Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1869-03-23
The Midnight ReYel,


for price and after many days had passed.
was arrested, tried and convicted-as the Pc
rusal of the tale will show:
The wind of November whistled shrill
among the rocky precipices that jutted over
the mountain road from Alesbury toward
Northumberland, as at the decline of day,
two travellers, on horseback, were crossing
with weary pace the long range of ridges to-
wards the great elbow or the Susquehannah,
and Notwithstanding the clouds lay heavy on
the dark and distant mountain tops, and the
shadow of approaching night gathered rapid
ly, they paused upon the northern extremity
of the last eminence, 6ismounted, and ap>
peared to be taking survey of the country
around them-a country embodying some of
the finest scenes in nature. To the north and
south, one vast extent of forest lay outstretch
ed-brokeu, and diversified by hill aud val
ley-now dimly seen, but not less interesting
in its aspect. In one direction were to be
seen seven stupendous pyrnmidic piles, push
ing their pine clad SUBMITS through the
clouds-they seemed fit habitations for the
fierce spirits of the restless elements; and
one could almost fancy the angels of the
tempest gathering to their awful dwellings
in those unlimited realms, an inverse of
stormy clouds, while in the west, peaceful
river flowed away in calm and unbroken soli-
tude, upon its devious course. Such was the
scene the travellers were left surveying when
twilight followed the declining sun, aud the
dreary night was swift upon the transient
cleaning.
A long three miles from this, on dim and
narrow road, was small public house, called
in those days "T'he Inn Of the Forrest
There was a thin settlement some miles on
from this, chiefly composed of men of the
rudest cast of life--often honest and kind in
their way, yet who, nevertheless brooked not
the control of law, and lived far off from city
and town, enjoyed their game, and were them
selves the umpires of each others rights and
wrongs OF such as these was made up the
company that gathered in the tavern that
night; and as the wind grew louder, and the
weather grew colder, so did the noise and riot
ing ard the turbulence of their spirits in
crease within.
Mngling with the tumultuous assembly
around the bar-room fire, and a long card
table stretched out before it, were now to be
seen the two strangers. They were wrapped up
in fur hunting cloaks and while one of them
took part in the bOistcrous laugh, and played
his game at the card table, and drank freely,
the other stretched himself to sleep in the
corner.
The more sociable stranger soon acquired
the confidence of his new companions and
as he himself professed to be a tavern keeper,
he gained the special favor of the landlord,
a black whiskered, down cast looking man,
upon whose countenance the stamp of vice
was fixed, and who was the loudest and most
clamorous in the circle-drank, played, boast>
ed and cursed, with a sort of frenzied infat-
uatior.
Their rioting was kept up through the mid
night hours !; and while the wearied and in
ebriated guests, one by one, dropped asleep,
and while without the storm sung in melan-
choly and plaintive sweetness through scared
pine trees that single stranger kept the little
circle he had gathered about him in fixed and
wakeful attention, to narrowing tales of hell
devised murders, and fearful retribution,
and waking ghosts, and discoveries brought
to light of day by supernatural agencies, and
detailed thousand instances to prove that,
sMurdcr. tho it hath tongue, will speak
With most miraculous organ"
In vain the hosts endeavored to turn the
subject, at every period. In vain he stirred
the dying embers, and invited the guests to
sleep. In vain he trembled and turned pale !;
the traveller seemed invincble, and at every
turn, murder and its bloody consequences
were still his theme and still as he walked.
his eyes were fixed on the features of the host.
It was dark and penetrating, and his voice
grew hoarse as he bid them hearkeu to the
screeching wood, as the storm made the great
trees bend aud groan.
1t seemed to him, he said to be burned with
q voice. In the words of Macbeth
''StiH it cried sleep more, to all the housc"'
The company started and listened some
thought they heard voice, while others
imagined they could distinguish those very
words.
"What can it mean ?" was the inquiry that
went round.
"Hark," said the stranger, "heard you not
that ?' Listen ROLAND ROLAND, mother
and six children, murdered by your own hand,
summons you to the grave with them.
AS he heard these words, the landlord
started wildly to his feet, and fearfully flushed
and sgitated, hallowed, as to the voice. ''If
l killed you, it was the instigation of another,
and the money got for it buried in the
rapids of the Susquehanna !"
yet. for the crime" said the other stranger,
who had till now lain silent. and hithorto ap
parently asleep, 'by virtue of State warrant
and in the name of the commonwealth oi
Pennsylvania, we arrest you, Duqois Rolland
to answer at the bar of your country !" AnC
as he said it, he deliberately arose, and drew
double barrel pistol from his cloak, anc
calmly laid it on the table before him, Will,
the other throwing aside his loose garments
stood before the astouished garb of an Office
of justice, completely armed with dirk and
pistols Resistance was vain, the murderer
was seized, and having been carried the
distance of thirty miles, was lodged IN Jal
before ten o'clock the next morning.
Thus was brought to justice. and ulhmateIJ ma
to the scaffold one of the bloodiest villains
that ever hung upon gallows, and one Thl
! had murdered her mother and her orphar
family for price paid in by relative, who
was next heir to pretty estate