Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1857-04-09
Ap 5piefesfiQg Iaic.
GILES ROPER,
OR THE
Mysterious Murder.
By AcoUSTRY PHYSICIAN.


1t is now nearly forty years ago since l
first commenced practice in this lively part
of the country. In those days was pos
sessed of little else save small floating cap
ital invested in drugs, the necessary instru
ments OF surgery, and a wife-the last as
necessary an article as any to man in my
profession. A very hard life we had at
first, and it was not without much ado, and
many struggles, that we contrived to keep
iip cheerful looks and decent appearances.
The population was at that time thin, and
scarce humanized; (; it was even reported that
they were born with webbed feet; do
not vouch for the fact Indeed, it was
rarely ;hati had an opportunity of judg-
ing how they were born; for such was their
heathenish ignorance, that a few barbarous
recipes, handed down from Shem, Ham or
Jsphet, together with an implicit reliance on
the powers of nature, sufficed them in ev-
cry emergency, and it was long ere they
could be induced to have recourse to pro-
fessional advice, and submit to be physic-
ed like rational and christian PEE pc.
TWAS with no little surprise, then, tEat
one winters night, as II was on the point Of
retiring to the arms of Morpheus, l receiy
ed summons to attend strange lady,
who had just arrived at the "Black Lion,"
and who was prevented by sudden indispo
sitioa from pursuing her journey.
"a lady at the Black Lion,' quoth l,
buttoning on my great coat in state Of
oytrap,a hawiIdermept
"Quite lady, sir-quite young and
alone; one servant and 3 cosch-aud-four
sir" was the reply.
Such thing had not occurred in the
memory of man. Our country was rarely
visited at all, save by the landlords agent,
and an occasional commercial traveller; but
lady, attended, too, merely by servant,
it was well nigh Incredible; andfull of con-
lectures, set forth to visit M new pa
tient.
The Black Lion was situated about
half a mile from the village, on what was
then the high road. Spite of wind and
wet, made my way as rapidly as possible
to the house in question. The paths across
the r,orasses were few, and known to few,
and rarely tFaversed save in the pursuit of
wild ducks and fen birds. But of all the
frequenters Of this wild region, Giles Roper,
the landlord of the Black Lyon, was held
to be the most skilled and the most adven-
turous. He was a dead shot, and not
thought to be over nice on what be pulled
a trigger. Many and strange we're the sto-
ries told of his exploits, but little good was
known of him; and his house was the re-
sort of sheep-thieves, poachers, and espec-
tally oflow gamblers and rufiians almost rs
desperate rs himself
Such was the character of the man and
the spot which / was about to visit, and it
was not without feelings of sorrow and ap
prehension that learned that young Ia
dy, sick, apparently rich, and unprotected,
save By an aged domestic, had been COM
PEELED to seek doubtful asylum. On
reaching the house, | was ushered at once
to the chamber of the sufferer. 1t was q
mean apartment, low-roofed, not over clean,
and evidently ill-suited to the rank of the
occupant. Costly garments were heaped
on the rickety chairs, and on plain deal
table stood magnificent dressing case,
with an ebony cabinet curiously inlaid and
clasped with silver, by its side. Iapproach-
ed the bed, and to my surprise, found the
upper part of the lady's face concealed by
black silk mask; the mouth alone was
visible, the lips of which, bloodless and
qulVenng, disclosed teeth perfect in shape
and color, but fast set in a paroxysm of
pain. | gently opened the hand which
lay clenched and rigid by her side. A sin
gle jewel sparkled on her finger. 1t was a
diamond of marvellous size and brillancy:
but alas! no plain gold ring was to be
seen. AS the spasm passed, l begged to
be allowed to remove the covering from
her FACET could but prove oppressive to
her present state-but it was in vain. In
a low, gentle, but decisive tone, she re-
piled: "It might not be-"
Here was evidently an affair of mighty
mystery. The lady had good reasons fol
guarding against recognition; and, at all