Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1859-02-07

even my mule Molly felt queer too. by the vay
she stuck up her ears, stiff as auills So. psrtIy
to keep up my own spirits, and partly to ooar.
age her, says L, Molly says /, sHhat are yt
afeard on! BE q man, Mollyn But MOLLY
stepped out cautious, and pricked up her lone
Veil, master, it was % dark couldn't see
a yard past Molly's ears, and the path was SC
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 waite,
Jumps and jets along till it empties into the
Punch Bow5eand just as Molly was cautiously
putting hef Tore foot into the water, out start.
two men from the bushes and seizes poor Mol.
ly's bride !"
"Good heaven" exclaimed Major War6eld
"Well, master, before 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: - -lsr
"'Bs silent, you old fool, or Ill blow your
brains OUT = -.--0.' -
"And then master, saw for the first tim.
toat their faces were covered with black crane
couldn't a-screamed if they'd let me, for M
breath was gone and my senses were pojns
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 az had
spoke before.
Struggle, Icouldn't a-struggled to a-saysd
my soul. couldn't speak couldn' t brea the
l Ike to have a-dropped right often Molly's
back One on 'em says, said he:
"'diVe her some brandy And tother
taxes out flask and puts it to my lips and
says, says he: -'N
".Here, drink this
well, master, as he bad me still by the
scruf O. the neck / couldn't do other ways bnt
open my mouth and drink it, And as soon as
speech. 'NN my
"'Aud oh, gentlemen says 1, 'ef it's syour
money or your life you mean, haint II about
me Deed clare to the Lord Almighty /
naint ITS wrapped up in an old cotton glove
In noie In the plastering in the chimney-cor.
ner at home, and if you'll spare my life, YOU
can go there and get it, saysI
Ou old blockhead, says they, we want
neither one nor t'other, Come along ouietIv
and you shall receive no harm but at the
nrs' cry or attempt to escape this shall stop
you And with that the william held the
mlzSie OF pistol so nigh to my nose that
smeIt orimstone while t'other one bound a
SILK Handkerchief round my eyes, and then
TOOK poor Molly 8 bride and led her along. I
Couldn't see, In course, and dissint breathe
for fear O. the pistol. But said NV nravers
to myself all the time.
"Well, master, they led the mule on down
the path, until we coined to a 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 if they didn't want
me to find out where they werestakip1 me
ell, sir, when they'd walk shout in this
fused way, leadin' ot the mule aboat mile. I
knew we was in the woods agais{-tbe yerv
same woods and the very same pathsHI kuowed
by the feel of the place and the sound OF the
pushes, as we hit up against them each side.
and also hU tha e Al
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
put up my hand to raise the handkerchief. and
see where was; but, just at that minute. I
felt the mizzle o. the pistle like q ring of ice
right agin my right temple, and the william
growing right into my ear:
"'If you do
But didn't dropped my hand down as
II L had been shot, and afore / had seen anv
thing either. SO went through the gate, and
up gravelly walk-I knew it by the crack
ling of the gravel under Molly's feet-apd
stopped at horse block, where one % them
Williams lifted me off. Iput up my hand again.
DO, if you dare, says t'other one, with
the Eizzle O the pistol at my head.
81 dropped my hand like lead. So thew led
me on little way, and then up some steps.
counted them to myself as i went along. Thew
were six. You see, master, l took all this pains
70 know the house again. Then they opened
door that opened in the middle. Then thew
went along passage and up more stars
.nere was ten and turn, and then ten more.
Then along another passage, and up another
flight of stairs, just like the irst. Then along
another passage, and up a third flight of stsirs
They was alike.
wen; sir, here we was at the top o. the
house. One O. them williams opened door on
the left side, and t'othcr said
"'There-go in and do your dutyn and
pushed me through the door and shut and
locked it on me. Good gracious, sir. how
scared was l slipped off the silk handker
'her, and 'feard as was, didn't forget to
put it in my bosom.
Then l looked about me. Right afore me
On the hearth was little weny taper burning,
tnat showed l was in a great big garrett with
'loping walls. At one end two deep dor ner
windows, and black walnut bureau standing
between them. At t'other end a great faster
oedstead with dark curtains. There was a
lark carpet on the floor. And with all there
we're 80 many dark objects and SO many shad.
1ws, and the little taper burned SO dimly that
could hardly tell t'other from which, or keen
rom breaking my nose against things as /
,roped about
And what was l in this room for to do? II
couldn't even form an idee. But presently nv
blood ran cold to hear groan from behind the
another-and another-then a
cry as of child in mortal agony, saying:
'For the love Of Heaven, save me
~ ran to the bed and dropped the curtains,
and liked to have tainted at what saw
"And what did you see" asked the magis.
trate
master, behind those dark curtains 7 saw
young creature tossing about on the bed,
ainging her fair and beautiful arms about. and
tearing wildly at the fine lace that trimmed
her night dress. But, master, that wasn't
what almost made me faint-it was that her
right hand was sewed up in black Grape. and
her whole face and head completely covered
with black Grape drawn down and fastened Sc
surely around her throat, leaving only small
,lit at the lips and nose to breathe through ~
"What. take care. woman remember that
you are upon your oath ~ said the magistrate
Il know it, master! And as hope to be
forgiven, am telling you the truth 80
I "Go on, then"
"Wef, sir, she was young creature scarcely
past childhood, If one might judge by her mall
sizs, and soft, rosy skin. I asked her to let me
take that black Grape from her face and head,