The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1858-04-23
The Murdered Traveller.

= in the stage coach; not, OF course
!, that there was anything to fear, bu
/. a night alone in the coach is tn,
/. most gloomy Of all nights. !
! Atsunset we reached a small VII
5 lage, where supped alone. and tbe
+ fare was mean enough to testify the
landlords utter contempt for a soil
I tary passenger, albeit his table wa
, spread for ten. lhoped that / Nigh,
have a companion, for the prospect
Of the dull evening before me wa.
: gloomy in the extreme; and | dom
a know bat that, il | could have found
suitable person, should have been
1 willing to pay his fare, rather thar
5 face the night alone.
; | despatched my supper, and the
driver had before intimated a wisl
, that | would hurry up my cakes
and had complied by hurrying
them down.
"As am alone, driver, | suppose
you will not object to my smoking
inside" | said, as was about to re-
sumo my seat.
"You are not alone"
"Ehp
"a young woman will keep You
company"
Excellent low far does she
go"
"Thrcugh to Welden."
This was pleasing, and | was
willing to forego the luxury Of my
cigar that | might get sight of my
companion before the darkness veil.
ed her from my curious eyes. en-
tered the coach, Jehu cracked his
whip, and away we went.
The "young woman" had taken
possession of the back seat, as in
right she should, and | placed my
self upon the front seat. She was q
very pretty girl, not more than eight.
cen, well dressed, though not in the
style OF Broadway or Chestnut street.
She looked very sad, and several
times, as the stage whi'rled away,
noticed n tear in her eye.
With some difficulty managed to
draw her into a conversation, the
pertinent parts Of whic,, shall pres.
emily transcribe. WAS glad she
did not deem ne irnpcrtiuent, for her
story was full Of interest, and dare
say, ! asked great many saucy
questions.
/ Suddenly my companion, as if in
response to one Of my questions.
burst into tears. OF course, | could
not disregard such violent ebulli-
ton of feeling, and ventured to in
quire why she wept.
81 am in great Distress" she re-
piled, land | am half mind to stop
the coach, and walk back home"
"Why so?'
"Iou seem 10 he u very kind per-
son, stranger, and will tell you all
about it. In few words, am run
ming away from iome."
"Indeed!"
"My father don't use me just as
think he ought"
"lle is not cruel to you, hope?"
"Well, not exactly cruel, but he
will not permit me to marry the man
| choosc.n
ventured to suggest that parents
often had good reasons for their OBJ.
iiections to lovers.
THAT may be; but | think John
Oxford is as good young man as
any in these parts, and | have deter
mined to have him "
"Where is your father9 Will he
not pursue youW asked.
He has gone to the South, to buy
stock, and | am to meet John some
where on the road"
&C. ut your father may return this
way"
mo, he will go to Raleigh first. I"
chccred up the runaway, whose
name was Martha Stoneham, as
well as | could, and she hal dis
burdencd her mind of the secret. |
cautioned her not to throw herself
away upon a worthless fellow, who
might be seeking her fathers prop
erty rather than herself; for she ad
informed ne that her father was n
easy circumstances. She knew
John Oxford, and didn't fear any.
thing, and after she was married, if
her spa" had mind to forgive her
he might, but she didn't care much
whether he did or not.
This was North Carolina "blitf,"
however, for could see that che was
gentle hearted, and if she had been
brought up in more refined circle,
she would have been an angel.
We conversed till twelve o'clock,
and Martha was in pretty good spir-
its by this time; but | was getting
very sleepy, and couldn't hold out
much longer. had started her
tongue, and ! might as we'll have un-
earthed a volcano, for she seemed
determined that l should lose my
nap. At last | got to sleep, and left
her to ruminate upon her approach
ing nuptials.
1t was daylight when l awoke,
the stage having stopped to change
horses.
"lIow long before the stage for
Raleigh will be along?" asked O
person Of our driver.
"Mercy! that is John Oxford!' ex-
claimed Martha, tearing open the
door. @
John Oxford, | thought did not
seem to- be particularly pleased to
meet her, and when the stage start.
al fhox, Lal IaI q -. - -. !,