Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1858-07-29

/ been brought in more refined cir
Gle she would have been an angel. =
| We conversed ill twelve o'clock,
and Martha was in pretty good spir.
its by this :iine; but | WIS pretty
sleepy, and couldn't hold out mact
IIonger. ] had started her tongue, and
/ I,might as well have unearthed vol
cano, for she seemed determined that
q should lose my nap. At last !
got to sleep and left her TO ruminate
upon her approaching nuptials. :
1t was daylight when | awoke,
the stage having stopped to change
horses. ~
"How long be fore the stage for Ra.
leigh will be .along7" asked a person
! Of our driver. So
"Alercy, this is John Oxford"
exclaimed Martha, tearing open the
door. s.' y
John Oxford, | thought, did not
seem to be particularly pleased to
meet her, and when the stage started
they had long confidential interview,
and l had the pleasure OF having
Two companions. ! did not like the
looks Of her lover, and thought il
quite probable her father was right
in refusing % accept him as SON.
in-law. = = - =
away, what is the matter with
you, John?" exclaimed Martha, when
We had proceeded few miles.
"Your coat and shirt are covered
with blood"
"Ars they? So they are. Oh, !
had the nose bleed yesterday" he re-.
piled, with good deal Of embarrass.
ment. :,
The conversation continued on this
topic, for the North Carolina lady
must know aa hi. particulars. John
seemed much confused, and tried 10
change the subject but she would
not let him. Pretty soon she dis
covered several scratches on his
face, which he declared had been
given him by the .thorns in the
woods.
We we're passing through wood
ed plain, When the driver stopped
his team and shouted to me- saw
John Oxford turn pale as | Ilvaped
out. By the side of the road lay
the form of man. Around him
the grass and soil showed that a
fierce struggle had taken place on
the spot, indicating the murdered
traveller haG sold his life. dearly.
raised him up, and be opened
his eyes, uttering deep gloan as he
did so.q The driver came to my as
sistance, and Ne found that the
man. had received several stabs, and
was apparently lu the last extremity
..Is he deail?" asked John Oxford,
from The co.ch, -..,g
No. replied the driver.
1t seemed 10 me chat ] could hear
The lovers teeth Chatter, but perhaps
it was because ! happened to think
of The blood upon his clothes TAX
ing my travelling companion from
Bay pocket, q always carried one IN
those days to guard against the &C
eident of unwholesome watel) | pour
ed a plentiful draught down his
throat. 1t revived him. = SIR,
Cob, Martial" groaned he. /
+. Martha! Who was the murdered
traveller? The runaway maiden
heard the word, and leaped from tie
coach, 10 spite Of the gendeayors OF
Oxford to detain her. sssz la.gs2
"My father!l'' sbrieked she, throw.
ing herself upon The body. -.
], '.ob, Aiartha John Oxfofd has
killed mel gasped the wounded
man in broken accents s sa
- He Immediately relaxed into a
s,:per, and we lifted him into the
coach, amid the sobs Of the willfuI
daughter. The lover got out as we
appr oached, and would have fled, IT
the driver, drawing his pistol, had
not threatened to shoot him. lie
compelled hira to mount the box.
Before we reached the village, not
seven miles distant, the father OF
Martha was dead. On our arrival,
Oxford was handed over to The Shet-
.ia., never saw such q change in
an hour as the feelings Of the gill
underwent. Before she loved. now,
she bated him. / Was compelled to
part with them at this point, for
Martha was to return to her now des-I
olate home, and Oxford was borne to
the shire town to be committed to jail.