The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1867-09-17

turned; it was Sap Green. ps.~*ns.
"This for you," said the Cherokee, handing
him letter .s,.....r'g ass -
"How can read it with my powder blown
! eyes they are not half we'll yet"
81 will read it for you," said Mr. Grip, putting
the letter in his pocket, as if it was his own.
"Ugh," CALCULATED the Indian
! "Oh! you wish to trade" said Mr. Grip,
rising. = = .s's9s . - ,'ssi@s.bs-t.~'
Without taking the slightest notice of his in
terrogatory, he walked off and was lost in the
crowd. 5z~ee -rsL aa5 i. aEs f
AT one O'Clock that night Mr. Grip was alone
in his chamber. A table was by his side and
an open letter lay upon it. As the lamp shone
on his countenance it revealed the corrugating
foot, prints of Satan and his imps they had
completed their work, and had lef: him for
season. He could not sleep. see aa.E
The little cottage at the foot of the Blue
Ridge, was as quiet and peaceful as we left it
ten years ago. Mary was no longer little girl,
she was fully grown aud returned to her uncle
and aunt, in flial duty, the tender care they had
taken of her, when child U IL
- She was called the ssDaugh.er of the Valley"
for she had endeared herself to its. inhabitants
by her gentle kindness and acts of charity to
all who needed assistance around her, for Mary
possessed true piety.
[ One evening in October, she crossed the
meadow on her way to a near neighbors, for
the purpose of nursing, during the night, sick
child She carried it a basket of flowers aud
some wild grapes, which she had gathered on
the way. AS Mary sat in pensive silence by
the little bed, she could see from window,
near her, the blue sky refulgently lit with stars,
while the undulating SUBMITS of the lofty
mountains appeared to minge with them
Here and there smoke curled from the chin
neys OF the cottages, and rose above the clumps
Of trees which surrounded them. The whippo
will sang her monotonous song, and the mock
ing bird warbled and trilled her Melodies
Mary prayed. She was suddenly startled by
loud knocking, with cries of distress at the outer
door. She hurried quickly to the chamber of
their deep sleep The door was opened, and
there sat her uncle's boy Zanga, with his clothes
torn and red with gore. He only could articu.
late, "murder," and as he pointed to his home,
he ceased to breathe.
A horn was blown, aud the neighborhood
soon assembled at Mr. Green's cottage, which
they found 10 flames and the roof falling in:
One intelligent mouutaineer advised that
watch should be set around the house until day
light, when they could observe tracks and other
marks Of the perpetrators of this tragedy. The
following morning found the neighbors in pur-
suit OF their work of justice and benevolence.
They found tracks of a horses shoes that were
remarkably large. These they traced from the
cottage some distance west in the high road.
They next removed the smouldering ruins, and
found the body of Mr. Green, nearly consumed
by the fire; but no traces were visible of his
wife.
A consultation was now held, upon which
they agreed to select two men we'll armed, and
mounted upon the best horses in the valley.
They were to pursue those tracks and gain all
the intelligence they could obtain on the subject.
In the course of the evening, Mrs. Green was
found in fodder stack, where she had secreted
herself. The poor woman was nearly dead from
fright and grief. -r.rsz....
Zangas' death-wound was examined and found
to have been occasoned by gun loaded with
slugs in place of shot. Two of these were given
to the men selected, also the measure of the
horses tracks. The removal of the slugs and
the dimensions Of the horses shoes were atten-
ded to in the presence of reliable witnesses.
The indefatigable mountaineers lost no time
in pursuing the abyrinthian clue which led
them ou the second day of their journey from
soon came to Smith 's-shop. Here they dis
feet, had been shod at this shop the day before.
The Smith readily gave them the old shoe and
described the horse and the rider.
On the third morning they arrived at a vii
lage and went to an inn; as they passed the par.
Ior in going to see that their horses were pro-
vided for, they thought they saw q man answer.
ing the description the Smith gave of the mur-
derer They we're not left long to conjecture,
for no sooner had the Hostler opened the stable
door than out stepped the horse.
="What great feet he has," remarked the at
teBdant Of the stable -
Our travellers tarried not even to take glass
of water, but sought the Sheriff. VINO fortunate.
ly resided in the village The warrant was
handed him, and he was informed of the cir
cumstances. .s.st a"s
The price for which this son of arson and
murder had bartered his soul, was never touched
by him; it bad been removed day or two pre-
vously by friend When they returned to
the inn the landlord brought mould and sta
ted that the prisoner, while at this house few
days previously, had moulded lead and cut it
up into slugs The two sugs we're produced
and fitted the mould exactly; the shoe was
measured to the horses foot and was unexcep-
tionably accurate rn11a as
The Criminal Court sat-DIrs. Green was the
principal witness. Her testimony was as fol-
lows:
Her husband-Mr Green-aud herself were
alone in the house. Mary, their adopted
daughter, had gone over to neighbors, and
the servant Zanga, was in his house in the ward.
At twilight there came man on horseback
! lie called and Knocked at the door, her hus-
| band opened it, VIXEN the air rushing in occa-
stoned some pieces of lightwood, which were