The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-02-10

| liked to have adropped right often Mollys
| back. One on EN- SAYS, saws he:
Give her some brandy! And t'other
takes outa flask and puts it to my lips and saws,
says he:
/" Here drink this
"Wel, master, as he had me still by the
scruff o. the neck / couldn't do no other ways
/ but open my mouth and drink it, And as soon
as took swallow, my breath come back and
my speech.
I :" And oh, gentlemen says l. eff it's your
money or your life you mean, | haint it about
/ me! Deed clare to the Lord mighty haint |
/ its wrapped up in an old cotton glove in hole
III 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 t'other! Come along quietly,
and you shall receive no harm. But at the first
! cry or attempt to escape, this shall stop you'll
/ ana with that the william held the mizzle of a
4 pistol SO nigh to my nose that | smet brin-
/ stone, while tother one bound a silk hand
| kercher round my eyes, and then took Door
| Molly's bride and led her along. | couldn't
/ see, in course, and dissnt breathe for fear O.
/ the pistol But said my prayers to myself AL
/ 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 aud round.
and up and down, and cross ways and length
ways eff they didn't want me to find where
| they were taking me.
We'll, sir, when they'd walk about ia this
! fused way, leadin' of the mule about mile, |
knew We was iii the woods agan-the very
same woods and the very same path 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 At
tapbled along toward the Punch Bowl. We
went down, and down, and down. and lower.
/ and lower, and lower, until 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.
felt the mizzle o the pistle like ring of ice
right agin my right temple, and the villain
/ growing into my ear
90 If YOU do
but didn't dropped my hand down as
IT had been shot, aud afore had seen any
thlng either. no We went through the gate,
and up gravelly walk--I knew it bv the crack
hing OF the gravel under Molvs feet--and
stopped at a horseblock, where one o. them
villains lifted me off. | put up my hand gain.
DO, II you dare, says t'other Ql.v, with the
| mlzzle o the pistol at my head.
. dropped my hand like lead. So they lead
me on little way and then up some steps
counted them to myself as | went along
They were SIN, lou see, master, / took all
this pains 10 know the house again. Then
they opened door that opened in the middle
they then went along passage and up more
stairs-there was ten and turn, and then ten
mere. Then along another passage, and up
another flight of stairs, Just like the first Then
along another passage, aud up third flight Of
stglrs. They was alike.
| sWell, sir, here we was at the top o. the
hapse. one o them villains opened door on
the left side, and t'other said : ||
Ihere-gO in and do your duty!' and
pushed me through the door, and shut and lock
ed it on me. Good gracious, sir. how scared |
was L slipped Oh the silk Handkerchief, and,
fea1ed as was, didn't forget to put it i'm nv
| bosom. -. =
| hen looked about me Right afore me,
on the hearth, Was a little weny taper burning,
that showed was in great big garrett, with
sloplng walk, at one end, two deep dorner
windows, and black walnut bureau standing
between them; at tother end great tester
bedstead, with dark curtains. There was a
dark carpet on the floor. And, with all there
were so many dark objects, and so many shad-
owS, and the little taper burned 50 ailnly, that
could hardly tell tother fsoro which, or keep
from breaking ny nase against things as /
CROPPED akadt.
"And what was in this room for to do? |
couldn't even form an idee. But presently my
blood ran cold, to hear a groan liom behind the
cultains-then anotheF--aEd another-then a
cry as oil q child in mortal agony, saving
r'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 l saw q
young creature tossing about I'LL the bed, fling.
ing her fair and beautiful arms about, and tear
ing NlidY al the line lace that trimmed her
night dress. But, master. that wasn't what al
mosi made me faint-t was that her right hand
was sowed up IN black Grape, and her whole
face and head completely covered with tlsck
Grape, drawn down and fastened secasefy around
her throat, leaving only 4 small slit at the lips
aud pose &C. sreathe through ~
| What take care, woman Remember tia,
you are upon your oath - said the mas,s,re,e
81 know it, nlasterl And, Us hope TO be for
given, | am telling the t.arh.' II
Go on, thsn."
| hoii, SIR SHE was Young creature, scar,tls
past Childhood, If one might Judge by her sma9
| SIC, anu son, rosy Shnl, | asked her To ietme
take that 5'aeA grape from her face and head
5w che threw up her hands, and exclaimed
| iQh, no, no, no; for my life mol /
Well, master, hardly know how to tell Won
what followed, said the old woman, hesitatins
in embarrassment. !
10 right straight on, like a car OF Juggsr.
naut, woman! Rememheg, the whole truth f. i
| well, mas.er III the next two hours there
| weIe twins born in that room-a boy and a
girl the boy was dead, the girl living. And
all the time heard the measured tragpiag Of
one OF them villains up and dewa tle passage,
outside of that room Presently the stsos
stopped, and thQi7 vas a rap at the door, /.
went end listened, but did not open 81.
| Sis it all oyer2 the voice asked.
/ Before could answer, a cry from the bed
caused me 10 look round There was the poor
masked mother, stretching out her white af.,,s
toward me in the most imploripq uay. / hast
ened back to her.
- Tell hin--no-no,' she said.