Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1876-03-16

II fear our friend is already tired of the
thing, and I will leave it off," he said.
mo, I am not tired" said 1; "and if it is
proper, I would be glad to hear the remainder
of Vince Blacks history"
"Well, then," continued Mr.. Potter, Gin
the community in the West in which Vince
married, there was widow lady who had two
daughters just about grown. The family, in
which Vince married, and this family were
on the most friendly terms As is customary
in the country, they often visited, spending at
such times whole day with each other. As
they were both in good pecuniary circumstan-
ces, a sumptuous dinner was prepared and
eaten at twelve, and then supper just before
the visiting family returned home.
1T SO happened that on one occasion this
neighbor widow lady visited Vinces mother
in.law, and, Of course, Vince too (; for all lived
in the same house. About three o'clock. in
the afternoon thunder storm came up It
rained heavily until near night. Between
the two houses there was large creek, with
no bridge over it. The oreekswas in sight of
Vince's. It was soon discovered to be rising
very fast, and was in a short time impossible.
The visiting lady became very uneasy. She
persisted in swimming the creek. Vince, bis
mother-in-law and wife, all affirmed that she
could not possibly cross the creek. She in
sisted on making the attempt, declaring that
her daughters were alone, and we're easily
frightened at night. She also said that she
had but few days since received large sum
of money, which had been sent her by the
executor of her fathers estate. Night came
on and the lady was obliged to remain until
| morning. .sg.
early in the night the clouds passed away,
and the moon and stars shone brightly. The
family retired at an early hour, that they.
might have breakfast as soon in the morning
as possible, so that the widow lady, who was
detained over night, so much against her IN
clination, might be able to set out for her
home by sun-up.
;pa"Now continued Mr.. Potter, "since you do
sire TO know the whole of Vinoa- -9iacks his
tory, must tell Won something about the con-
dition of affairs in the family of the widow
lady who I have said was visiting Vince
Blacks family. tits matter ofvery little
consequence, 80 far a. the history Of Vince
Black Is concerned butswe may as we'll men
ton the fact that the lady's name was Cur.
wen. She was of English extract, and lived
in fine STYLE. mentioned before that she
had two daughters just arriving at the years
of womanhood. g4fy ag dfsy
Il aThs dwelling.house was infsome aspects
rather old-fasbioned. 1t was q two-story
house, about forty feet long. The stairs led
from the sitting-room to the upper.story. At
the foot of the stairs was q door. There we're
two rooms on each floor separated BY . single
wall. 5sp, et2si i; .ca.4tl35Jg.
"On the afternoon of which We have been
speaking, q gentleman came to the house OF
Mrs Curwen. He was carrying on his arm
pair of leathern saddle-bags, such as are
commonly used by travellers on horseback.
He asked the young ladies for the privilege
of sheltering himself from the threatening
storm. This was granted. The rain came on
and continued to fall in torrents. When
night began to approach, he then asked for
N9;ng during the night. The young ladies
thd Informed him that their mother was from
hd and it would not be proper for them to
take stranger into the house in her absence.
The gentleman then gave them short &C
count of himself He was resident Of one
of the Southern States, who had taken a tour
through the west in search of home. Two
days before bis horse had taken sick and died.
He was then attempting to make his way on
foot to the nearest stage line, by which he de-
signed to return to his home. s,.
ut was, after some hesitancy, agreed by the
young ladies that the stranger might remain
during the night. The traveller being tired,
and his feet blistered by walking, retired soon
after dark came on. He was put upstairs to
sleep. He was soon unconscious Late in
the night he was awakened BY shrek. At
first be thought it was the bowling of the
winds, but looking out Of his window he saw
the moon was shining brightly. He listened
for moment and all was quiet. He then
turned over and prepared to go to sleep again,
when he heard another shrek, and q moan.
He rose up in the bed and heard sound asif
some persons were graphing with each other
in the room below him. ;tF
- "He had q braceof pistols under his pillow.
These were grasped, and carefully be started
down stairs. The stair door was ajar. As
he passed down, step by step, so as to make
no noise, he could see faint lightin the hall.
When he reached the bottom step, he looked
through tho crevice of the door and saw some
one lying on the hall floor, only q few feet
from where he stood. The blood was running
in streams all around the body. Ten thous.
and strange thoughts rushed throughhis mind
in q moment. He could scarcely believe his
own eyes. He thought possibly he was dream
ing, or possibly he was insane The light
changed position, and he thought he heard
some one walking in the hall. What could
all this meant Again he looked at the
bloody human form that lay before him. He
was sure he was not mistaken. Soon he
heard the jingling of keys and the opening
of drawer. a@; 'n. ~
"That he might be prepared for any emer-
eency, he drew back the hammer of his pistol
and gently pushed open the stair door. No
sooner was the door opened than man rush
ed at him from bureau, which stood in one
corner Of the hall. He had in his hand a
bloody knife, and his eyes cleaned with fur.
The traveller fired, and the monster fell-ut-
tered q moan and died. There the stranger
stood. In front of him was the mau he had
shot through the heart, and at his feet was
one of the young ladies Of the house with her
throat cut. In the adjoining room lay the
other in the same condition. Life had notas
yet become extinct in either, but both we're
dying. fa m a
"Almost frantic, the stranger rushed to the
door and called the servants, and told them