Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1878-03-21

NO one knew but Townsend. and
when | accused him OF her abduction.
, he swore revenge for the insult. Then
l was fully convinced OF his villainy !;
| knew him guilty.
| About this time robberies became a
frequent occurrence; avigiience COM
mlttee was formed to deal justice to
the offenders. Arthur and Harry
grew. desperate ever returning home
under the influence of liquor. Mary
grew worse, daily, and no news came
from our missing Bessie. Townsend
still remained holding the boys under
his heavy influence, and leading them
on to the brink-aye, casting them
oUer. the awful brink of raiai
One day our town was startled by
the cry of Murder I saw the MUIR
dered man with the blood still oozing
from his heart, and prayed that the
murderer might suffer the laws sever
est penalties. They were caught
there were two OF them. They were
to be hung on the morrow's dawn
without any trial. Every body crowd
ed forward to see the victims /
heard murmdr of surprise run
through the throng; vague terror
seized me and | hurried home to NV
wife. She was very low and the
slightest disturbance would prove ia
tai. | sat down by the bed and
watched her every motion. Suddenly
there came tramp of many feet and
confused murmur of voices. Mary
opened her eyes with moan. The
door opened and an excited mob en-
tered bearing Frustrated form from
which the blood dripped at every
step. Mary raised herself with a
strong effort and looked towards the
door. Her pearcing cry froze me to
the spot: arthur, Arthar-my God,
Arthur! That was all. When I was
aroused from the stupor into which
had fallen, purpllsh hew had settled
upon her face, - she was dead. l
turned away. 1t was growing dark
and was alone, alone with the dead.
l essayed to cross the room, but
stumbled and fell, my hand striking
something that sent a chill creeping
through my veins. l held it to the
dim light--it was blood Then it all
came back to me. Arthur had been
one of the murdcrers and had taken
his own life. A strange madness
seized me. grasped for light and
then wrote to Townsend Oh, such
letter! May mortal man never
again be called upon to write its Sc.
quel-I ,orote 1t in Arthur's blood!
The dawn was breaking when again
l recovered my senses SO as to re
member. | found myself walking
through the street destitute of hat
and coat. a loud shout is what
reused met was the murderer's en-
ecution! / quickened my pace and
buried on to get sight of the
doomed man. AS entered the crowd
hand clutched my arm and voice
Kissed in my ear. Talk Of another's
villainy-of ruin See this is a s,oeet
revenge! ha! ha..' 1t was Town.
send. / raised my eyes to the scat
fold. The victim was Harry, my dar-
ling Harry! l heard shout; the
crack OF timber; saw the scaffold de-
scend and Harry was in eternity.
Townsend's hooking laugh rung in
my ears darkness closed around and
| knew no more. When I recovered
the crowd had partially dispersed /;
the remainder were gathered arourd
the dead body of my boy made
my way toward them they parted
and | entered. Kneeling beside that
stiffened form, placed one hand mp.
on the boyish brow, now dark and
purple / raised the other to heaven
and called upon God to witness and
help me fulfill my vow,--'twas a vow
to take the life of the perpetrator of
that deed whose hand had murdered
my wife and boys, and tore my
daughter from me. They dragged me
away and again all was oblivion.
Weeks passed before | recovered. /
had been kindly cared for by one of
our neighbors. Mary, Harry and Ar
thur, were buried in the cemetery at
the head of this lake where our town
stands. Townsend was gone and no
news from Bessie. When was suf
ficlently recovered, l started for the
mountains fully equipped for hunt
er's life, and strong determination
to fulfill my vow IN avengpg Harry's
ignominious death.
Two years passed by. One morn.
ing l was ascending mountain to
ward small plateau where | had
seen, the night before, small white
| tent.
A shout of terror startled me.
Looking toward the camp / saw,
crouched on aprojecting rock beyond
it, a large heavy panther, ready to
spring upon his prey. The shout had
come from man and there was dan
ger. Instantly my rifle was leveled,
and as the panther sprang into the
air, ball sped on its fatal mission.
The monster fell at the feet of his in
ended victim, dead. Without stop
ping to reload my rifle / hurried on
to the spot. There crouched in the
stunted shrubs was the frame Of
man, his facc darkcned with terror. /
came nearer and a cry escaped his
lips. The man whose life | had saved,
was Leonard Townsend. He sprang
to his feet and attempted to draw
pistol. | brought my rifle to a level
and the weapon dropped from his
hand. Suddenly an awful thought
crossed my mind my rifle was empty.
He seemed to comprehend the truth,
and instantly stopped and picked up
the pistol. rushed forward and be-
fore the weapon could be brought to
bear, had grappled him. The struggle
was fierce he having the advantage
in heavy muscular body, and being
much younger. But there was mad
ness in my blood and my muscles
stood rigid as steel upon my bones.
Once thought | was gone, but 1
arose and the struggle went on. There
was false step quick turn, and he
was down, my knee pressed upon his
breast drew revolver and COW
| arad HIM with II sMar.y - ha