The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1874-01-20

Oecn COmely, IL not Oeaulilul, UuI HoW
her form was wasted, her face haggarl
and sallow: She was ceanly in attire
a notabble contrast to the others.
"Choke that brat, Moll," snarled one
of the women Better not let the old
man ketch i squallin' SO"
"The poor thing is SICK" murmured|
Carrie, gliding to the mothers side
"Let me take it, please; perhaps l can
soolhe it, and she gently took up theI
child
A little thing, trihing act of kind
ness, perhaps, but upon it the events Of
that night hinged 1t must have been
Carries guardian angel that prompted
her to the action. 1t raised up for hesssl
friend where one was sorelv needed
The babe gradually quieted down,and
then fell asleep, quietly, peacefully nest
ling upon the maiden's breast. The
worn woman's eyes filed with tears, and
she seemed about to speak when one Of
the others said, in significant tone:
"Mind what Jack said bout your sniv-
elm, Moll He'll be here afore long,
reckon"
"Then you expect your husband? p
queried Campbell,
"Yas; but set up. The wittles is ready,
such as they be In the mornin' mehbe
yell get somethin' more to your taste,"
and she chnckled, casting peculiar
glance toward the other giantess
Campbell made no reply,but led Carrie
to the rude table Yet his mind was not
at ease. The actions Of the women were
not calculated to put him at rest,especial'
ly when they thought themselves mob
served, aud he recalled the rumors ofrap-
idly increasing crime in the Greenmore
region that had reached Harrodsburg.-
Could it he that he had fallen into den
of murderers? But then he laughed at
the idea, ,confilent in his youthful strength
and courage ''i'.-l-'
go out pretty soon TO look after your
horses. Wait at the corral for me You
are in great danger here, but l will. save
you"
Campbell started, and glanced around.
The mother of the sick child was passing
behind him, and hastily pressed Il finger
to her lips. with glance toward the two
women standing in the doorway. Camp
bell understood the hint, aud with pow
erfui exerton of will controlled his feel
ings. He understood all now The tone
in which the warning was conveyed for
babe the idea of its being ajest.
AS may BE- imagined his appetite was
small. and Carrie, probably affected by
his grave looks, also ate but little. The
mother of the babe then offered to show
her to her bed and look from Ned warn
ed her to comply without words. Troub-
led with vague fear of she knew not
what, Carrie went into tiny room that
was partitionel of from the rest of the
building. Closing the door the wotrias
whispered:
"Do not speak if you value your life !!
You are in danger, but | will save you,for
your heart is kind Act as though you
were going to bed, bnt do. not remove
your clothes. Don't be alarmed if you
hear noise in that room 1t will be me-
Remember, your life depends on your
prudence"
Leaving Carrie trembling, the woman
closed the door, and then glanced at
Campbell Reading the signal Alright.
he rose, with yawn, saying that he must
go and look to his horses and then would
turn in,pretending thathe was too sleepy
to hold his eyes open. As he stepped ont
of the door, the woman callel Moll
caught up bucket, muttering something
about going after fresh water. At the
corral she met Campbell
go lead out your horses; take them
back of the cabin I'll bring out the kind
lady Ynum ride fast and far, for,he
bio Ddhnunds will be upon your track
they may come at anv moment. You
must have heard of them-the Harpe
brothers" and then she turned away TO
THE spring.
Had he not? His stout heart chilled
with horror "a he thought of Carrie fall
ling into the clutches Of these demons in
human form-these men, or rather f1endS,
who loved boodshed'tor itself, who had
committed many cruel murder without
hope Of gaining anything for the deed.
"A savage thirst for blood;a deep root
Ell malignity against human nature,could
alone be discovered in their actions
They murdered every defenseless being
that fell in their way, without distinction
Of age, sex or color In the night they
stole secretly to the cabin, slaughtered
the inhabitants and burned their dwell
ling, while the farmer who left his hou sc
by day, returned to witness the dying ag-
onies OF his wife and children and the
lconfagration of his possessions. Plum
der was not their ohj0ft Travellers they
robbed and murdered, but from the inhah-
itants they took only what would have
been freely given them and only what
was Immediately necessary to supply the
wants of nature They destroyed with
out having suffered injury, and without
the prospect Of gain
Thus writes the historian of the infa-
nous Harpe brothers.
Much of this Ned Campbell already
knew Little wonder, then, that he lost
no time in preparing his b,rses for in.
stani flight But the peril was even near
or than he at first believed Scarcely had
he closed the corral when he heard the
sound of rapidly approaching horse
hoofs, and then two horsenen dashed up
to the corral aud dismonnted
Campbell, now at the rear of the cabin
drew his pistols, feeling that discovery
was inevitable His rife was still within
the cabin He heard the two women
leave the cabin, an then the other one
hastily enter it. In suspense he listened
A faint sound within met his ear, then Q
board at his feet uplifted, ana two figures
were before HIM He recognized Carrie
and their strangely found friend.
At this moment loud cry, FOLLOWED
by furious oaths, came from the corral
Beyond doubt the Harpes had diseoy
cred the absence of the horses.
\ Mol hastily whispered;
''rake the left hand road, and ride for
life; it leads to the nearest neighbor
where you'll be safe. Away! and may
heaven preserve your
but your mu,tered Campbell, as he
lifted Carrie to the saddle.
"Harpe is my husband. Go! Fol-