Mexico weekly ledger., 1881-02-17
From the obe-Democrat.


ord-A True Story.
From the Globe Democrat.
Several years before the war there
occurred a tragedy in the eastern
part of Tennessee, near the present
site of Rugby, which aroused the in
dignation of the entire community.
Several days ago the concluding chap
ter was enacted.
In the neighborhood mentioned
there lived young man named
Abraham Dent, a man of fine educa-
tion, usually kind in disposition, but
of so violent nature when aroused
that he was known as "Bad' Dent.
He was tall and handsome, possess
ing remarkable physical strength and
an activity that hal made him a fa-
vorite on the school-bouse play
ground. He was wealthy, to which
influence he owed his escape from
imprisonment, for he had killed a
man, and was only cleared after the
best legal talent had been employed
in his defense. He was not addicted
to the use Of liquors, but would, as
his companions feared 1t, get on a
spree of ill-humor. On such occas-
ions he was morose, quar-elsome
and dangerous. His freaks were
strange and unaccountable. He
would help friend out of an alter
cation and Immediately turn and
knock him down. Among his COM
panlons was young man named
Louis Guill-a noble fellow. He
was as brave as a lion, intelligent,
kind hearted and faithful to every
obligation, His father and mother
were dead, having willed him the
farm and several "black foxes. The
friendship between them was SUBJ
ject of remark, for where Dent was
violent GULL was genial; where Dent
was ''in for fight" GULL favored an
adjustment and hearty laugh. Yet
the two young men were friends. 1t
seemed that they had been born
| friends; their fathers were friends.
Their mothers insisted upon having
the same kind Of coffee; the same
kind of cooking: had the same ideas
regarding children, and, Of course
were friends.
One day, at picnic, the two
friends engaged in a quarrel.
''You told me that you were not
going to dance with that girl,' ex
claimed Dent.
Il know l did. Abe, but couldn''
we'll get out of it. The boys ar
ranged the set and assigned the part
ners.''
at wouldn't make any difference
to me what the boys did, l wouldn'
acknowledge that had told a d.
| lie."
"If a man tells lie it is better t.
acknowledge it. l hope l have no
offended you"
"But you have. When man tell
me a id lie l hold him accountabl
for it."
| "Abe, you are on one of yon
sprees to-day. Let the matter drop"
81 am not in an i'll humor, an'
you're a id liar when you say so.
''Abe, this has gone far enough"
cit shall 60 just as far as / wan
it. meant what l said"
I ''Are you in earnest?'
81 am"
''Go away then. Don't call me
liar again. If YOU do, I'll knock yO
down. ...
Several friends raised up, anon
them a colored man, owned by Gull
He was his masters friend as we
as servant, and would have risked hi
life for the man who could make hi
existence miserable or pleasant, an
who nobly chose the latter.
"Mars LOUIS said the darky
sdoan hab no truck wild dat mar
He doan kere no noah fur blood da
he do fur water" and he put h
hands gently on his masters arm.
Get away, Buck" said Gull
"He has insulted me and must pa
the penalty"
!, "Let him alone," cody remarke
Dent, and the next instant he lay fu
length on the ground. Blood fiowe
from his mouth, and for time
i seemed to be instnsible. Recoverir
suddenly, he drew a barlow knife ar
as GULL stopped over to raise hi
up, he uttered an oath and plunge
his knife blade into Guill's breas
I Such stampede followed that De
! escaped. Quill lay on the bosom
his faithful slave.
''Buck, I'm DYING he said. g
was murder. Buck, are you here
Eyes, Mrs Louis, rs heah."
"If Dent is not hung by law l wa
. you to kill him.
eyes, Mars Louis
|. ''But don't take advantage of hiI
Fight him with a knife. Do "
promise!''
Yes, Mars Louis. III follow hi
ter de end OBJ de earth! TH-o
my marster am dead!'
The tragedy sent thrill Of horr
through every one. Old men sh
tears when they saw poor GULL lyiI
~ on the ground, with his hands full
X grass, pulled up with the grasp
IL death!"
Gull was buried in little orcha
near the old farm house. Buck {
livered the funeral grafton. Seve
ministers offered their services. b
the colored man claimed the rig
and as no one could doubt the frler
v, ship which existed between mas
and servant, no one disputed
right of the faithful man to cend'
the ceremonies. On Sunday aft
noon, when the sun shone bright
the apple-blossoms; when the BIZ
jay fitted and the ''sap. .sucke
pounded the old black trees, b.
stood at the head of his maste
N grave. Friends and neighbors ga
- cred around, and children peel
oyar tho mound into tho doom f.ayi