Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1870-11-25

tuutiou, anu was, pcIuaps. all thiHss
considered, the most promising young
man in the Stale. | arrived at the de-
pot about twenty minutes before the train
WAS to start. and found the old gentleman
there. Said he, II have put into the
baggage car boz containing two dozen
bottles OF Catawba wine for The use of
Yourself and Mily, for the food and water
may be bad where you are going. Mily
il not here yet. and am in hurry and
il | do not see him, tell him ii he never
gets back will take care of his wife and
children" This was the second time he
had made the remark, and it struck me
with peculiar force. Had he present.,
rnent that his sou would never return?
The journey was not entirely free from
danger, for the banks of the Tennessee
liver were infested in places with gueril-
las, who sometimes fired upon the pass.
ing boats; and there were other pcrils be-
yond those attending ordinary life Mt
home lie then bade me goodbye, and
with God bless you," left the depot
In few minutes the Professor arrived in
high spirits, and gave him his fathers
message. We went into the sleeping
car, and being very tired from the labors
of the day, | at once enter ell the berth,
The Professor assisting me in undressing,
and saying he would call me before We
arrived at Terrc Hautc lie said he
should sit up 10 see his wife at Green
castle, which WAS on tho line of the road,
end where his family resided that he had
,olcgraphcd TO her 10 be al the depot
when the train passed, and to bring his
overcoat. Just before midnight he arous-
ed me. aud said. 1--WE will be in Terre
Haute in few minutes He was very
lively, and said, among other things, Il
have the advantage OF YOU. | have kiss
cd my wife since you kissed yours; she
received my dispatch. and was at the de-
pot waiting for me At Terre lautc
ye lol( the ear. anl entered the special
train which WAS in waiting TO take us 10
Evansville, anl which consisted Of u To-
comotivc and 0inglc passenger car. The
conductor said we should make quick
run. for they had telegraphed down the
road 10 have the lraC.; clear, and we should
only stop for wood and water. We start
ed al rapid gait, anil the whole party,
some nine persons in all. were full of
lun. The Professor produced small
from which he took some
lunch. which was passed arounl. and
while We were discussing it. told several
he was an cXccllont story
lcllcr--of his speech making tour the
year before in the county OF Sullivan,
through which we were about 10 pass =
and alter some tweaty OF Thirty minutes
spent in this way, the company made
Ihcir several dispositions for the ride.
The stove hal been out oil tho car. and IN
The middle. whoro il had stood, the seats
ran lcngthwiSo. instead of crosswise, in
he usual way. laid down with my
head To the rear. and my feet forward,
On the long side seat, and the Professor
laid down on the same seat, with his
head to the front, which then brought our
feet together. We were soon asleep,and
about that time entered the county of
Sullivan. in which there lived = class of
people who were diSailected toward the
soy cument. and sympathizcd strongly
with the rebellion. aud some Of them
carried their opinions to the extent OF
overt treason, and had already obtained
outside the county 4 disagrceablc notoric-
ty.
We had not long been asleep when we
were awakened by terrible shock and
crash. Immediately sprang to my feet
which brought me at the sido OF the Pro
lessor, and felt that the car was still on
the track and moving. The Professor
threw his feet of the seat upon the floor,
raised his head from the carpet-bas upon
which he was lying, and with his lcit
hand threw up the window at his side,
and put his head out to see what was the
matter.
1t flashed through my mind that this
was dangerous, hut there was no time to
speak; it was the work of a momen:. AT
the instant OF putting his head OF; OF thc
window it was darkcncd by sowc passing
object, and his face dropped upon the
window.sil. took him by the shoulders
and laid him back with his head upon
the carpct-bag, and he was already dead.
The blood spouted from the side OF his
head in torrents, and ran across the floor
of the car in a stream. A portion OF the
left side OF the skull, rs large as the palm
of nv hand, had been knocked out, and
the brain was protruding from the mortal
wound. By this time the car stopped,
and all was still. Never before had so
powerfully realized the awful presence
OF death.
Our company stood around and gazed
with horror upon the face of the dead,
and for several minutes not word was
spoken. a horrible suspicion entered
my mind that it was not accidental that
it was murder; that it was intended Tor
me, but, by an inscrutabtc dispensSion
of Providence, had fallen upon him, and
this was strongly confirmed by subsequent