Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1854-06-28
Spirit Of tBs 9gs, YaIeigg, YortB

The next DAY sun rose Iii n cIOuQlcSS SKY.
With our satchel packed with books, slung
across our shoulder, we were slowly trudging
our way along the road that led to the school
house rejecting on the sorrows of poor Alice.
The shrill blast Of a bugle high up among
the hills, another and another-startled us
from our r~everie, while a horseman galloped
down the hill into the road before US. His
eye was wild and his voice excited. His irstA
words ring in our ears yet.
"AthertOn's wife is murdered, he is gone
and Alice is lostl Spread the news" And
he galloped away, while the wild notes of
his bugle rang through the glens on the
morning air.
Murder! Alice lost!! Such a horrid re-
hearsal our young nature could scarcely com
prehend. The flesh crept while the rising
hair started our cap from the head. Our
heart throbbed wildly, and with a light step
we hHrried to the school house. The news
was there before US and terror was blanched
on every check. There was no school that
day and we all FASTENED home again.
The neighborhood was in a buzz. With a
crowd we hurried to Atherton's cottage
What q spectacle there lay Mrs. Anterior
on the floor Of a once happy home in a pool
of blood, and in it lay her husbands hat
We dared not 60 near il, so horrible it seemed.
1.-The woods must be searched for the lost"
cried out q leading man, and we went too.
Alice lost how the thought rang upon our
brain.
The crowd divided and went in different
directions. We kept with our man, Jones,
who lived on the farm. Across through the
glade we went and struck down through the
deep cut for the branch. We went up the
branch towards the willows. The memory
of yesterday came back and | almost dread.
cd to see the willows, but Jones said we would
go there and then over to the Big Hill be-
yond the house. We drew near the willows,
and what ascenel Memoryreels and staggers
under it yet! There were the objects of the
days search. Anterior was stretched upon
the ground at the side of Moss Rock aud his
neck was half buried in a clotted mass OF
blood over which the flies buzzed. In one
hand he clasped a heavy knife with which he
had inflicted the death wound on his throat,
which CAPPED most CHASTITY from ear to ear,
and around the other hand was wound a col.
of rope which went up over a long limb Of
the willow while sweet Alice swung by the
neck in the wind! | shrieked, and screamed
and chung to Jones, while he raised his mus
ket and gave the signal fire and shout. The
%neighbors came crowding in to the little fla
OF the willows, and strong men wept. Tht
rope was cut from the lifeless demons hanC
and murdered Alice was let gently down.
Her limbs had stifened in death, and her blu,
eyes were glazed and half concealed by thei
golden lashes, while around her snowy necl
was u blue and livid streak where the dead
ly rope had buried itself in the flesh.
A jury's verdict was rendered in accor
dance with the facts, and the three were lai
side by side under the cool shade and sod o
the willows.
Time after time we have knelt at the gray
of poor murdered Alice and sworn a life Ion
hostility to the Rum traffic her destroyer
Long years have fled since the three grave
were opened and closed the same day unde
the willow, and new faces peep out at a ne
Mistress from behind new books in the Of
school house. Old time memories stir I'll
hearts ofthose that arc growing old now, BIT
we know of no waif more sad than the or
here recorded.
And Devlin?
Ali yes, we must tell.
Gods avenging fash fell from heaven {
, his dramshop by the Lake while he sat
D mong his glasses, and shivered and then co
sumed it. He was stricken down by the i
visible agent but not to destroy, yet he h
never looked out on the green fields and Il
blessed sunlight more.
Heaven cursed Devlin wanders in the ear
without pity from man
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