The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1868-11-28
TRUTH STRANGER THAN FIC-
TTON

TRUTH STRANGER THAN FIG
TION.
In the autumn of 1917, while thu
woods were bright with the variega
ted hues which follow the ligh
touches of early frost, a mountain
traveller was quietly pursuing hi
way through a dark, broad, lonely
forest, in the western part of tht
State Of New York. He had ridden
three miles since seeing q human
habitation, and had yet two miles tC
go before he could get sight of an
other lie was descending hill in
to a gloomy-looking valley, through
which flowed q shallow but swif
running stream; and on reaching
the water he permitted his thirsty
beast to stop and drink.
| AT that moment man came out
from a cluster of bushes into the
road or horsepath, on the other side
of the stream. This man was dressed
like a hunter, and carried a rifle or
his shoulder. In his general appear
ance there was nothing that indicated
hostility or wicked design. He was
/ of medium size, compactly built
with intellectual features, and Ger,
tain air of gentility-seeming rather
as one abroad from some settlement
for days sport than professiona
hunter. All this the mounted tray.
/ eler carefully noted before he crossed
the stream to continue his journey
and when they came near together {
pleasant salutation was exchanged
"Fine weather for travelling, sir =
remarked the man with the gun.
"And for hunting also, l shoulC
/ suppose smiled the other on the
/ horse.
"Yes, there is game enough" re
turned the other, "but / am not c
good hunter, and can show only one
bear for my days work thus far, anC
that is almost useless to me, because
l have no means Of taking it away
| would willingly give a dollar fol
the use of a horse like yours for {
couple of hours. If you could spare
five minutes or SO, would like yol
to see the bear. 1t is only just bach
behind these bushes, some two hun
dred yards from here. u -.
"I will not only look at it, y replied
the traveller, dismounting and fasten
ing his horse, "but, if not too heavy
l will take it along for you, seeing
am going your way"
The hunter thanked him in a mos
cordial manner, and then, as if Il
/ make himself agreeable and keep VI
the conversation, inquired where tn
other was from, whittier journeying
and so forth ; and learned in reDl.
that the latter resided in Albany
was a merchant in good business
and was travelling partly for hi
health, and partly with view Q
making an extensive land purchas
for future speculation.
"Well, here we 9re!n eXclaimel
the hunter, as the two emerged from
the dense thicket, through whicl
! they had slowly forced their way
into the open wood, here we are
and now l will show you as fine AM
. fat beast as you ever saw. Observ
where point my rifle.o
He stepped back some eight or tel
feet, deliberately raised the piece t
: his eye, and pointed the muzzle di
rectly to the head of the traveller
+ There was q flash, q loud report, an,
the victim fell like log, his fac
covered with blood.
This might, or might not, hav
been the first crime committed b.
the man with the rifle. But as til
= traveller fell, the rifle slipped fror
his hands, and he shook violentl,
from head to foot; yet he sprang t
? his victim, and hurriedly robbed hir
: of 8 purse, a pocket-book, a gol
/ watch and chain, some curious seals
t a diamond breastpin, and damon
ring which he fairly tore from hi
, finger. Then he dragged the bod
! into the thicket, picked UP his rifle
,, plunged madly through the bushe
into the road, mounted the traveller
horse, and rushed away from the aN
full scene.
We must now suppose a lapse
twenty years. -
: In the spring of 1887 there lived !
the city of New-York a banker an
.~ o millionaire, whom we shall ca
Sit!ephen Edwards He owned pa
If aGlal manson, splendidly Furnished
le IN the very heepf of the town. an
m he aud his wife were among the le
of ders of the fashionable world. The
had beautiful daughter, just turnC
- of sweet sixteen, who was about
be married to a foreign noblemal
a. Eand great preparations were makir
ID for the happy event.
One day, about this period, as Il
y great banker stood conversing wit
a gentleman from another city, wi
called to see him on business, he o
= served the latter suddenly turn vel
pale and begin to tremble.
y My dear sir,n he said, in the us
r 81 tone Of off-hand sympathy, "wh
s is the matter? Are you ill2'
II "A little faint, sir, but nothing
Is cause alarm y replied the other bit
e riedlY. II am subject to simil
u spells. If you will be kind enoul
II to excuse me for ten minutes or So
4 will take a short walk, and return
IL better condition"
III In ten minutes he did return, SO
is he was quite well, calmly proceed
aa to finish his business with the ban
.g er, and then respectfully took |
liz leave.
rs 1t was, perhaps, week after th
= that one night, the great banker W
Ct sitting before the fire In the libral
when the servant came in and pl
!, sented him a letter. He took it wi
: a yawn, opened it in the most inc
ID lent and Indifferent manner possib
y but lie had not read d dozen Wor
Al ,.4 ss44llz -,