Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1872-12-12
A Renaissance Of Black GuIch,

! SdLSu DSuEatu NuO Jill lASO Lho'
grew in the vicinity, while an un.
fortunate wretch stood on the
back of a horse, with a moose a
bout his neck, ready tobe launched
into eternity. They had formed
a circle around the culprit and
were about to hang him, when be
raised his eyes in the direction of
a cloud of dust which just then
arose a couple of miles distant,
and requested a respite long e.
ncugh to determine whether it was
his wife who was coming to bid
him farewell. -.. <
After a few moments consulta-
ton among themselves, the mi
ners granted his request, and he
was lifted from the horse to the
ground, while all eyes were curl
ously bent on the cloud of dust
that atapproached nearer and nearer.
Jim Bennett turned'the toBac-
co in bis mouth with as much
nonchalance as if he were nOtnn-
der sentence'of death by the has-
| tily extemporized court Of miners
that stood about him. "ThAt's
Moll," he exclaimed, scanning the
outlines of the horse and rider,
who were furiously dasbing over
the prairie. "She came cussed
nigh 1nissin' the hangin but I'm
glad she's come, and ! hope you'll
give me a few private words with
her. r. s,r5-,-1 -r--ralr
This last request elected a
grunt of acqulescence from his
executioners, and then Mary Ben
nett, mounted on a feet mountain
pony, which WIS covered With foam,
rode up to the group with an air
of bravo that rendered her posi-
lively enchanting, from the man.
ner in which she bore herself
"This is a bad business, Moll,"
said one of the miners, throwing
his rifle into the hollow Of his
arm "but Jim has nobody to
blame but himself. He's been
warned over and over again not to
come about these diggings, yet be
wouldn't heed advice. Last night
he undertook his old trick Of
stealing horses, and when Bill
Simpson sat about arresting him
he shot him, just as he did poor
Rufus last Spring. 1t Was more
on your promise at that tiEIe that
he would behave himself than
anything else that we didn't hang
him; but the committee won't
take promises any longer, and
Jim must swing. We'll give you
talk of fifteen minutes with
him." and the speaker pulled out
a large silver watch, while his
companions withdrew to a short
distance. =
Moll Bennett was certainly
singular as we'll as remarkable
parsonage, and it was not a com.
mon occurrence to find her like on
the rrairies. She was about %
years of age, with figure as
graceful and 1.-THE as could possi-
bly, be imagined, Black hair and
eyes, the latter bewitching, bright
and beautiful, regular white teeth,
aud a complexion tanned to the
brownest hue by the exposure,
while a character that knew no
limit for reckless daring, had CIV
en- her a reputation that had ex-
tended far and wide over that Sec
ton of country. She. was be-
yond despute, a very beautiful wo-
man, but there was wicked
! CLEAN, in her, eyes when she be-
came angry that caused those in
her immediate vicinity to look
we'll for their safety, for Moll could
perpetate a bloody deed as well
as the best OF them. She was
the reputed wife of Jim Bennett,
a. desperate, who lived several
miles distant from the miners,
camp. None knew from whence
she came, for she wss exceedingly
reticent on that subject, but the
very fair education which she pos
sessed forbade the belief that she
had been reared on the frontier.
When the miner had ceased
speaking Moll Bennett eyed him
with supercilious air, and with
out deignipg a reply, Etrode to
where her husband stood bound.
81 could cut you loose, Jim,' she
said, 'ssbut it wouldn't be of any
use. I've only one horse, and
he's done up with hard riding
We can't escape" ae-s-''o
! ." '1aint of any account Moll,
replied her husband Sim in
for it this time and no mistake; /
don't mind the dying, butII hate
to leave you, Moll I; yetga mans