Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1870-07-23

A ROMANTIC AFFAIR - From the Louisville
Commercial, July lS. Last week there occur
red 10 Bullitt county strange affair, which Is
rs yet ussolved in its particulars, but which
was one ct those very peculiar transactions
that seem to have no motive. A widow lady,
lived near Mount Washington. They were
without male protectors, and lived quietly and
securely Ono day the Old lady received some
81. 1000 in payment OF an old account, and lock-
ed it up in her trunk. The night following
was dark and gloomy, and one that would cause
people naturally to bar and lock doors and Win.
dows; and cause one to hesitate to open them
to stranger. Toward night an old. bent up,
decrepit man came to the door, and on 1t being
opened asked for shelter tor the night The
widow told him she was alone, with no men
folk about the house, and she disked to take
stranger under her roof. The old m an said
he was stranger, poor, decrepit and destitute,
and only asked for shelter from the approach.
ing night.
The lady acceeded to his request, and 10 due
time be was shown 10 his room up stairs. The
night grew darker outside. and the widow and
her daughter were preparing to retire, when
heavy knock came upon the deor, and voices
of men outside were heard demanding admit.
tsnce in threatening tones. Terrified, know
ing the danger of possessing such large sum
of money, the widow concluded that the parties
outside were copfederates of the man to whom
she had given shelter. Acting upon this suspi
coo, With trembling limbs, she ran up stairs and
locked The door Of the suspicious stranger. Re-
turning down stairs, she heard the blow of an
axe on the door, and as she reached the foot of
the stairs encountered the man she supposed
she had locked safely in the room. No longer
dec1epit, bent and teeb Bile, the stranger stood
upright and assumed stalwart proportions.
The gray hair, the trembling voice had gone,
anG instead was man of powerful buid and
determined mien. Believing that alt was lost,
the widow exclaimed, You know what I've
got Iii give it up! ...---- E
The stranger, instead of acceding to the ter.
ri6ed woman's offer replied, Don tannoy me;
held 10 his hand rifle be bad taken from the
rack, and as the blows of the assaiant's ak fell
fast upon he door, pushed the widow into her
room.
The door gave way, and the first man that
entered was shot by the stranger, who Rrasped
the falling body and pulled it inside the door.
He then pulled the door wide open and fired
again, killing another Of the assalsnts. The
party turned to fly, and another of their cum
ber received shot from the valiant stranger.
The attacking party having fed. the door
was secured, and the sttrghted inmates TOOK
occasion 10 examine the features OF tho dead
robber, who proved to be the son-in.law and
neighbor of the widow. ..,
In the morning another man was found,
leaning over the fence, with his arms thrown
over the rails, dead Mortally wounded, bis
failing strength had carried him to the fence.
where, in supporting himself, be died.
The stranger gave himself up to magis-;
trate, who examined into the case, the strang-
er refusing to give either his name, place: or
residence, or the nature CT bis business. The
magistrate ordered his discharge, and the
mysterious stranger departed. Who he was,
why be assumed the disguise he did on that
night, what was the nature of his business, or
whittier he went, is mystery not yet explain
ed, snd comment would be superfuous.