The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1874-01-29

Two years before, WDen Ine 4dlHGlhS
Confederate fell at her feet, appealing
for succor. In the mi lst of these
"reminiscences she thought she heard
a noise en- the stone wall near her.
Turning to look, she saw a man in
the act of jumping to the ground.
She recognized him in an instant.
"lIary!"
"John!"
And the long separated were once
more united. Within a fortnight
they were married.
Randall did not long remain with
his young wife-his business, he said,
called him to Virginia-and he left
herwith her parents upon the pre-
text that his home was not quite pre-
pared for her. He was absent two
months, corresponding regularly
with her, however. At the end of
this period he came again, staying
some weeks, and again leaving her
on the same plea. These comings
and departures were repeated several
times, until Mary and her parents
began to suspect that Randall, for
some reason, was either ashamed OF
afraid to introduce his wife to his
own family. Mary had been shocked
to hear the gossiping whisper that her
husband had another wife in Virgin
Ia; and she had to acknowledge that
his conduct was not above suspicion,
Notwithstanding lis plausible as
surances. On his last visit the cd
farmer insisted that he should at
once decide either to settle down
there with his wife or take ler with
him. He at once avowed his determ
ination to carry her to Virginia; and
making hurried preparations for tie
journey, they soon went South to-
gether. 1t was during this trip that
Mary found resolution enough to
show her husband letter which she
had received some months before
from his home in Virginia. It ran as
follows:
Mary:-I have Glanced to see q
letter addressed to John Randall,
Beeville, Virginia, by you, in which
you claim that gentleman as your
husband. am an intimate acquaint-
ance and near relativeof his. I am
surprised at your pretensions (wht to
er well or il-founded,) for he is still
considered single MN here, where
he was born AMI reared, and passes
himself as such. If he is married to
you or anybody else, 1 assure you
that ne keeps the matter serret hele,
and I am sure that his father nor
mother know anything of it. Tell
I me esabout It, and you viii oblige
INDIANA
i sThat is my evil genius!" exclaimed
join Randall, excitedly, when he had
read the note. "She is my first cous-
in, and has always loved ME from
childhood with sort of fierce pas
sion. When I first saw you, Mary,
was engaged to her; and I never
had the courage to announce our
marriage to her or my own family.
I have we ky kept the secret, putting
off tAe evil day as long as I could,
or till circumstances would justify
me in Drawing the wrath of my pa
rents and all concerned But mat
tiers have come to crisis. A day OIL
TWO will decide whether we are to b,
repudiated or kindly welcomed"
"John," cntreated Mary, "4et us
return to my fathers"
"And thus confirm the gossips anc
| their slan,1ers? Never! The die il
cast. Indiana and her friends vii
! rave; let them. Great God! what {
: creature she must be! Did you an
4 swer her letter."
:. 81 dill, giving her, in self-lefence
r all the information she asked.
n ''And yet with her full knowledg'
e of my marriage with you, she ha
I constantly been eager for me to con
}. sumnate my engagement with her
n in lirectly urging it by every means
s at her command"
J It was Saturday evening whel
; they arrived at the station nearest t.
y Beeville, and stopping at the hote
s here that night, next day Randall
d hired conveyance driving himself
e and started hom,ward with his bride
e Monday heretTned the horses an
d vehicle
d Tuesday night he escorted a youn.
d lady of Beeviile to party, AMI ther
} bore himself as gayly, apparently, a
= the other young men.
o His wife had mysteriously disaI
!: peared. The public Of Beeville an
h vicinity knew not of her coming, an
ii therefore she was not missed.
? Where was she?
t Ten days after, the body of an u
known woman was founl in tb
ii woods, few miles from Beevill
e, A pistol ball was found buried in he
1t neck; and on her throat were foun
re marks of murderous clutch; an
a from head to foot she had been bea
to en- and bruised in the most cru
[e manner. The jury Of inquest W;
er not able to identify her, nor wa
to there found any likely clue to lea
al to the detection of the murdere
ne Descriptions of the murdered woms