Eaton Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1843-1856, 1855-03-29


| hat choked the very air in clouds, were dis
| tressng beyond endurance, and as the half
naked body Of their prisoner hung back in its
| fantneSS, The strips OF bloody skin, torn loose
| by their whip-ashes, were guile hidden by
their black eager forms. What should they
do H-s
The suggestion OF DR.. Veneer cannotbe en-
tertained for moment; the reader can read.
lily guess what it was. Finally it was deci-
ded that Damon should hang here until morn
ing, and the party would then return.
To remain there among the musketoes -
Far more kind 10 have adopted the Shorter
plan ofthe Doctors, and let The black mold
of the canebrake cover its dead. But thun-
der clouds were banking upon every side, and
The regulators hurried TO the river 10 get
across barely in time TO escape the storm.
Amid the cracking Of the trees and the howl
ing ofthe blasts, the unpitied gambler return
ed to his senses. |! had been The sleep Of
death but for those very Stings, which aroused
lie life within him 10 resist I cir horrid at
tacks.
The dash OF cold water upon his exposed
wounds was grateful TO The fever that Scorch-
ed his very vias, and, still better, it drove
away the mnsketoes.
TIE ynchers were gone; that was sufficient
they threatened; and now, could he but cl ear
away these chords, vengeance was in his
grasp. o, how that hope strengthened his
snews TO strain, and hardened those very
| teeth 10 gnaw away al the very strong fbers
| that hound him.
What horrd laugh issued from his lungs
as the first band gave way. With what an
exullirg bound he Sprong from the holly tree,
whose vygin bark was now stained by human
blood, and wi his rIsht hand extended toward
tie thundererS tLTJne, vowed death 10 the
four or death 10 himself.
But little did lie heed he torn skin or CASH
ed flesh upon EIS back. ReSoutely fixing his
eye upon a star, he dashed the cane aside,
and Mt run, reached tie bank, A halfmiIe
up .he stream brought him 10 farm house and
wood yard where a small Skif, without oars,
was fastened to ,he bank by chain and lock,
earring or The inSlenugs, regardless of oars,
he pushed off, and by the aid Of a blsin that
lay in The bottom OF the Skiff, propelled the
boat across, Uu: al point some miles below
the town.
By noon the next day he was lying, unknown
10 any one except his wife, al his own house
in state OF high de lrium. This continued
for more than month, during which time the
strong miud,d d woman hung over his bed by
DAY and night, fed upon hopes OF delicious re-
venge. nor suffered living soul 10 know that
her husband was there. strong constitution
carried the gambler through, and he was pro-
nounced by his nurSe to be out Of danger
There the twain sal fer long hours that ran
far into the night of morning, and devised
their projects oI revenge. I here was no dif-
ference Of sentiment between them as 10 the
amount Of The provoca,ion, none as 10 the er-
tent 10 which their vengeance should 60.
Death death was the honid sum total
but the detaiis-there required consideration,
| and who, Of the doomed four, should lead the
way in the procession of ghosts T! And should
| all die in the same manner! And in what
manner should death be meted out to them
! And when should the tower OF Sloan fall +?
So CAREFUL had the heroine preserved The
secret Of her husbands return, that her near
est nelghbor did not suspect it. The four
| IyncherS discovered that Damon had freed him
SELF but, finding no evidence that he had
made his escape from the cane brake, they
agreed that lie must have died there, so they
concealed the guilty cause Of his disappear
ance in their breasts.
Mrs. Damon caused an advertisement 10 be
inserted in the town journal, offering reward
| for the discovery of her husbands body, sup
posed 10 have been drowned about ;he ninth
! OF July. This SIT p added TO their assurance,
and IN few weeks they began 10 breathe free
| ly again.
But the avenger Vas in their path. States
warrant was sworn out against the four for as
Sault anG battery upon the person OF Eugene
! Damon.
Confronted with their accuser in the mags-
trateS court they were identified by his plain,
direct testimony as well as by various circum-
inf nj nj nut he
bail-bondS to appear be fore the next Circuit
Court.
But the bar before which they were 10 stand,
and the Judge with whom they were 10 be con-
lroned were Of a far higher character than
those.
! For, as they sat in The presence OF their
friends, two Of them having their wives and
children preSt NJ, depressed in mind by the
'urn tie affair was taking, Damon walked de-
! l,beTately up 10 them, drew two double bar
relied pistols from his pockets, and with right
and lett hands, for he was aElb'dexlrouS, shot
the four through their hearts before a gesture
or even word could be interposed
Vengeance was never more sudden or COM
plete. The four young men, all in the prime
of life, the crowd Of horror stricken friends,
the fury Of the citizens, the dismay OF TIE
officers, must be conceived rather than desert
bed. Damon was borne to jail, placed in due
lime upon trial and acquitted on the score Of
Justification.
----~~~-----,>------~@
D+Among other things 10 Le desired, are the
following:
A method TO make truth as agreeable as
falSehood.
A receipt for praising pretty girl without
giving offence TO her elder sisters.
Some way Of collecting a small debt with
out havingtO earn the money second time,
in the attempt.
How TO induce a constant reader Of o news
paper TO become q constant subscriber.
A plan Of eli ing a paper without being
considered duh by The gddy, frivolous by the
seriousminded, unappreciated by three -fourlhS
and cheated by the other quarter.
.---------~----------- -..---
JTMounta!ns are considerably up and down
IN Vermont. 1t is related that a coachmar
driving mp was asked if it was steep oil The
other side. "Seep," he answered, "chn il
Lightning couldn't 90 down without breechin'
on -
GTThe violet grows low and covers itsel
with its own tears, and Of all flowers yields
The most dilicious and fragrant smell-such is
humility.
.
1FGather up knowledge with n dilicent
hand, it is the only earthly good that Will n"
sometimes Civ. you pain.