The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-10-09
SELECT STORY.
A NIGHT OF TERROR.

spending an nOuE III piedsdhI COhN hNSASA-
ton, "you appear to have met with ma
ny adventures in your younger days.
You relate story so well, that ] never
tire of listening to you; so, if there has
been any thrilling episode in your life
that have not as yet heard, I should be
pleased to have you narrate it, and can
assure you that l shall be a most atten-
tive listener"
81 am afraid you are great Aatterer,
Mr.. Williamson" she replied. "How-
ever" she added, 81 win comply with
your request, for startling event recurs
to my mind this moment.
"Twenty years ago my husband was a
dealer in jewelry, and also in most arti-
cles of great value. He travelled almost
necessarily, and stopped but short time
in each city or town. I could not bear
to be parted from him for months at a
time, so always accompanied him in
his wanderings, and endured many hard
ships and dangers for the sake of always
being with him. There were not many
railroads in those days; they were like
angels visits-few and far between
"Late in the summer of 1852, we were
in New Orleans; he had finished his
business there, and was ready to leave.
On making inquiries he found that there
would be no vessel for Savannah, our
paxt stopnipor NJ ana fi1l fba and Of tho
following month, so he decided to take
the overland route.
"Well, we got as far as Opelaka, Ga,
without meeting with any very serious
annoyance or danger. Opelaka, at that
period, was little more than a village,
inhabited by half-breed Indians, misera-
BILE, treacherous rascals, and few whites
whose general character was equally as
bad. Every two weeks a stage left OPP
elaka for Griffin, the terminus of the
railroad from Savannah. We got there
in time for the stage, but, through the
stupid obstinacy of my husband we were
left behind in that miserable place. He
had three trunks filed with valuable
goods, and the stage driver wanted ten
dollars more than my husband had ever
paid anybody else-that is, for an equal
distance-for carrying them to Griffin.
"'George, give him what he asks 1
said, rather than stay in this wretched
village for weeks. If we remain here,
we'll be murdered and robbed by those
Misunderstanding Indians"
"'Annie, he replied, 4 won't pay such
exorbitant prices to that scoundrel; no,
not if we have to stop in this place for a
month by refusing to do So
"Well, as 1 said before, the stage left
without us, for the driver refused to take
the trunks for less than he demanded.
"There was squalid-looking hotel
tavern, rather-in the village, kept by a
dirty, rufianly appearing half-breed,
which my husband and entered on the
departure of the stage.
"'Can we get a team to take our
trunks and ourselves to Griffin" asked
my husband.
"'The roads are in very bad condi-
ton, and you couldn't get more than FIVE
miles from here this afternoon, and you'd
have to stop at a house where man was
murdered last week for two dollars
You'd better stop here tonight. I'll
make you as comfortable as 1 can, he
replied.
"Well, then, / guess we'll stay here
till tomorrow morning. observed my
husband:
"The host went to prepare a room fol
US, and as he left the apartment a white
man stepped up to my husband and
said:
Mister, you'd better not stay in this
shebang tonight, for you'll surely ge
murdered if you do. There were five
men killed and robbed in this ranch
within the last two months. I'm q team
ster, and will take you to Griffin if you
want me to-
"'A pleasant prospect, indeed sale
George. IF we stay here we're likely t.
have our throats cut, so he tells us; and
if we go on this afternoon and stop a
the old tavern over night, mine host say
that the same delightful fate will avail
us there. Between two evils choose tn,
least; but, confound the whole affair!
don't know which is the least. NJ.
FRIEND he added, turning to the team
ster, Il remain here tonight. Be read,
to start early tomorrow morning at day
light
"'If you and your wife isn't as dea
as a door nail, you mean to say, mister
said the teamster, with grin, as b
walked away.
"tGood heavens, Georgep 1 cried
when safe within the apartment We ha
been conducted to by the host; well b
murdered, and only because you acte
like an obstinate mule and then burs
into tears.
"'My dear he replied, 'be philosc
pher, and make the best of our felicit
GUS situation. There is one consolatio
that is, if our throats are cut we sha,
have the blessed privilege of dying
each others arms. Think of that, m
dear, and be happy
George I sobbed. 'how can you b
so heartless as to joke when we are
such great danger of our lives? If you
had any consideration for my comfol
and my safety, you'd have given tn
stage driver what he asked. I shall neV
er forgive you for acting so-no, not {
long as live
"'Well, perhaps that won't be vel
long; so you'd better not treasure up an
harsh feelings against me, for if yC
should happen to die suddenly, witho
having pardoned me, your soul wouldr
rest in peace
~ made no reply, for / saw that
ives very anxious, and was trying to che
me up by making light of the situatio
about six o'clock the host broug
US some supper, which we partook
sparingly, for we were in no humor f
eating. At nine o'clock George order
fwo Mill vnucbaa When the hr