The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1854-02-08
IN ADVANCE.
N U NJ B Z R 81,

~ eSNI 4'A S'ui, tiic sui prayer OF ueNOtOu
Cnheard by the world, rises silent to thee
As true to the star of its worship, tho clouded,
The needle points faithfully DER the dim sea,
So my heart in this wintry world shrouded,
Exchanging and fond, turns trembling to thee"
"Ah, Mettie! thou art star in my
tirmament, and as true as the magnet, my
soul turns to thee. One year! oh how
ong; an age; yet it must be so. Rash
ness might ruin, where patience worketh
all things"
Unhappy man! how unfortunate thou
art, and yet how willing to rush still into
extremes. If Futurity's veil could be up
lifted, what a medley Of snares and dan
gers would appear; but short sighted man,
must by experience, learn his destiny.
a few months after the clan had col
ected at their station, runner came with
tie information that Tennessean with a
drove ofhorses was to pass along the Jones'
boro' road in n few days, and if they would
hold themselves in readiness, he would
give positively the time of their approach;
this news was gratifying to them in their
present state of inaction. Captain Watt
had never been in Tennessee, and he
doubted whether lie could with his usual
success en;rap this trader, however with
out much hesitation he selected eight of
his men to form party for the excursion.
The road which they travelled, was Il
winding, dangerous way, at one sine, ele-
waited far above the common level of the
earth, at others descending till it reached
long and darkly shaded valley beneath.
Near Jonesboro' on this route was a
large old barn-like establishment which
afforded the only entertainment to be found
on the call and rugged way, and here ira
veilers were accustomed to spend the night
in order to have the advantage of the fol-
lowing day, to pass the mountains and
reach the Ya&kin.
y short distance from the above named
hotel ain l'arc,' might be seen a dingv
log hut, which was first reared to protect
hunters from the frequent 81 overs, while
on their pleasure excursions but which
was, at the time that Capt. Watt and his
men were in their expedition occupied by
an old man, who was placed there to
watch the road. Of this, Watt and his
men were ignorant, and therefore used no
nj ,,tin,, Will, Al
selves. Only few days before the clan
had arrived there, a dreadful outrage had
hecn pcrpctratcd in that neighhorhood,
and the old spy was on the look out. No
sooner had Watt and his followers passed
out OF sight, than the watchful old squat
! ter (no doubt made more assiduous bv
the promise Of a fair rcward,) hurried
through the woods by blind path. and
reached the venerated inn long before the
adventures. lie informed the host that
n body of six suspicious looking fellows
! had called on him and enquired Of him if
any person or persons had travelled that
road lately. The innkeeper catching the
idea. thatth@y might possibly know some
thing of the late murder and robbery, inn
mediate!y sent around the neighborhood
to inform his friends, who in trice were
ready for the word to proceed. The dro-
yer had his fears aroused to the highest
degree, and with liberaity seldom exer-
cised before, offered to furnish each foot
man with q horse from his drove. lie
also, with prudent forethought, inspected
his small arms and reported himself ready
for the trip.
They had not proceeded Jar when they
observed the robbers advancing leisurely
towards them. Watt and one of his men
were in the advance of the Others some ten
or twenty yards. The officer who held
warrant against the supposed perpetrator
OF the outrage that had been previously
committed, reined in his steed, when he
came directly opposite Watt and his com
rade, and after exchanging the usual sal
utatiOns enquired Of Watt whom he had
met wait told HIM promptly that nc
saw no person, and further, that he was
stranger in that part Of the country. He
then asked Watt his name. Watt, accor-
ding to the directions Of the Mountaineer,
answered tha; il was Bill Fletcher"
The self same person we arc looking
for" said the elatcd officer. "And by
virtue Of this warrant you are my priso-
ner- These men who accompany you,
know not. l have no papers against
them, but as for you, Mr.. Fletcher, You
have been at large long enough, anil Il I
am not mistaken in my knowledge Ct the
laws Of Tennessee, youwilI find entertain
rnent in the PeniteDtiary, aud perhaps
eshnlosment tor -