Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1858-11-25

Jack took leave of his wife, promising to
soon return.poor fellow-and we started.
1T was late in the afternoon when We
set out, and as we did not expect to run "a
'gainst many of the depredators that night,
after travelling few miles we pitched our
tent for the night [ should add that Jacks
dog, splendid bull terrier, accompanied
u.s. Next morning we awoke early; and
after an attempt at cooking civilized break
fast, we started for our sport.
s'In our party was fellow named Joe
Sullivan; hung dog looking fellow, with a
character no better than his looks. Nobo-
Idy knew where he came from; or what was
was his business; but he always sported
plenty of money and played the gentleman
of leisure. He had joined our party on his
own invitation, and in truth, was not con-
sidered very valuable acquisition; but no.
body wishing to quarrel with him, he made
himself quite at home with us.
.'As was saying we started early next
morning. won't tire you with a detailed
account Of our hunt, but we met with good
luck, and gave quietus to good number
Of the varmints. I had kept by Jack near
| ly all day, till late in the afternoon, seeing
one big fellow whose skin I wanted, | gave
chase, and was far away from the main par
ty before I fully realized that I was putting
| such a distance between us. finally clos
/ \ Il. ~ 4,l
fur; after which I turned my steps camp
ward.
Reaching the camp, found the party
all assembled with the exception of Leigh
ton and Sullivan, whom, was told, had
left the rest shortly after [ did, in chase of
a large wolf which they had started I had
not been there long before Sullivan made
his appearance; and inquired, with laugh,
how much leighton was ahead Of him.
When told that Jack had not arrived, he
appeared surprised, and said that while they
were busy skinning the wolf they had kill
led, another one come in sight to which Jack
gave chase towards camp; leaving him
(Sullivan) to finish skinning the dead one.
"We waited some time for our friend,
but he did not come. We cooked and eat
:, .
growing uneasy, the boys proposed starting
in search of him, and as was unacquaint-
led with the country, it was agreed that I
should stay at the camp and keep up the
fires, while the rest set out for thorough
search
s'It was lonesome evening that pass
ed in that tent; sharp north east wind had
set in, bringing along with it the first large,
slow snow fakes which precede heavy
storm. The absence of my companions, the
deep moaning of the wind throug gh the trees,
the dull light Of the wood fire, together with
an uneasy, unde6nable feeling, combined to
make me anything but comfortable. I lit
ascigar or two; tried to whistle to keep up
my courage but made miserable failure
reasoned that had no cause to feel anxi-
Gus about Jack. He knew the country
well, was a good shot, and the wolves were
hardly desperate enough to attack a man,
cherries and dispirited dread chill
ing feeling sticking to me like burr.
'.It was quite late when my companions
returned and brought with them the dead
body Of Jack. They had found him after
tedious search, about three miles from camp;
not far from the place where, according to
sulliyan's story, they parted. A hole in
the back of his head, the mark of pistol
ball, told the story. He had been inhu-
manly shot down without moments warn
ing murdered without moments time to
prepare for the last great change. But by
whom, and for what? Conjectures were
many, but of course useless, and dresulted in
nothing. Some whispers were made re-
garding Sullivan, but how could we bring
any proof against him? Of course our
hunt was broken up, and we sadly returned
to the city. waiting till we got there for
solution Of the mystery.
1T was the hardest trial I ever had. bows.
to tell his wife that the form she had last
seen in all its vigor and manliness was now
cold and dead; that the lips which had never
but loving words for her were mute; the
heart with its deep pulsing love for her a.
lone, hushed and still But Ibid it, though
it gave me many pull at the heart strings.
''For time she was nearly frantic, and
like Rachel, would not be comforted; but
such violent grief soon exhausted itself, and
by the time had settled Jacks affairs and
was ready to return north, she was more
composed; and under the kind ministrations
OF many friends was learning to bear her
loss without murmuring.
" Jacks dog, who accompanied us in the
hunt, and who was found watching his mas
ter's dead body, had taken a liking to me,
and with Mrs. Leighton's permission / took
him home with: me. No clae could be found
to the murderer; and though many spoke
doubtingly of Sullivan, he was not arrested,
as it was considered impossible to procure
any proof against him.
About six months ago was walking
up Broadway, threading my way in brown
CIR 1dx,fh oh xl,a-a ].