The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1869-05-05

By some means, the news of the in
tended robbery reached the ears OF
the wife of Gafney; and she pleaded
long and earnestly-pleaded as only
a woman can-for him to desist.
Il gave up home and name and
honor, Tom;" she said, as she knelt
before him, with eyes swollen with
tears, ''and have followed you throu yf
misery and disgrace through pain and
through peril, for five long years. o!
for my sake do not 60 away FROM
home tonight. 1 will do anything
for you-work until my fingers arc
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
fool of yourself" he replied. Il am
only going to meet tho boys for a lit
tie while, and"
Commit robbery, and-O God !! it
may be murder -
"How do you know that p he de-
manded, savagely. What chicken
hearted fool has blabbed ?" and he
took her by the shoulders and shook
her rudely.
at matters not, but 1 know it"
f1ou shall tell me-"
81 will not"
Never before had she braved, though
she had controlled him and after the
first surprise had passed, his face be-
came livid, and his fiery passions surg
cd beyond all control.
"You won't?' he asked, clutching
her by the throat, and leaving the i'm
print of his iron musclcd fingers upon
the fair, soft flesh.
81 waRt,' WAS gasped in reply.
With an oath he struck her to the
floor, and raised his heavy boot to
stamp her in the face. And so he
would have done, brute that he was,
and repeat it again and again, had not
whistle from without warning him
that the time for departure had arriv-
ed, arrested his attention. Choking
with passion he drew back, and cast
one look upon the poor woman, paler
than ashes and motionless as n corpse.
'She is in dead faint" he mutter-
ed from between his UnSho:n lips,
land won't trouble any one for long
time," and taking his knife and pistols
hastened away.
Never was a more dastardly act
committed by man but the same vio-
lenca that had caused 1t, caused him,
also to overlook the fact that the poor
woman was far from being in the con-
dition he supposed. She had only
counterleited death to save herself
from farther violence; as soon as he
had gone she arose trembling.
"My God ~ she sighed, ''after all
l have done for that man-after ]
have given up both earihl. ANA heaven
for him; th": IT,. nc should use me so
And l could Lave still endured, still
suffered, had he not struck and threat
ened 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 /"
In an instant her resolution was ia
ken. She threw a shawl over her
head, and dartcd from the cabin out
into the forest. Darling upon trail
she had never travelled, through q
bowling storm and intense darkness,
her angel nature appeared to have
suddenly changed. The tigrcss had
taken place of the lamb. All, how
true is it that
Heaven has no rage like lore to hatred
And hell no fury like woman scorned."
With curses yet burning upon his
lips, Tom Gafney met his companions
at the appointed rendezvous, 1t was
at the foot of huge oak that stood
somewhat Issolated from its compan-
ions, AID whose trunk had become
followed both by natural decay and
flame. Many time, in other days,
the Indians had built their fires with
in, and cooked their veniSon. Now 1t
was scarcely visited-was, in fact,
summed tor there was superstition
among the negroes that it was haunt
ed ; that wierd shapes had been seen
fitting around, and ehostly groans
could he heard any night issuing from
its rotten sides. And on this account
the outlaws had chosen it as their
place of meeting and all were assem-
bled when their leader arrived, still
raging 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 ques-
toned concerning their preparation,
and then gave orders for departure.
BY this time the storm was at its
height. The lightning was flashing
wildly, and the earth trembled at
the terrific booming of the thunder
The rain was falling with deluge like
rapidly, and the wind howled through
the forest, twisting off the tops of the
frees and scattering the huge branches
in every direction. 1t was danger
Gus Mi ght to be abroad; but the more
fit for murder, and the skulking out
laws almost blessed God for it
Within the home of Colonel Jardin |
all was silence. The severe storm
had driven the negroes to their quar-
tiers. There was no song, no dancing.
no playing of banjo, no merrimcnt
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 accustomed places upon the !
broad verandes. There was not .
sound of quick life around except the
dark forms-armed men with black
ened faces that were Stealinr olono