The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1876-03-23
THE DYING OUTLAW.
ATrue Story.

MY sands are almost run. MY
lamp Of life is family Pickering in
its socket. Ihayc escaped once more
the hounds of justice, but they have
given me my death wound; and ere
the rising sun reaches his meridian |
shall have looked my last on earth.
A few more pulsations of the heart,
and this old mountain cavern, which
has been the scene of so many wild
riots and midnight orgies, whose
deepest reccsses have often run with
the loud shouts of rcvelry, and the
hoarse cry of rage, shall become my
tomb. A few more labored breaths
and this deep strong voice, which has
so long been used to command ruff
fan crew, shall become silent forcv-
ever Oh, earth, thou hast never
seemed SO dearl Oh, life, thou hast
never seemed so sweet as nowl
Yet, why should seek to prolong
a life so fraught with peril, so aban-
doned, so futile, so profligato. Al
ready fifty years have gone over me,
and how have l consumed them?
Whom have | befriended? Whose
distress have relieved? Whose con-
ditions have | bettered? Whose
grief have | palliated? or what tone
of pity ever moved my heart? The
last twenty years have passed as
chief of bold and reckless gang Of
robbers and desperadoes, who have
long infested this region, ravaging
villas, plundcring houses, waylaying
and robbing the luckless traveller by
night and by day, sparing no rank,
needing no cry, hearing no prayer.
For twenty years have been bran
ded a felon, and hunted like beast
of prey, Large rewards have been
offered for my capture, and troops Of
armed men have secured the country
in search of my stronghold And
many a brave fellow has been hur-
ried to his last account while daring
to search for my retreat among the
mountain passes, Thus far l have
bafilcd all pursuit, and our rendez-
vous has remained a secret with the
gang. But to-day. after desperate
conflict with a body of troops, the last
of the band has been slain or captur-
ed, and have escaped only to die in
solitude.
Oh, how miserable a life l have
led would not recall the past, but
it will pass in review before me-
Gladly would l draw the veil over all
save that of early life, which rises
before me like a blissful vision, rem
dcred tenfold lovely by thesweet face
of my saintcd mother, radiant with
love for her merry happy boy,
All, those were halcyon days
days in which my mother strove to
guide me in the way of truth and
virtue; and with the sacred volume
open on her lap, oft drew me to her
side, placed her soft hand upon my
boyish head, and toying with my
curly locks, taught me from its price
less pages, urged me to obey its pre-
ccpts, and emulate the wise and good
whose names were written there;
then with kiss upon my ruddy
cheek, told me how much it would
solacc her declining years should |
become a man of honor, truth and
worth,
! grew to manhood; and then my
mothers teachings were unheedcd
and forgotten. | formed evil associa-
tons, | drank, gambled, fell,
One drcary and starless night Trob-
bed a traveller on the moor; tightly
clutching his purse of gold, | hurried
to my chamber, snNtched a bundle
from recess, crept softly down the
stairway, gained the bedside of my
mother, pressed one last kiss on her
wrinklcd brow, and, receiving n
murmcrcd God bless YOU from her
dreaming lips, fled, and never saw
her more When she heard of my
guilt, with a bitter wall she sank be.
meath the stroke, and they laid her
in tho valley.
For two years traycrsod the con-
tincnt, rowing from place to place
with no definite aim or object except
to conceal my crime, had gold, but
there was n curse on every farthing,
drank from every cup of pleasure
which human ingenuity could pre-