The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1858-04-06
from the Missouri Democrat
A NIGHT OF PERIL.
BY C. NJ. R.

At the close of a dreary December
day, some years since, myself aud COM
panion, Dick H drew up our horses
after hard days ride, in front of the
comfortable inn kept by the old Major
l., on the turnpike road leading
from Nashville. Tenn, to Louisville,
KY. The old Major is quite celebrity
in those parts, for he was one of the
early settlers of Kentucky, and parti-
cipated in many we'll contested field
with the red sons of the forest-or, as
he classically terms them, "the heather
varmints." He is free, open-hearted,
jovial companion, and can brew the best
apple-tody ever drank.
Supper being dispatched, we adjourn
ed to the "bar-room," or common sit
ting room of the inn, where blazing
log fire roared and cracked, before
which long row of golden pippins were
roasting, preparatory to the expected
and ever-welcome "toddy."
"Boys," said the Major, as he placed
decanter of cold rye" and. glasses on
little table by the side of his great
arm chair, "boys, while them apples is
roastin' I will tell you little adven-
ture 1 onco had, and which happened
on the very road you will have to travel
tomorrow"
"Do, Major" replied Dick, whose
passion for chair escapes" was
second only to his love of the "wimin,
"come let US have it, and he drew his
chair closer to the Major.
After preparatory cleaning of the
throat, the Major began:
Thirty years ago, boys, Kentucky
was not whst it is now. Then this part
of the country was comparatively will
derness, with an occasional Injuu scout
ing about, and fellows of all shades and
casts, worse, if possible, than the red
devils themselves. I done good bust
ness them days, in the horse trading
line, and early one morning. cold,
snowy December morning it was, too
I left Nashville with several thousand
dollars in leathern belt around my
body. The horse rode was splendid
animal, dark bay, full sixteen and
half hands high, and he carried me on
my road right lively until the evening
began to gather in. had ridden about
forty miles, and vas looking out for
some stopping place, wheu the road en-
tered dark, narrow pass between two
high spurs of the mountain, In fact
it ives as desolate looking place as one
would wish to see, and felt chilled the
moment entered it Well, had not
advanced far before sudden turning Of
the road revealed a large, double log
cabin, two stories high, which looked
more like fort than dwelling How
ever, it was my only chance, and I de-
termined to make the best of it; SO, ri
ding up to the fence, I gave aloud 'hol.
,oa.' A coarse featured, slatternly look
lug WOuldu Cdm0 w tuS 4OOT duo eOiO
me to light did 80, and after tieing
my horse in little shed, fed him, and
entered the house.
THE room I entered was used both
as bedroom and sitting room A log
FIRE blazed up the large chimney, and
before it were seated, with bottle of
villainous looking chaps I ever saw
They were playing 'old sledgs & with q
greasy deck Of cards, and, with the OK
ception Of long stare, took ne. notice
whatever of my entrance.
"The woman busted herself in. the
and presently we sat down to
q tolerabls supper, for which my hard