The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1874-08-20
mOLL BENEFIT.


the back of a horse with a moose about !
his neck, ready to be launched into I
eternity. They had formed circle /
around the culprit, and we're abont to I
hang him, when he raised his eyes IN I
the direction of cloud of dust, which |
lust then arose a couple OF miles dis !
tant. and requested a respite long |
enough to determine whether it was his |
wife who was coming to bid him fare
we'll.
After a few moments consultation !
among themselves, the miners granted |
his request, and he was lifted from the
horse to the ground while his eyes were
curiously bent on the cloud of dust that
approached nearer and nearer.
Jim Bennett turned the tobacco in
his mouth with as much nonchalance as
if he were not under sentence of death
by the hastily extemporized court of
miners that stood around him. That's
Mol, /" he exclaimed, scanning the out
lines of the horse and rider, who were
furiously dashing over the prairie.
"She came cussed nigh missin' the
hangin', but I'm glad she's come, and
hope you'll give me few private words
with her."
- This last request elected grunt o
acauiesenee from his execntioners, and
then Mary Bennett, mounted on fleet
mountain pony, which was covered with
foam, rode up to the group with an air
of bravado that rendered her positively
enchanting from the manner in which
she bore herself.
"This is a bad business, Moll," said
one of tie miners, throwing his rife
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 diggiDgs, yet he
wouldn't heed advice. Last night he
undertook his old trick of stealing
horses, and when Bill Simpson set
about arresting him, he shot him Just
as he did poor Rufus last spring. It
was more on your promises at that time
that he would behave himself than
ANYTHING else that we didn't hang him !;
but the committee won't take prom
ises any longer, and Jim must swing.
Well give you a talk of fifteen minutes
with him, " and the speaker pulled out
| a large silver watch, while his compan-
ions with rev TO short distance.
MolI Bennett was certainly singular
as we'll as remarkable parsonage, and it
was not common occurrence to find
her like on the prairies. She was about
twenty-three years of age, with figure
as graceful and 1.-THE as could possibly
be imagined. Black hair and eyes, the
! latter bewitchingly bright and beauti-
full, regular, white teeth, and COM
pIexion tanned to the brightest hue by
| exposure, while a character that knew
no limit for reckless daring, had given
her reputation that had extended far
and wide over that section of the coun-
| try. She was, beyond dispute, a very
CLEAN in her eyes when she became
angry that caused those in her imme-
/ date vicinity to look well to their safe
/ ty, for Moll could perpetrate bloody
| deed as we'll as the best OF them. She
was the repIIted wife of Jim Bennett, a
! desperado, who lived several miles dis
| tant from the miners camp. None
| know frem whence she came, for she
was exceedingly reticent on that sub
| ject; but the very fair education which
she possessed forbade the belief that
she had been reared on the frontier.
When the miner had ceased speaking
Mol Bennett eyed him with supercil.
ious air; and, without deigning reply
strobe to where her husband stood
bound. I could cut you loose, Jim,
she said, but it wouldn't be any use
I've only one horse, and he's done uE
faint of any account, sMoll," re
piled her husband, ''Tm in for it this
time and no mistake; don't mind the
dying, but hate to leave you Moll, ye
a mans got to go some time or other
But want you to promise me tina
you'll bury me near by the cabin, anC
that you'll revenge me too. Don't for
get, Moli, what I've suffered from those
fellows in the past, nd-and-Jim, i
he should live to be man, that he's Il
hunt the fellows who murdered hi
father, if any of them should remain il
the country. If they leave these parts
he can't track them-I don't expect it
But mind, Mol, if any f them settlt
here, don't forget my last words
You're too good looking, Moll, to b,
long without another man, and"
g Hush !" she exclaimed fiercely
none of that. a
"Don't be offended, MoIl. I WASH
going to say any thing like doubtinl
You, but you may want protector, an(
1 won't blame you if you"
Z" Hush, I say" she repeated, "I cal
protect myself. know all you would
say, but my life hereafter will be differ
ent from what it has been. Men viii
track me like a wild beast, for my han,
shall always be red, I" and she nSdde,
Significantly toward the group of mi
ners.
''Thank you, Mol, " replied Bennett
4" shouldn't have expected any othe
answer. You know more about tn
Bible and religion than do, and if IT.
true that wen meet again somewher
else, I reckon you'll have a good &C
count to give me of what you did in m,
memory"
GCs,a5 - Nil -
Mol Bennett turned her sharp blacl
eyes toward them and stepped som,
PAGES apart MS she bent her eyes stead
lastly on the green 'sward. When she
raised them again Jim Bennett wal
swinging by the neck to the pine tree
Considering the irregular manner il
which matters of this kind were per
formed IN those days, the proceeding
was executed with becoming solemn
ty. When life was extinct they cut the
body down and offered to convey il
whittier Mary Bennett desired, but the
woman who could all the while remain
present at such dreadful scene anC
never shed a tear or utter a moan wat
not likely to accept any services at sucI
hands. She therefore declined the
oiler, and, picking up the lifeless re
mains of him who had been her part
ner, without any assistance she threw
them across her pony and rode defiantly
away.
was three weeks behind the circu.
company, so when reached Vera Cruz
they were in 0rizaba. NY business
was transacted IN few days, and I wal
at liberty to go where listed until the
steamer sailed. therefore went tc
OGzaba.
The circus company was there, but
my disappointment was great When, on
visiting it, / found that Sonora Maris
no longer belonged to it. 3
few days previous she had married
Mexican officer quite suddenly, and
had left the city. I posted back to
Vera Cruz, and had begun to think
about my return, when I heard that
Col. Aguero and his beautiful American
wife had arrived to take passage for the
United States.
watched for an entire day in the
halls of the hotel, hoping to get a
/ glimpse of this famed beauty, for ]
thought it might be Mary Bennett. My
efforts were at length successful.
Who should I meet a. I was arelesslv