The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1875-05-06


garding me. So suddenly, however
would they melt again, and half OBJ
scure themselves behind their satin lids,
that I half believed was mistaken
when imagined them capable OF
harshness. At length became deeply
attached to my pretty little companion.
1 felt that dearly loved her, and would
have told her so, were it not for the
stony, freezing stare, with which she
checked all allusion to the tender pas
sion. I had partially resolved to leave
the matter of our union to the agency
of time, when a circumstance occurred
that admOnished me of the dangers OF
delay. One bright morning, some ten
or twelve weeks after my arrival, the
social atmosphere of M, for which
| had long since ceased to furnish the
fragrance, was alive with rumors of the
return of Roland Powers, the bankers
son, whose long absence from the town
had been occasioned by his European
tour. Roland, of course, had seen the
great wonders of the old world, had
lived in the capitals of Europe, and wa:
az fat IN whatever apperbained tC
Parisian life. He was 4 tall, well-built
handsome fellow, Just the kind of man
to catch the eye and entrap the heaIt OF
a romantic maiden. His face bore the
lines of dissipation, too, and for all the
world, he looked the beau ideal of q
mantle personification of genteel
recklessness. I was jealous of the at
tentiOns he received at first, but, finally,
when I discovered what a Jolly, good
fellow he was how entertaining, intel
igent, devil-may- and unselfish,
learned to like him very much, indeed,
and finally ceased to think of the lion s
share of attention, which he invariably
received at the hands of the ladies.
He was dexterous at cards, and many
game we played together in my apart
ments till the gray dawn was upon US.
Oar acquaintance soon ripened into
friendship.
The summer had fed, and golden
autumn was about exchanging its
| lOVeiness for the bleakness of winter,
when, one evening, Roland and saun-
| tered lazily from the town for a short
tramp i'll the open country. He had
been exceedingly gloomy for several
days, and on this occasion, was partic-
ularly so. His step seemed to have
been fOrsaken by its accustomed elas-
ticity, his voice had lost its rich sweet
ness, and deadly pallor overcame his
face.
" Are you ill?" 1 asked, as I sud
denly noticed his singular appearance
and demeanor.
81 never felt better in my life, old
boy-that is to say, physically. A
man has TO think now and then, though,
and thoughts, you know, are not always
pleasant companions.
There was an earnestness in his
strange words that startled me, and 1
could not refrain from beseeching him
to explain himself. We had grown so
very intimate that [ felt authorized to
make the request.
We'll, as you wish it, I will" he
said.
We sat down on the stump of a fallen
oak, by the side of the road, and for a
moment Roland buried his face in his
hands, as though in deep thought.
Then he looked up, and turned his
eyes upon me with an earnestness that
1 had never seen him betray.
Phillip" he began. his voice trem-
bling with some emotion which I could
not divine, "you do not know me.
am no more the man you believe me to
be than 1 am worthy of your esteem"
Proceed" ] said involuntarilv, a
strange sensation overcoming me that
made me dread, 1 knew not why, to
hear his revelation.
"Do not hurry me-" he replied
you will know all soon enough. You
have told me that you were about to be
married, and have asked me TO be your
groOmsman. What would you think
of me if I were to forbid this mar
riage?"
'FThat you had taken leave of your
senses, 1 replied, annoyed by the as
perity of his tone.
Then let me tell you," he contin-
Ued, springing to his feet and scowling
upon me like demon, " that do for
Lid it Sooner than you should marry
that girl I'd" the words seemed to
choke him, and his face was distorted
and livid, with wild, and, to me, unac-
countable rage.
The insult that he had offered me,
however, was too palpable for me to
overlook, ard I rose from my seat de
termined to quit his presence and seek
the satisfaction TO which, as a gentle
man, 1 believed myself entitled. He
sought to detain me, but with a strength
to which l had long been a stranger, I
shook him from me and hurried back to
the town. I proceeded at once to my
room in the hotel, overcome by the ex-
citement under which / labored nor
did again exhibit myself that evening.
Seated bv my window, looked out into
the gathering foam, coniuring up the
most extravagant fancies of every hor-
rible nature imaginable, till was warned
by the keen gusts that were beating up
the valley, of an approaching storm.
The last retreating rays OF light had
faded behind the parsons quaint resi-
dence and now that I had nOnght that
related to her to look upon, I closed the
I L
NY sleep was a troubled one, and
every now and then l would awaken
with start, and glare around me, ex-
pecting to be confronted by something
terrible-I knew not what. The storm
without ragged with unwonted fury, the
elements seeming to combine in an ef-
fort to shake the earth to its centre.
I was glad when the morning came,
bleak ana dull though it was, and finally
fell into heavy sleep.
How long 1 had slept do not know, !
when was awakened by loud knock |
ing at my door 1 sPrang from my |
couch, and was about to open it, when |
the iron hinges suddenly gave way, and |
a stresm of men poured pell-meu into |
my room. At their head was the sheriff !
of the county. OF him I demanded |
sternly the meaning of the intrusion !; |
but his only reply was 'YOu are
my prisoner q
They manacled me with heavy gives
and hurried me through the streets of
the town-streets thronged with excited
people who denounced me as a muir
derer, and threatened to tear me to
pieces. When I reached the Jail was
informed that had been arrested for
the murder of the parsons daughter,
who was found that morning in the
garden, contiguous to the parsonage, in
a most horrible condition, and stone
dead
will not go into the details of the
trial which followed, and upon the re-
suit of which my life depended. Let it
suffice to say that my :" alibl was fully
established, and that when investigation
developed suspicious concerning Row
land Powers, it was discovered that he
had fed.
He is fleeing yet, and ever viii, until
he is summoned to appear before that
- L l.,