Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1859-02-12

you'll And with that the william held the
mizzle of pistol SO nigh to my nose that 1.
smelt birthstone, while tother one bound a
silk handkerchief round my eyes, and then
took poor Moliy's bride and led her along
i couldnt see. in course and / dissint breathe
for fear O. the pistol. But said my prayers
10 myself an the time A.ssss ssa.18kl
"Weil, 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 they didn't
want me to fiHd where they were taking me.
well, sir, when they'd walk about in this
fused way, leadin' 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
I, 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 the hol-
low.
Then we stopped. A gate was opened. /
put up my hand to raise the handkerchief,and
see where was; but, just at that minute, l
felt the miZzle o the pistie like ring of ice
right agin my right temple, and the william
growing into my ear:
If you do -
"But L didn't-I dropped my hand down as
if had been shot. aud afore had seen any
thing either. So we went through the gate,
and up a gravelly walk-I knew it by the
cracking of the gravel under MOlly's feet
stopped at a horseback. where one o. them
villains lifted me off. l put up my hand
again. m t NEt
- 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 a little way, and then up some
steps. counted them to myself as / 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 aud IA turn, and
then ten more. Then along another passage
and up another flight of stairs, just like the
first. Then along another passage and up a
third flight of stairs. They was alike.
We'll, sir, here We was at the top o. the
house. One o them williams opened a door
ON the left side, and t'other said :
"'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 l was | slipped off the silk banker
cher, and feared as 1 was, l didn't forget TO
put il in my bosom.
''Then look, about me. Right afore me
that showed | was i'll a great big garnet with
sloping walls. At one end two deep dOrmer
windows. and black walnut bureau standing
between them. AT rother end d 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
shadows, and the little taper burned so dimly
that | could hardly tell t'other from which,
or keep from breaking my nose against things
as CROPPED about.
''And what was in this room for to do? |
couldn't form even an idee. Bnt presently my
blood ran cold to hear groan from behind
the curtaIns-then another-and another
then cry as of a child in mortal agony, say
ing
'''For the love of Heaven save mel
Il ran to the bed and dropped the curtains.
and liked 10 have tainted at what | saw"
Aud what did you sec?' asked the magis-
trate. IS.
Master behind those dark curtains saw
young creature tossing about on the bed,
fiinging her fair and beautiful arms about,
and tearing wildly at the fine lace that trim
med her night dress. But. master, that
wasn't what almost made me faint-it was
that her right hand wased 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 through!''
What? take care, woman! remember that
| you are upon your oath!' said the magis-
| trate.
| Il know it, masteri And as hope to be
| forgiven, am telling you The TRUTH
| GO on, then"
"Well, 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 that black Grape from her
| face and head, but she threw up her hands
and exclaimed
''Oh. no, no, no for my life, mop
''Well, master, hardly know how to tell
| you what followed-' said the old woman
hesitaing in embarrassment.
| Go right straight on like a car of Jugger
| naut. woman Remember-the whole TRUTH
''Well. master, in the next TWO hours there
werei twins born in that room-a boy aud
| girl; the boy was dead. the girl living Aud
! all the time heard the measured tramping
of one Of them williams up and down the
! passage outside of that room Presently the
steps stopped and there was a rap ut the door.
| went aud listened but did not open it,"
sis it all over!' the voice asked,
Before l could answer, a cry from the
bed caused me to look round. There was the
poor ma ked mother stretching out her white
arms toward me in the most imploring way.
/ FASTENED back to her.
"'Tell him-no-no' she said.
To BE CONTINUED IN OUR NEXT