The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1845-11-21


held in his hand a large pewter ba-
sin. They went on tip-toe to the
bedside, where the pedlar lay in
deep sleep. One of the young men
drew out knife, and while the IA
Their held the basin 50 as to receive
the blood, he cut the poor victims
throat from ear to ear. x Slight
half audible groan, and ali was still,
save the cautious movements OF the
party engaged in the fatal deed.
They had brought in with them a
large sack, into which they quickly
thrust the unresisting body. The
poor woman lay silent in her bed,
fearing that her turn would come
next. She heard low mutterlng
among the men, from which she
soon gathered that they We're debat-
ing whether they should murder her
too, as they feared she might have it
in her power to betray them, One
of them said he was sure that she
was fast asleep, and that there was
no occasion to trouble themselves
more; but to make sure of this be-
ing the case, one came to her bed
side with the candle in his hand,
and the other with the knife. She
kept her eyes closed as if in sleep,
and had such complete command
over herself, as not to hctray in her
countenance any sign that she was
concious Of what was going on.
The candle was passed close tc
her eyes, the knife was drawn
across close to her throat; she ne
yer WINGED, or showed by any
movement of feature Oh limb thai
she apprehended danger. SO the
men whispered that She was So
soundly asleep that moth ing was t'
be feared from her /; and they wen
out of the room removing the sacl
which contained the body of thu
murdered man. How long mus
that night of horror have seemed t.
the poor lone woman! How fright
full was its stiffness and its darkness
The presence of mind VIII ich had 81
astonishingly enabled her to act
part to which she owed Ter life, sus
tanned her all through the scene
, she had yet to pass. She did no
hurry from her room at an unseason
able early hour, but waited till sh
heard all the family astr for som
time she then went down and sal
she believed she over slept hersel
, in consequence of being great
tired. She asked where the pedla
was, and was told that he was in to
= great a hurry to wait for her, bu
a that he had left siXpence to pay 70
her breakfast. She sat down com
= posedly to that meal, and force
= herself to partake with apparen
n appetite of the food sat before hel
G She appeared Unconscious of Il!
eyes which with deep scrutiny
were fixed upon hcr.-When tn
). meal was over, she took leave of tn
: family and wenton her way withot
tic least appearance of discompoi
ure or mistrust. She had proceed
ed but a short distance, when slJ
: was joined by two strapping-lpokin
y women; one look was sufficient
S convince her that they were Il!
: two young men, and one t'aougl
to assure her that she was yet
u their power, and on the very vere
e of destruction. They walked b
II her side, entered into conve rsatiol
o asked her where she was going, To-
{ her that their road lay the SAN
! way; they questioned her as
II where she had lodged the night b.
! fore, and made most minute inqu
: rias about the family inhabiting &
: house of entertainment. Her al
swers were quite unemoarrasSe
y and she said the people Of the hon
+ had appeared to be decent and civ
IS and had treated her very well. f
+" two hours the young men contnu'
], by her side, conversing with he
d and watching with the most scruti
&c ling glanccs any change in hi
&c countenance, and asking Questio
&c which had she not been fully SCI
Z possessed, might have put her
"a her guard. 1t was not till h
L. dreaded companions had left he
III and till she saw her husband comi'
'c along the road TO meet her, that S
: lost her self command, which S
ie had so successfully exercised, al
III throwing herself into his arms fair
= - cd away.
n ANEGDOTEOE GEN. JAi NsON.
D. Mr.. Cist relates the following
.. .,lo.I ,yh,oh ho eoys occurrnu Al