Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-01-21

every llneament OF MS cOuntehance.
a. Mr.. c., he commenced. =" | can
tell you my story in afev words. Nearly
twenty years ago fell in love with a
young girl in the city Of New York. On
my part the acquaintance soon ripened
into love Of the warmost and most ar-
dent-and it was as pure as II was ar
dent, and she professed the same feeling
toward me- was then well-to-do in the
world, being q clerk in a heavy mercan-
tile house, and ere long 1t was arranged
we should be married. About a week
previous to the time set for this cere-
mony. accidentally heard my afianced
bride use some most obscene and pro-
fame language in company with one Of
her female acquaintance. Iou can
Judge of my feelings under these cir
cumstances much better than | can de-
scribe them. turned away sick at heart
and on the next day received indubita-
BILE proofs Of the utter infdelity Of the
object of my affections. at once
broke of the engagement Upon being
questioned by some of my companions
as to the cause Of my course, unguard-
edly and perhaps foolishly revealed to
them the whole secret. The story as
having come from me, got wings, and
soon spread among the lady's friends and
acquaintances.
A few days afterward a young man
about my own age called into the store
and came up to the desk where | was
writing. His hands were nervously
clasped together and his face was livid
with rage. he told me that | had for
ever blasted the reputation Of his sister
that j had faithlessly deserted her and
left her broken-hearted | attempted to
reason with him, but / might as well
have reasoned with lightning bolt. He
demanded instant satisfaction, and pro-
posed that should accompany him over
on the Long Island side and fight him.
My natural timidity would have pre-
vented me from complying with such a |
request, and had also higher scruples, |
aud of course | refused. Then he called !
me base coward, and swore that he |
would have my life. | complained os
him before Justice; he was appre-
he nded, publicly tried, fined and placed
under bonds to keep the peace
After that met him in Broadway. \
He stopped me and whispered In my
ear He swore by the most fearful oath |
a man could take, that he would have
my life, and that he would hunt me
through the world till he had accom-
plished his purpose. l knew that he
meant just what he had said, and fear
began to take possession of my bosom.
Many times l discovered that he was
dogging me about, but Ialways managed
to keep among crowd as | walked
along the streets. | dared not bring
him to trial again, for might fail to
make out case, and it could only tend
to increase his enmity still more. At
length feared to walk the streets, for
one night as | was passing dark alley
near the head of Cherry street. heard
the report of pistol close to me, and
bullet passed through my hat. knew
who fred that pistol, but | had no evi-
dence / felt that my life was not safe
in that city, and secretly | moved to
small town in the western part of the
State of Massachusetts, where engaged
with a dry goods dealer. Here /
took myself wife; but had not been
married over month, when | saw my
enemy pass the door Of the store and
look in. He saw me, and pointed his
finger at me. The cold sweat stood in
huge drops upon my brow, and my fears
came back more powerfully than ever.
At night / contriyed to get my employer
to 90 home with me, and on the way |
heard low, stealthy steps behind me.
knew that | was doggedl You are
mineW | heard voice pronounce, as
| turned lnto.my yardi and as 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. I explained all to my wife, and
she agreed to go with me wherever |
wished. Several times during that day
] saw my sworn murderer pasathe hoGse
and gaze inteptly 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 q back road, nearly
mile from the house. My wife and my
self tied up such articles as we could
carry, and taking all my money with
me we stole out through the back gar
den, and gained the cross road in safety. /
The wagon was there, aud having en-
tered it the boy drove us off at good
speed. Just at daylight we reached a
tavern where the stage coach was almost
ready to start, and the boy returned, !
having first promised to keep inviolate
the secret of my fight The stage was
bound to Lennox, which place we !
reached before dark. From thence |
went to Hudson, crossed the North
river and made my way to the western
part of New York, where bought me
small cottage. {
In less than a year my enemy found ,
me again, and saw him standing in I
front Of my house. He looked wild and ]
haggard, but | could see that there was !
an iron determination upon his features, /
One night heard a grating against one
Of my windows and on the next moment i
my dog, a powerful Newfoundland, had I
sprung from his kenuel dared not [
go down, for knew too well the cause
of the disturbance. The noise soon
ceased, however, and on the next morn
ing / found my dog lying beneath the
The villain had been
afraid, probably, that the noise might
have disturbed the neighbors, and he
had for tae present desisted from his
murderous intent. | made arrange
ments with my wife to keep the house,
and taking q small sum Of money with
me, ! fled from my home
went 70 New Orleans, and there my /
enemy at length followed me For three
years skulked from place to place, the
very embodiment Of terror and weaken
ing fear but 60 where | would, the man
was sure TO haunt me. Six different
times he fred At me with his pistol, and
twice he wounded me. Our two lives
seemed TO have but one end and aim.
His was 10 take mine, and mine to
escape his fell revengel became almost