Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1855-03-22
The Travellers Story,

zing fire, in a, tavern upon the Allie
fghany mountains. The coach ha'
n broke DOM, and by force we wer
! detained until the next morning.
e We had finished substantial Vir
3 fginia supper, and each one, with hi
|, feet on the fender and cigar in hi
mouth, ruminated upon the storm
without and the warm cozy comfor
within; Each one in his turn told {
J story or related an anecdote, and a
last the joke came round to "a hollow
checked individual who, until then
had remained silent. 10
Gentlemen said he, fixing bis
piercing grey eyes upon one Of the
Company Spaniard, who, nninvi.
ted, had drawn his chair up to the fire
some ten years ago 1 came near
tbeing murdered in this very house,
At this moment the Spaniard got
up, and was going out Of the room,
when the narrator arose, and locking
the only door in the room, put the
key 10 his pocket, took the Spaniard
by the arm and led him to an old
picture, surmounted by the old coat
of arms, in gilt-work, run his 6nger
along the motto ,i.1sne.
lsai ,Honi soft qui-maly y pense,'
said. displaying the butt end Of a
pistol, 'evil to him who evil thinks
The Spaniard smiled and said be
did not feel well, but the, stranger
swore that no man should leave the
room until he had finished his story.
Requesting US not to be amazed at
his conduct, be proceeded. olL sea
Some years ago. said he, / was
travelling over these mountains on
horseback, and ] stopped at this very
house; the landlord was extremely
obseqious in attending to my comfort,
and after supper, he requested me to
join him in a bottle of wine. Moth
ing 10th / consented, and before
midnight four empty bottles stood on
the table end, aud he was acquainted
with all my business livery impru-
IDENTIFY remarked in the course Of
conversation, that had a large sum |
of money in my yalise, and he po-
!itelyilaormed me that he would take
care of it until morning. Although
intoxicated, l did. not ap-
prove of leaving it in bis charge, and
took my yalise in mylhand and re-
tired to bed. After had undressed,
placed my pistols uadermy pillow,
md carefully, as l thought, exam
ned the room and sank into ftful
sleep.
: Il suppose it must have been two
ioprs after when awoke, and col I
ecting my scattered senses / endeay- /
yred to think what had been about.
| detected a noise under my 1
Jed. What was my horror " hen +,
a ,snall piece Of carpet !,
stretched along my bedside, move as ]
hough something was under it. e "A
old perspiration started from every
,ore; but thank God! / had pres
nee Of mind enough to prepare for
he worst. Grasping d pistol in my |
land, and hiding it under my bed (
.fotbes, I feigned to be asleep. In I !
IN instant afterwards ] saw a trap h
loor, which had been concealed by
he carpet, cautiously lift up, and !
,eheld my landlord with dark Ian
erni in his hand, directing his glitter !,
bg eyes towards me. Still / moved Il
lot; but as he turned his back to
,ut the lantern on the floor, Il fired,
md ,y Il
You killed him, did you, shrleked
he Spaniard,, almost jumping from
lis seat, s.:,.s. 4
/, Silence! till 7, !, have a finished!' said s /
be stranger, and,again he touched T
he butt end of bis weapon. The
that I fred the villain fell 4
!, started up and merely pulling myfI
yercoat on. snatched up the lantern !
bat he had dropped. crept cautious
], down With my yalise ;n ny NY hand, Il /:
. the stable, It was 9 moonlight /:
light, and /, soon saddled my horse. z
Q ggailoped ten miles. when / met q 4 |
arty Of waggoners, and ln their
ompany ] returned to the house, but
epite Of our r rigid search: not eysp1t
s much as the villain body could be
puud. But if ] can once put nay h1rds !
u him, if -itcost, me my lles ne shall
ie the dogs death. s.ust s. r
The stranger arose and caught I