Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1869-05-19

anu LuGSLlN-IDlGttltu OILY Il Nollldll
cantor him to desist.
4 give up home and name and hon
er, Tom ;" She said, as she knelt before
him, with eyes swollen with. tears, and
have followed you through misery and
disgrace through pain and through per-
il, for five long years. o! for my sake
do not 90 away from home tonight. ]
will do anything for yOU-wOTk until my
fingers are worn to the bone, slave my
very life OUt-anything, everything SO
that you but stay with me!
He would have showed her aside, but
she clung to him with all her strength.
'I will be back soon. Don't make a
fool Of yourself" he replied. 4 am only
going to meet the boys for little while,
and
Commit robbery, and-O God! it
may be muTder"
"How do you know that?" he de-
manded, savageIy. What chicken-heart-
ed fool has blabbed ?u and he took her
by the shoulders and shook her rudely.
at matters not, but know it.n
You shall tell me-"
~ will not"
Never before had she braved, though
she had controlled him; and after the
first surprise had passed, his face became
livid, and his fiery passions surged be-
yOnd all control.
You won't ?'' he asked clutching her
by the throat, and leaving the imprint
of his iron muscled fingers upon the fair,
soft flesh.
d" I wOn't' was gasped in reply.
With an oath he struck her to the floor,
and raised his heavy boot to stamp her
in her face. And so he would have done,
brute that he was, and repeat it again,
and again, hadnOt whistle from with
out warning him that the time for de-
paTture had arrived, arrested his atten-
ton. Choking with passion he drew
back, and cast one look upon the poor
woman, paler than ashes and motion
less as a corpse.
"She is in a dead faint" he muttered
from between his unshOrn lips, and
won't trouble any one for long time,
and taking his knife and pistols hasten
ed away.
Never was a more dastaTdIy act COM
mitted by man; but the same violence
that had caused it, caused him, also to
overlook the fact that the poor woman
was far from being in the condition he
supposed. She had only cOunterfeited
death to save herself from farther viO-
Ience; as soon as he had gone she arose
trembling.
"My God ~ she sighed, CATER all !
have done for that man-after I have
given up both earth and heaven for him,
that he should use me so. And I could
have still endured, still suffered, had he
not struck and threatened to crush me
beneath his iron heel. Now he has
gone too far! The most miserable worm
will not refuse to turn and defend itself,
and II
In an instant her resolution was tax
en-. She threw a shawl over her head,
and darted from the cabin out into the
forest. DaTting upon a trail she had
never Travelled, through a bowling storm
and intense darkness, her angel nature
appeared to have suddenly changed
The tigress had taken place of the lamb.
All, how true is it that
Heaven has no rage like love to hatred turned,
And he'll no fury like a woman scorned.''
With curses yet burning upon his lips,
Tom Gafney met his companions at the
the appointed rendezvous. It was al
the foot of huge oak that stood some
what isolated from its companions, and
whose trunk had become followed both
by natural decay and flame. Many a
time, in other days, the Indians had
built their fires within, and cooked theiI
venisOn. Now it was scarcely visited
was, in fact, Stunned; for there was a
superstition among the negroes that il
was haunted; that wierd shapes had
been seen fitting around, and ghOstIy
grOans could be heard any night issuing
from its rotten sides. And on this ac-
count the outlaws had chosen it as Their
place of meeting; and all were assem-
bled when their leader arrived, still rag
ing with anger.
Had there been time he would have
instantly settled the matter as to how
his wife had obtained her information.
But there was not, and choking down
his wrath as best he might, he question
ed concerning their preparation, and
then gave orders for departure.
By this time the storm was at its
height. The lightning was flashing viv-
idly, and the earth trembled at the ter
rife booming of the thunder. The rain
was falling with deluge rapidity, and
the wind hOwled through the forest,
twisting off the tops of the trees and
scattering the huge branches in every
direction. 1t was a dangerous night to
be abroad but the more fit for murder,
and the skulking outlaws almost blessed
God for it,
Within the home of Colonel Jardin all
was silence. The severe storm had
driven the negroes to their quarters
There was no song, no dancing, no play
ing of banjo, no merriment amongst
them. The planter and his family had
retired early. Even the huge watch
dogs, the fleet deer and strong fox
hounds, were absent from their accus-
toned places upon the broad verandes.
There was not q sound of quick life
around except the dark forms armed
men with blackened faces that were
stealing along the OTange-shaded and
flower perfumed garden walks; serpents
creeping through q second Eden!
With little difficulty a window was
opened, and they entered. That accom-
plished, dark lantern was lighted and
Served to guide their footsteps. Had
they been content with a reasonable
amount of plunder they could have
more than loaded themselves from the
richly furnished paTlOr. Articles OF
great cost were scattered around, and the
Open door of q closet revealed that the
shelves were filled with silver. But they
were gamblers, and playing for a great
stake. Nothing else would satisfy them
and they were certain that they held the
winning cards.
The booty they were in quest of could
be in no other place than the iron chest
of the master Of the mansion, and that
must be in his room. With a few whis-
pered words they cTept up the stairs and
went at once to the door. Spies had in
formed them of all that was requisite
! to be knOWn-a faithless slave had been
! hribed-there was not the slightest un-
certainty in their actions.
The door was unlocked and swung
nOiselessIy back upon its hinges. Deep
and regular breathing assured them that
the inmates were locked fast i'll slumber.
There were no need to disturb them, and
and silent as death they huddled around
the little stOre-hOuse of the coveted
wealth. That, too, was untastened :
Was ever a man so careless Of his treas
ure? Did tickle fortune ever bestOW
such favOring smiles upon hand OF rob-
bers? They could scarcely stitie a cry
Of joy rs bag after bag of gold was hand
ed out. They hastily secured the booty
and turned to retraCe their steps, when
lights flashed upon them from every
part of the room, and they saw that they
were surrounded by scores Of strong,
armed negroes, and that Colonel JardIn
stood in their midst, pistol in hand!
Surrender; robbers !" he command
ed
"Neverp answered Gafney. "Cut
your way through men. Now down the
| black devilsW
In an instant a hand-tO-hand fight