Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1864-11-23
b" Not tonight, ANYHOW. u said he.

w "-A-AA-S W Pla SV-AaOA10" Dut
want to sleep with my pockets fall on
night. Tallusput nay monsy in the capn'
safe, but I'll keep this ere that was yourn
in my berth tonight, to sleep on, just 70
luck.
"That foolish fellow viii be robbed
tonight" said to myself " and may b,
murdered" I had such a pressntimen
fof mischief, that I could not go to sleep
and at midnight, when I heard him go t
bed, 1 knocked at his stateroom door, anC
said, "Will you allow me to speak t.
your
al know what you're gOnter say, said
he, " but never you lay awake on my ae.
count. amt a baby, I know what that
Rodden is gOnter do as well as you do,
But he's barkin' up the wrong tree
Look U'lhefe mister" said he, and he
drew out tremendous bowie-knife from
the back of his neck, and showed me un-
der his pillow six-shooter. "1 reckon
these ere will do him business, if he comes
arter me and my winnins"
[ left the man treasured, and returned
to my berth, but not to sleep. The boat
went snorting and roaring on her way up
the gloomy river. As lay awake, list
ening, I heard a step. The countryman
slept with his door open. He would
" choke to death at onct," he said, if he
didn't get air." People brought up in
log cabins are apt to feel so. I sprung
to my feet and crept towards his state
room. The door was shut. There was
sudden explosion of pistol, followed
by fierce cry. 1 opened the door, Rod
den had fallen on the floor, but he sprang
to his feet, with a cut aeroes his hand
and one. of his ears shot off. He dashed
out of the door as the countryman ex-
claimed
"That varmintf'
care you hurt?'
"Not a bit of it." He had q slight
cut on his hand, however. Rodden had
scarcely left the stateroom when he was
grappled by the porter, who, like myself,
had been watching him. Tho porter had
seen the brief conflict which he had not
time to prevent. The rascal struggled
hard, but he was soon disarmed, bound
securely, and locked up in 4 stateroOm.
His loss of blood helped, herhaps to con-
quer him. 1 asked lady, who had come
from stateroom in her dressing-gown
to indulg her natural curiosity, to go to
the poor wife and tell her the sad truth,
that her husband was wounded and fell
on.
40 what have 1 not suffered With him
and her!" said she wringing her little
hands. eff I could but return to my
once happy hOmeI"
"And Why can you not p asked the
lady. 1t was the old, old story. She
had run away from home and married a
snowy scamp without the consent of her
parents. The captain the countryman,
and 1, went aside to consult as to what
was to be done.
Wait a minute said the country
man and he went into the staterOom and
the next instant came out in a dressing
gown, another, and natural head of hair,
and without the everlasting old gloves.
1t was my acquaintance, Mr.. Brown, and
a capital actor, too.
"I determined to serve out that fell
low if I ever had the chance to do so,
said he, when he robbed that poor car
penter, and drove him crazy. He got
cured of that by dose of water-cure in
the Mississippi, and by the help of Mus
ter, shall hunt him up and give him
back his money"
Muster wagged his tail, as if he re-
membered all about it, and approved of
the cash.
The poor little wife decided to return
home. The mother deprived of her son,
lid not attempt to keep her ill-used
When Rodden found
he was to be taken to the jail at Mays
Vile, he sent for his wife. " It's all up
With me for the present" he said. "They
have got me foul. You had better go
home, Lib, and stay with the old folks,
md behave yourself. Mother is not fit
for you, unless am about"
The little wife answered only with her
3obs. She held the baby for his father
% kiss him, but she did not offer him her
OWN lips or cheek. He was her tyrant
10 longer. She had found friends. She
would escape. We took her to her pa
.ernal home on the Ohio, and saw her
Indy received by worthy father and
owing mother. Mr.. Browne went with
ne, and left thousand dollars Of the
ium he had won from ROddeu IN her
ather's hands. Rodden was tried for a
nurderous assault with intent to rob, and
ent to the penitentiary for twenty-five
7ears. He will be si1ty when he has
served out his time. The mother tried
lard to save him, and may get him par
loned after while. The little wife be-
came an exemplary and happy mother. !