Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 186?-1872, 1870-06-25
A TALE OF THE PAST.

The time of our story in the Au-
tum OF 49,. The scene, q small open
plot of ground In forest in Tennes-
see. A man bound tightly to q tree,
q white woman I'm the act of address,
ing the captive, and half o dozen In
dams standing In line behind her.
Around the man heap of fagots
were collected. .s
He was about thirty-five years OF
age, dark complexion, with jet black
hair; q man on whose face treach-
cry, cowariice, and viciousness were
plainly stamped.
His arms We're tied behind his back
and his head dropped down on his
breast.
1t was evident that he was power
fully moved. The woman might
have been few years his junior.
Traces Of beauty still remained on
her countenance, and as she stovd be-
fore this man with her small form
drawn up to its full hight, she looked
like an avenging angel.
She was attired simply in the
costume of the Indians.
| Around her waist was q belt,
from which projected the terrible
tomahawk and hatchet.
The Indians were attired according
to their usual custom, and they stood
In a line behind her in stoical indiffer-
ence.
The woman speaks.
Have mercyl mercy on you ? mer-
cy F! what mockery! Did you have
mercy on him? No! But now that
it Is your time to die, you cry mercy,
have mercy. Once for all, Albert
Cromleigh, 1 tell you make up your
mind to die, for by the time yonder
sun sets you will be wrapped in the
sleep Of death. Mercy! Shall I re.
peat that story to YOU?
NO! for Gods sake, no. If YOU
have any wOmanly pity left in your
breast spare me that. shall ask nc
more for mercy from you; see that
1t Is useless
So you don't like to hear It, all
Then will tell 1t to you.'
Listen, Albert Cromleigh, listen |!
continued the woman, glancine
scornfully at the victim before her.
Ten years ago, there lived in the
village of -, an old gentleman
whose name was Guy Cromleigh
and his two Sous, Henry, the elder
brave, handsome and generous; anC
you, the younger, treacherOus, cow.
ardly and passionate.'
For Gods sake, STOP murmuret
the man. Have I not suffered
enough since that time, that you mus
remind me of it?'
Guy Cromleigh was one of til,
first settlers of the village continued
the woman, unheeding the interrup
tion. Your brother he loved dearly
because of his generosity and brave
ry, and 1t was his avowed intention
to make him heir to his vast wealth
with the exception Of q competency
for you.
wild and passionate, it was i'm
possible for him to love you as he die
your brothcr.'
My father and myselflived in th,
same village.
!, An intimacy sprung up between
our two families, and ut length be
came the betrothed bride of you
brother. You loved me too, with al
the love your capricious nature wa
capable of. you hated your brothe
for, as you called it cheating you o
your fathers wealth as well as my
love. But you pretended love for hin
just as you did for his father
/ always disliked you. 1 Away
suspected you.'
Suddenly your father was takei
sick and died. His last wish was tina
your brother and should be married
privately, soon after his DEATH
IF he should die, you thought
then shall own his wealth and gail
his bride, for l know she loves hi
mOney-not him. And why, If
had his money, would she not Low,
me? That was the tenor of you
Thoughts fs
XIII me! kill me, woman, bu
spare me that, gasped the suffering
wretch.
Spare you = said the woman hys
terically, spare you? Did you SPAR
him ? and then she went on:
1T was about a week before tn
time appointed for my marriage will
your brother. was wandering about
near the cliff on the west side of tn,
village, when | heard footsteps ap
preaching. hid in the bushes ol
one side, and you and your brothe
appeared. Henry approached the edg
of the cliff, telling you to stay back
but you did not obey him. He wa
about to turn back, when / saw yov
+ stretch out your hands to push him
He lost his foothold, and as he fel
he caught at the top of the cliff will
, his hands.
For an instant he fingered betweel
life and death, and then losing hi
strength, he fell into the murmurinI
river below.
l was struck dumb with horror.
When / had recovered conscious
ness, you had left the spot.
What could do? No one but
had seen you, and my testimon.
! would he insufficient alone to prov
you guilty. | advanced to the plac
, where he had last stood and kneel
ing down, took u solemn oath tina
would avenge the murder of hin
who had been all in all to me, ant
follow your every footstep.
Il said nothing, but l was
changed person.
You invented story to the cffec
that Won were lnokin over the elf