Staunton vindicator and general advertiser. (Staunton, Augusta County, Va.) 1858-1860, 1859-02-12
STANTON AUGUSTA COUNTY VIRGINIA. FEBRUARY IT, 1859

and then took poor Molly's birdie and led
her along. couldn't see, in course, and
dissint breathe for fear o the pistol. But
| 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 waysand length ways, as eff they did mt
want me to find where they were taking
me.
"Woll sir, when they'd walk about in
this fused way. leading Of the mule about
mile, knew we was in the woods again
the very same and the very same PATH
knowed by the feel ofthe place and the sound
Of the bushes, as we hit up against them
each side, also, by the rambling of the Spout
las it tumbled along toward the Punch Bowl.
We went down, and down, and down, and
lower, and lower. until we got right down
in the bottom of that hollow. a4.f
"Then we stopped. A gate was opened.
/ put up my hand to raise the handkerchief
and see where was but, just at that min
ute, l felt the mizzle o the pistle like ring
|of ice right agin my right temple, and the
villain growing into my ear:
IF you do-!' rt
"But didn't dropped my hand down
as if | had been shot, and afore [ had seen
anything esther. So we went through the
gate, and upa grayelly walk knew it by
the cracking Of the gravel under Molly's
feet-and stopped at a horse block, where
one O them villains lifted me off Iput up
my hand again. us -
"Do, if you dare,' says t'other one, with
the mizzle o the pistol at my head.
Il dropped my hand like lead. So they
lead me on little way, and then up some
steps. [ counted them to myself as I went
along They were six. You see, master,
| took all this pains to 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 more Then along
another passage, and up another flight o
stairs, just like the first Then along anoth-
Ter passage, and upa third flight Of stairs
They was alike.
"Well sir, here was at the top O the
house. One o, them williams opened door
on the left side, and t'other said
"There go in and do your duty T. and
pushed me through the door, and shut and
locked it on me. Good gracious, sir, how
scared I was I slipped off the silk hand
kercher, and feared as was, didn't for
get to put it in my bosom.
'tThen I looked about me. Right afore
me on the hearth was little weny taper
burning, that showed I was in great big
garnet with sloping walls At one end two
deep corner windows. and a black walnut
bureau standing between them Att'other
end great tester bedstead with dark cur
tains There was dark carpet on the floor.
And with all there were so many dark OBJ
1jects and so many shadows, and the little
taper burned so dimly that could hard ly
tell t'other from which, or keep from break
ing my nose against things as CROPPED
about.
"And what was in this room for to do
| could Mt even form an idea. But present.
ly my blood ran cold to hear groan from
behind the curtains then another-and
another-then cry as of child in mortal
agony, saying:
''For the love Of Heaven, save mev
II ran to the bed and dropped the cur
tains, and liked to have tainted at what
saw"
"And what did you see ? asked the mag
istrate.
"Master, behind those dark curtains I
saw young creature tossing about on the
bed, hinging 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 securely around her
throat, leaving only small slit at the lips
and nose to breathe throughp'
"What! take care, woman remember
that you are upon your oath p said the mag
istrate.
II know it, master And as hope to
be forgiven, | am telling you the truth p
Go on. then" ~ d
"Well sir. she was young creature,
scarcely past childhood, if one might Judge
by her small size, and soft, rosy skin. l
asked her to let me take that blackecrape
from her face and head, but she threw up
her hands and exclaimed
ooh, no, no, no! for my life no
"Well master, | hardly know how to tell
you what followed" said the old woman,
hesitating in embarrassment
eco right strait on like car of Jugeer-
naut, woman Remember-the whole truth!
''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 all the time heard the measured
tramping of one of them villains up and
down the passage outside Of that room
Presently the steps stopped, and there was
a rap at the door. | went and listened but
did not open it,"
els it all over? the voice asked.
"Before I could answer. 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 imploriue
way. [ fastened back to her.
''Tell him-no-no' she said.
TO BE CONTINUED IN OUR NEXT
How FAST THE News OF THE BATTLE
OF New ORLEANS TRAVELLED. The
Charleston Courier of the 9Th has been re-