied from the
truth; but If in the relation of an event which |
excited intense interest at the time of occur
renee, / shall succeed in impressing upon
any one, the delusive character Of circum-
stantial evidence, my object will be attain
ed.
Beneath the magnificent Sycamores which
bordered a lovely stream in the southwest
part of Kentucky, company of emigrants
had pitched their encampment for the night
The tents were set up, the night FIRE threw
its CLEAN upon the water, the weary horses
were feeding, and preparations were making
for repose. The party consisted Of TIN ee
brothers with their families, who were wen
ding their way to the new settlements of the
distant Missouri. On their visages where
the ague had left the salIow traces of its
touch, few of the noble traits Of human char
acter were visible. Accustomed to reside
upon the outskirts of society, little versed
in its forms, and and as little accustomed
to the restraints Of law or the duties of mo-
rality, they were the fit pioneers Of civiIiza-
ton, because their frames were prepared
for the utmost endurance of fatigue, and So
ciety was purified by their removal. Theirs
was not the fearless independence, and
frank demeanor which backs the honest
backwoodsman of our country; but the I'M
tanned license, and willy department Of vio-
lent men, who loved not the salutarv influ-
ence of the law, nor mingled of choice with
the virtuous of their own species.
AS they stirred the expiring fires, the col
umn of light, mingled with the smoke, that
| rose towards the clear sky of mild May, re-
vealed travellers of different appearance,
who had encamped on the same stream
One was man of thirty several years
passed in the 1aborious PRACTICE Of medicine
in southern climate, had destroyed his con
stitution, and he had come to breathe the
bracing air Oft higher latitude. The wing
of health had famed into yigor the waning
fires of life, and he was now returning to the
home of his adoption The young man who
sat by him, was friend, to whom he paid a
visit, and who was now attending him shor
distance on his journey. They had missed
their way, and reluctantly asked suller
ipermission of the emigrants to share thei
coarse fare, rather than wander in the dark
Through unknown forests Hamilton, tn,
younger of the two, was perhaps 81 years o
age-and was gentleman of preposessin,
appearance, Of cultivated mind, and of chi
Various and sensitive disposition. His pa
rents were INDECENT, and he had by the en-
ergy of his own talents and industry, redee
med them from poverty, and placed them i
easy circumstances. In one of his CONNIE
cial expeditions down the Mississippi, h
had met Saunders, the physician. An int
macy cnsued, which though brief, had alre;
dy ripened into friendship.
"Afection knoweth not of time,
Itriseth like the vernal flowers;
The heart pulse is its only cline,
And feelings are its hours"
Together had they hunted over the flow
cry barrens, and through the majestic fo
|. ests of their native State-had scaled tn
: precipice, and swan the torrent-had e,
/ plored the cavern, and visited whatever we
e wonderful or curious around them; and bot
l. looked forward with painful feelings to tn
i termination Of an intercourse which ha
e been pleasing and instructive. As the
were to separate in the morning, tho ev'
L ming was past in conversational the cop
GUS and involuntary flow of kindness ar
confidence which the heart pours out at I'll
e moment when friends are about to SIEVE
when the past is recalled and the future al
ID ticipated, and friendship no longer silen
a. nor motionless, displayed itself like tt
beauty Of the ocean wave, which is the mo
obvious al the moment of its dissolution.
Early in the morning the two friends pr
pared to pursue their journey. AS tht
were about to depart, one of the emigran
!, remarked to them, 81 rscon strangers, y
u allow to camp at Scottsyille tonight"
,e sYes,' said Saunders, 4 do
swell, then, can tell you cut that's
y, heap shorter than the road you talk of TAXI
s.l-and at the forks of Rushing river, Their,
smart chance of blue clay that's miry lii
;s and its right scary crossing at times"
u Surprising they had found nearer a
better road, and one by which q dangero
oil ford would be avoided, they thanked tn
wv informant, and proceeded.
'es In some previous conversation, Saund'
had learned, that his friend had recently .
lperienced some heavy losses, and was
at this time much pressed for money, and Wi
as inc to offer him assistance, had from time
fal time deferred it, from the difficulty OF
ng preaching SO delicate subject. As the Il
- of parting approached, however, he drew
nj conyersation to that point, and was inform