The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1873-01-17

ever. At night / contrived to get my en-
ployer to go home with me, and on the way
l heard low, stealthy steps behind me. I
knew that 1 was doggcd! '.You are
mine ~ l heard voice pronounce, as |
turned into my yard and as l turned, |
saw dusky figure moving off beneath the
shade of the roadside trees The next
day l sent word to my employer that was
sick, and kept the house all day. | ex-
planned all to my wife, and she agreed to
go with me wherever | wished. Several
tunes during that day | saw my sworn
murderer pass the house and gaze intsntly
upon the windows, but he did not see me-
got boy to go to the stable and pro-
cure horse and wagon, and, after dark
to take it round to back road, nearly a
mile from the house. My wife and myself
tied up such articles as we could carry, and
taking all my money with me, we stole out
through the back garden, and gained the
cross road in safety. The wagon was
there, and having entered it, the boy drove
us off at good speed. Just at daylight we
reached a tavern where a stage coach was
almost ready to start, and the boy returned,
having first promised to keep inviolate the
secret of my flight The stage was bound
to Lenox, which place we reached before
dark. From thence l went to Hudson,
crossed the North River and made my way
to the western part of New York, where
bought me a small cottage.
In less than year my enemy found me
again, and | saw him standing in front of
my house. He looked wild and haggard,
but l could see that there was an iron de-
termination upon his features. One night
l heard a grating against one of my win
dows, and at the next moment my dog, a
powerful Newfoundland, had sprung from
his kennel | dared not go down, for |
knew too well the cause of the disturbance.
The noise soon ceased. however, and ON
the next morning l found my dog lying be-
meath the window-dcad The william had
been afraid, probably, that the noise might
have disturbed the neighbors, and he had
for the present desisted from his murder
GUS intent. l made arrangements with
my wife to keep the house and taking
small sum of money with me, | fled from
my home
1 went to New Orleans, and there my
enemy at lergth followed me !! For three
years l skulked from place to place, the
very embodiment of terror and weakening
fear; but go where 1 would, the man was
sure to haunt me. Six different times he
fired at me with his pistol, and twice he
wounded me. Our two lives seemed to
have but one end and aim. His was TO
take mine, and mine to escape his fell re-
yenge / became almost walking skele-
ton-the falling of leaf would startle me.
l was in London, standing one day at the
door of an ale-house, when-O God II
saw my life-hunter pass. He was as pale
and sunken as myself-restless and new
Gus but his black eyes cleaned like balls
of fire. He did not see me. / hurried
down to the Thames, took lighter rs far
as Gravesend, and there ] was fortunate
enough to find a bark bound directly for
the Mediterranean. l got Il passage i'll
her, and was at length landed in this city,
where | have been ever since. have re-
gained somewhat of my former health and
spirits, though that same dread fear has
not failed to haunt me.
Ny enemy must have found me out even
here, but thank God, he has passed from
the power to harm me more. a hand
mightier than his has stricken him down.
That was his cold, pOwerless corpse that
we saw tonight in the church. If my
wife still lives, l shall see her again.
H did meet his wife again, for l saw
them both at the White Mountains when
/ was last there. 1t was some time before
could recognize in the portly gentleman
who accosted me the poor haunted man |
had met in Messina, but when l realized
the truth, l grasped him warmly by the
hand, received an introduction to his wife,
and soon we three were Straying along
the banks of the beautiful Ammoonoosuc.