The southern enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1854-1870, 1856-08-21
- 0UR RMoTTD-.esEsQFyAL REGEIpg no AIr..,,
y NYILLE,s VI 4 AUGUST b. 1856

She Instantly recognized in him one of .s,b
youngest, men she had seen below ---son I
the landlord. He advanced will, stenItb
step to the bedside Of the pedlar, and watch
cd him for few seconds. He then wen
ont, and entered, again with his brother n n,
bis father, who held in his hand large new
Ter oas,n' They went on tiptoc TO the bed
side. where the pedlar lay in deep sleep
one OF The young men drew out a knife. an.
while the father held the basin 20 as 10 re
ceire the blood, he cut the poor victim
throat from ear to ear. A slight, half audi
bic groan, and ull was still, save the canton,
movements of the party engaged in the fa,a
decd. They brought in with them Iarp,
Sac into. which they quickly thrust the un S
resisting body. The poor woman Law silent
ly in her bed, fearing that her turn would
come next. She heard low mutterinp among
the men from whic,! she soon gathered that
They were debating WHISTLER they should
murder her too; as they feared she Nigh,
have il in her power 10 betray them.
One Of them said that he was sure ,ba,
she WAS fast asleep, and that there was no
occasion to trouble themselves more: but TO
make sure of this being the case tone came
10 the bedside with tho candle in his hand,
and the other with aknife. She kept her
eyes closed as II a sleep. and had such com.
pirte command over herself as not 10 betray
IN her co,tnienance any sign that she was
conscious Of what was going on. The can.
Ole WA passed close 10 her eyes the knife
drawn ac, oss close to her throat, she never
wiDked nor showed by any movement OF
features or of limb. that she apprehended
danger. So the men whispered ,liat she was
sonndly asieep-tiat nothing WAS to Le fear.
ed from her, and they went out of the
room. removing the sack which contained
the body of the murdered man. How long
must that night of horror have seemed TO
the poor lone woman-how frightful was
It's stiffness and da! kness. The presence Of
mind which had 70 astonishingly enabled
her TO act part to which she owed her life,
sustained her through all the trying scenes
which she had yet to pass. She did not
hurry from her room at an unseasona
ble hour, bu, waited until she heard all the
family asiir for some time, she then went
down, and said she believed she had over slept
herself 10 consequence c: Icing greatly tired.
She asked where ihespedlar WAS, and WAS
told that I've was in too great n hurry 10 wait
for her, but that he had left sixpence to pay
for her breakfast q :d2i - Ef 'tf
s She sat down composedly to that meal,
and forced herself to pariake with apparent
appetite Of the food set before her. She ap-
pca'ed Unconscious Of the eyes which. with
deep scrutiny, were fixed upon her. When
the meal was over, she took leave Of the fam.
lily, and went on her, way without the least
appearance {" di>composure or mistrust. She
had proceeded but short way when she was
joined by two strapping looking women.
One look WAS sufficient 10 convince her that
they were the two young men, and one
thought assured her that she was YET in their
power, and ON the very verge of destruction.
They walked by her side, entered in conver-
sation, asked her where she was going, and
told her that their road lay the same way !;
they questioned her MS 10 where she had
lodged ihc night before, and made most
minute inquiries about the family iDhabiting
the house OF entainmcnt. Her answers were
quite unembarrasseti, ard she said the people
of the house had appeared to be decent and
civil, and had treated her very well. For
two hours the young men continued by her
side, conversing with her, and watching with
the most scrutinizing glances any change in
her countenaBce, and asking questions which.
had she not been fully self.possessed. might
have put her off her guard. il was not ill
her dreaded companions had left her, and
ill she saw her husband coming along
the road to meet her. that she lost her self
command which she had so successfully ex-
ercised. and throwing herself into his arms
tainted away.