The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1874-08-14
MOJI RFNSETT.

twelve miners were cOngregaIeo DenedAu
the only tree that graw in the vicinity,
while an unfortunate wretch stood on
the back of a horse with a moose about
his neck, ready to be launched INTO
eternity. They had formed circle
around the culprit, and we're about to
hang him, when he raised his eyes IN
the direction of cloud of dust, which
inst then arose a couple of miles dis
tant, and requested a respite long
enough to determine whether 1t was his
wife who was coming to bid him fare
well.
After a few moments consultation
among themselves, the miners granted
his request, and he was lifted from the
-, = $1,000 .--I.-I> l,;s
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. ''Thats
Moll, 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 1
hope you'll give me few private words
with her"
This last request elected grunt of
acquiesence from his executioners, 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 IL which
she bore herself.
"This is a bad business, Moll, said
I one OF tie miners, throwing his rife
I into the hollow of his arm, " but Jim
/ has nobody to blame but himself. He's
/ been warned over and over again not
/ 10 come about these diggings, yet he
wouldn't heed advice. Last night he
undertook his old trick of stealing
| horses, and when Bill Simpson set
abQSt arresting him, he shot him Just
as he did poor Rufus last spring. 1t
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
/ iseNany longer, and Jim must swing.
/ WEI give you talk of fifteen minutes
/ witIphim," and the speaker pulled out
a large silver watch, while his compan.
/ ions with rev to a short distance.
Moll Bennett was certainly a singular
| as we'll as remarkable parsonage, and il
/ was not a 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
4 latter bewitchingly bright and beauti-
/ full, regular, white teeth, and com
| plexion tanned to the brightest hue by
! exposure, while a character that knew
! no limit for reckless daring, had given
/ her a reputation that had extended fan
| and wide over that section of the coun-
| try. She was, beyond dispute, very
/ beautiful woman, but there was wicked
| CLEAN IN her eyes when she became
/ angry that caused those in her imme-
date vicinity to look well to their safe
4 ty, for Mol could perpetrate bloody
[ deed as well as the best of them. She
was the reputed wife of Jim Bennett, q
| desperate, who lived several miles dis
/ tant from the miners camp. None
/ know frem whence she came, for she
was exceedingly reticent on that sub
| iect 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
/ Moll Bennett eyed him with supercil.
/ ious air; and, without deigning a reply
| strobe to where her husband stood
bound. 81 could cut you loose, Jim,
she said, but it wouldn't be any use.
/ I've only one horse, and he's done uI
with hard riding. We can't escape"
'''Taint of any account, Moll, re
piled her husband, 'rm in for it this
tinenud no mistake; / don't mind the
| dyiIA but hate to leave you Moll, yei
mans got to go some time or other,
| But want you to promise me thai
you'll bury me near by the cabin, and
that You'll revenge me too. Don't for
get, Moll, what I've suffered from those
/ felldes in the past, and-and-Jim, il
| he should live to be a man, that he's tC
hunt the fellows who murdered his
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 them settle
here, don't forget my last words
You're too good looking, Moll, to be
long without another man, and
"Hush % she exclaimed fiercely,
''none of that.
Don't be offended, Moll. 1 wasn't
going to say any thing like doubling
you, but you may want protector, ano
/ won't blame you If you"
1 protect ms self. / know all you would
say, but my life hereafter will be differ.
ent from what it has been. Men will
track me like wild beast, for my hand
shall always be red," and she nodded
Significantly toward the group of mi
ners.
THANK you, Mol, replied Bennett;
Z" ] shouldn't have expected any other
answer. You know more about the
Bible and religion than do, and if it's
true that well meet again somewhere
else, reckon you'll have a good ac-
count to give me of what you did in my
|" Good-by, Moll, T" cried the miners.
Moll Bennett turned her sharp black
eyes toward them and stepped some
PAGES apart as she bent her eyes stead
lastly on the green sward. When she
raised them again Jim Bennett was
swinging by the neck to the pine tree.
Considering the irregular manner in
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 it
whittier Mary Bennett desired, but the
woman who could all the while remain
present at such dreadful scene and
never shed tear or utter a moan was
not likely to accept any services at such
offer, 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 defantly
away.
was three weeks behind the circus
company, so when reached Vera Cruz
they were in Orizaba. My business
was transacted in few days, and was
at liberty to go where listed until the
steamer sailed. 1 therefore went to
Orizaba.
Theacircus company was there, but
my disappointment was great When, on
visiting it, found that Sonora Maria
no longer belonged to it.
A few days previous she had married
a Mexican officer quite suddenly, and
had lot the city. 1 posted back to
Vera Nruz, 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 1 |
thought it might be Mary Bennett. My |
Efforts were at length successful. |
Who should meet as 1 was carelessly /