The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1871-06-10
No. %.

In his bearing towards ladies that on one
occasion at least be failed to insist upon
the delivery of an old gentleman's purse
when importuned by timid . frightened
| maiden who was being conducted by her
father to school in Henderson. There
is proclamation extant among the old
records of the State offering one thou
sand dollars for his capture dead or
alive" But his feet and faithful ami
NAL often bore him swiftly and safely
from every pursuing foe, and SO adroit
was he in all his operations thar The dar
ing young robber and the landlord of
"Corbin Hall, for that was the name of
his residence, were never su-pected ~
being one aud the same person. He was
ever watehful. however, while at home
and, though he retained all the genial
hospitality for which his native State
was SO remarkable, he was extremely
cautious whom he admitted to his house
To his credit. be it said, he never was
known to violate the sacredness of hos
pitality in any Instance by demanding
the purse of his guest
One stormy hight in December, when
the winds blew chill and damp, aud when
the cold rain fell in torrents, two travel
ers-the one healthy. robust man and
the other appearing to be delicate in
valid-approached his house and begged
for shelter for the night. The large.
athletic man said that his friend was an
invalid whom he was conducting from
some county in Tennessee to the home
Of an uncle living in Missouri, where he
tod - frr h
health, and, being caught in the terrible
storm, they lost their way amid the dark
ness of the night, and had wandered ac-
cidentally to his residence. The young
man coughed and appeared quite i'll.
aud, being drenched in the cold, driving
rain, Corbin generously admitted the
worn. pale faced youth aud his compan
ion to his freside and rendered them
every attention which his well provided
house afforded. Food was prepared, and
a large fire kindled in the comfortable
room prepared for their lodging.
Though Corbin suspected no treachery
from these weary looking and shiseriug
strangers. his faithful dog Dash cou
tinued to eye them closely, aud an oc
casional growl would escape him. He
would walk around the room, in which
he was accustomed to free admission,
and, while the strangers sat talking with
his master, appeared restless and angry
Whenever he approached near the visi-
tors his deep growl would indicate that
he did not like their presence. So an
noying did he become, and SO apprehen-
sive did the visitors seem lest he might
suddenly spring upon them, that hi-
master finally elected him from the room
with a kick After being thus driven
from the presence OF the three, the faith
full animal would wander about the yard,
and, though the storm continued TO rage
fearfully, his hoarse voice could be
heard above the elements as he would
howl most piteously; and occasionally
would attempt to gain admission to the
apartment where the three continued to
talk.
The hour for retiring having arrived,
however, Mr.. Corbin conducted the
strangers to their room, which was ad
joining his own, and, after seeing all their
wants supplied. retired The continued
bowling of his dog, howevr, kept him
awake for some time, and it was not un
til late hour that he closed his eyes in
sleep. He had the precaution to exam
inc bis arms carefully, and had fastened
securely the door which separates the
and himself
1t was but short time however, be
fore he was aroused by noise in the
adjoining room. and in a moment more
one of the strangers knocked at the di
viding door, saying that his friend was
dying with congestiye sgue, and begged
that he would furnish some brandy in
order to relieve him if possible.
Corbin sprang out of bed and opened
the door without puusing to think OF
what fate he might meet. And as soon
as this was done the two rufians, both
armed, sprsng upon him with large,
trenchant, death dealing bowie knives
He clutched the larger man by the throat,
lnd, being himself very stout and well
built succeeded in hurIing him to the
ground.
But conflict against such odds could
have but one result. In moment more
poor Corbin fell to the floor, with bis
warm blood squirting from several ghastIy |
wounds. He lay weltering in the pool,
mis- long hair clotted with his own life |
and the linn of death gathering
over his large blue eyes.
He turned his dropping head, and
ooked upon the bony, powerful figure Of
iir cowardly antagonist as it, bent over
Inn & cursed him bitterly, His last words
ind his dying look were not however.
or his foes He heard rhe goating ex /
lltstion of his treaeherous enemies but
le needed itnot. His thoughts return
d TO home and the loved ones there
lie spoke of q mother, sister, and
another, not 1; sister. in the happy days
.one by" As he splashed in the tepid
,ream during his death agony the visions
# childhood, the sad, silent figures ol
hose distant but dear ones whose caress
= he had received rose before his dim
ision and peopled his clouded MUD.
''His eyes were with his heart,
And that was far away"
He cared not for his life, but on the
anks of the stream where he had sported
D childhood there lived those who loved
i'm, aud here he was butchered ia a vii
erness, far away from kindred and |
riends. Perhaps he had loved and was
eloyed. aud it may have been that he
hought of the eyes that have since grown
i'm watching for the lover that came not
nd the heart that was true even to a
obberl AL this may have rushed out Ia
itb the last red drops that fell from his Z
hastily wounds. "A
Though many have execrated his mem
ry and sneered at bis career. there is one .
no knows where shis grave IL; who
eeps upon it and turks around il when
1e black storm RACES and the rain falls |
nd the fierce winds howl as they did
Ne night of the murder! The faithful II
og is long since gone, and the lover
,.;da, "a cone foo hint one stili l;uas L.