Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-02-12

N-N k--eAS4 W ASk AOHR CARS dil the same.
ell, master, 1t was so dark / couldn't see
a yard past Molly's ears, and the path was SO
narrow and the bushes so thick we could hard
ly get along; but Just as we came to the little
creek as they calls the Spout, cause the water
Jumps and jets along till it empties into the
Punch Bowl, and just as Molly was cautiously
putting her fore foot into the water, out starts
TWO men from the bushes and seizes poor Mol
ly's bride !" ~
'Good heavenl" exclaimed Major Warfeld.
"Well, master, before 1 could cry out, one of
them williams seized me by the scruff of nv
neck, and with the other hand on my mouth he
says:
"'Be silent, you old fool, or I'll blow your
brains out =
And then master, 1 saw for the first time
that their faces were covered over with black
Grape. | couldn't screamed if they'd let me,
for my breath was gone and my senses were
going along with it from the fear that was on
me.
=" Don't struggle, come along quietly and
you shall not be hurt says the man as mad
spoke before.
Struggle! I couldn't a-struggled to a-saved
my soul couldn't speak couldn't bresthe
liked to have a-drOpped right often MolIy's
back. One on 'em says, says he: -
Give her some brandyi' And t'other takes
out flask and puts it to my lips and says,
says he:
"'Here, drink this fe.s1
"'Well, master, as he had me still by the
seruff O. the neck 1 couldn't do no other ways
but open my mouth and drink it. And as soon
as took a swallow my breath come back and
my speech.
"'And oh, gentlemen says 1, 'ef it's your
money or your life you mean, haint it about
me- Deed clare to the Lord-a-mighty haintl
it's wrapped up in an old cotton glove in hole
in the plastering in the chimney corner at home,
and eff you'll spare my life, you can go there
and get it, says l.
"'You old blockhead,' says they, we want
neither one nor tother Come along quietly
and you shall receive no harm. But at the first
cry or attempt to escape this shall stop you
And with that the william held the mizzle of a
pistol so nigh to my nose that 1 smelt brim-
stone, while t'other one bound a silk handker-
cher round my eyes, and then took poor Mol
ly's bride and led her along. couldn't see,
in course, and dissint breathe for fear O. the
pistol But 1 said my prayers to myself all
the time.
'Well, master, they led the mule on down
the path, until we coined to place wide
enough to turn, when they turned us round and
led us back outen the wood, and then round
and round, and up and down, and cross ways
and length ways, as eff they didn't want me to
find where they were taking me-
"Well, sir, when they'd walk about in this
fused way, ieadin' of the mule about mile,
knew we Was in the woods again-the very
same woods and the very same path-I knowed
by the feel of the place and the sound of the
bushes, as we hit up against them each side,
and also by the rumbling of the Spout as it
tumbled along toward the Punch Bowl. We
went down, and down, and down, and lower,
and lower, and lower, until we got right down
in the bottom of that hollow.
"Then we stopped. A gate was opened. I put
up my hand to raise the handkerchief, and see
xhsre zss; hat. i1sk ak that minute, 1 felt the
mzzle o. the pistol Ike ring Of ice right agin my
right temple, and the villain growing into my ear
"If you do
"But diin't-I dropped my head down as if
had been shot and afore had seen anything either
So we went through the gate, and up grayelly
walk-I know it by the cracking of the gravel un
der Molly's feet-and stopped at q horse-block,
where one O. them villains lifted me off, Iplt up
my hand again.
"'Do, if you dare, says tother one, with the
miz=le O. the pistol at my head.
"a dropped my head ike lead. So they led me
on little way, and then up some steps. counted
them to myself as went along. They were six
You see, master, took ell this pains to know the
house again. Then they opened door that open.
ed in the middle. They then went along hall and
up more stairs-there was ten and turn. and then
ten more Then along another passage, and up an
other fight of stairs, just like the first. Then along
another passage, and up third flight of stairs
They was alike.
swell, sir, here We was at the top O. the house.
One O. them villains opened door on the left side,
and t'other said
as There-go in and do your duty = and pushed
me through the door and shut and locked it on me.
Good gracious SIR how scared wasl slipped off
the silk Handkerchief, and feared as 1 was, didn't
forget to put it in my bosom.
''Then looked about me. Right afore me on the
hearth was little weny taper burning, that showed
was in great big garret with sloping walls. At
one end two deep dOrmer windows, and black
walnut bureau standing between them At t'other
end great tester bedstead with dark curtains
There was dark carpet on the floor. And with
all there were so many dark objects and so many
shadows and the little taper burned so dimly that
I could hardly tell tother from which, or keep
from breaking my nose against things as groped
about.
",And what was 1 in this room for to doi
couldn't even form an idea. But presently my
blood ancold to hear groan from behind the cur
tains-then another-end another-then CRY as Of
child in mortal agony, saying:
"'FoT the love of Heaven, save mei''
al ran to the bed and dropped the curtains, and
liked to have tainted atThat saw"
auu Wuct ul0 you see! aSkeu L0t I1dgl5IEaIe.
"Master, behind those dark curtains l saw q
young creature tossing about on the bed, finging
her fair and beautiful arms about and tearing Wild
" at the fine lace that trimmed her night dress
But, master, that wasn't what almost made me faint
-ltwa that her right hand was sowed up in black
| Grape, and her whole face and head completely
| covered with black Grape drawn down and fast
ened securely around her throat, leaving only q
small slit at the lips and nose 10 breathe through
"What take care, womani remember that you
are on your oath !" said the magistrate.
81 know if, master! And as 1hope to be forgiven,
l am telling you the truth"
Go on, them N
1--WE /, sir, she was a young creature. scarcely
past childhood, if one might Judge by her small
size, and soft, rosy skin. asked her to let me
take thar black Grape from her face and head, but
she threw up her hands and exclaimed
"i0h, no, no, mol for my life, no.
Wen, master, hardly know how to tell you
what followed" said the old woman, hesitating
\ in embarrassment.
go right straight on like car of Juggernaut,
wOmani Remember-the whole truthn
'Well, master, in the next two hours there were
twins born in that room-a boy and girl; the boy
was dead, the girl living. And ali the time heard
the measured tramping Of one Of them williams up
and down the passage outside Of that room. Pre-
sently the steps stopped, and there was a rap at
the door, IweHt and listened, but did not open it. u
i'.'Is it all overt" the voice asked.
Before could answer, a cry from the bed caused
me to look round. There was the poor masked
mother stretching out her white arms toward me
in the most imploriDg way. FASTENED back to
| her l-a
Tell him-no-no,i she said.
lTo BE CONCLUDED IN OUR NEzT.l