The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1881-03-04
CHAD" DENT.

Several years before the war there occur
red tragedy in the eastern part of Tennes-
see near the present site of Rugby, that
aroused the indignation of the entire com
munity. Several days ago the concluding
chapter was enacted. In the neighborhood /
mentioned there lived young man named
Abraham Dent, man of fine education, usu-
ally kind in disposition, but of so violent a
nature when aroused that he was known as
Bad Dent. He was tall and handsome.
possessing remarkable physical strength and |
an activity that had made him favorite on
the schOOl-house playground. He was veal |
thy, to which influence he owed his escape |
from Imprisonment, for he had killed man, /
and was only cleared after the best legal tai |
ent had been employed in his defense. He /
was not addicted to the use of liquor but /
would, as his companions termed it, get on /
a spree of ill-humOr On such occasions he /
was morose, quarrelsome and dangerous. |
His freaks were strange and unaccountabe. I
He would help friend out of an alteration
and Immediately turn and knock him down. Z
Among his companions was n Young man /
named Louis Gull "a noble fellow. He was !
as brave as lion-intelligent, kind-hearted /
and faithful to every obligation. His father /
and mother were dead, having willed him a
farm, and several ''black folks" The friend /
ship between Chill and Dent was a subject |
of remark, for where Dent was violent GULL /
was genial where Dent was Gin for fight" /
GULL favored an adjustment and a hearty !
laugh. Yet the twoyOung men were friends /
1t seemed they had been born friends-their
fathers were friends. Their mothers insist
ed 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 engag-
ed in a quarre;.
You told me you were not going to dance
with that girl" exclaimed Dent.
| 81 know l did, Abe, but 1 couldn't well get
out of it. The boys arranged the set and as
/ signed the partners"
/ 1T wouldn't make any difference to me
what the boys did, 1 wouldn't acknowledge
| that had told d lie"
! of a man tell lie it is better to ac-
Knowledge it. 1 hope have not offended
you
/ ''But you have. When man tells me
/ d lie l hold him accountable for it,
"Abe, you are on one of your sprees to-day
/ Let the matter drop"
Il am not in an iIl-humOr and you utter a
! d lie when you say so.''
''Abe this has gone far enough"
'It shall go just as far as I want it. I
meant what l said"
care you in earnest ?''
Il am"
GO away then. Don t call me liar again
If you do, I'll knock you down"
Several friends rushed up, among them
colored man owned by GULL. He was his
masters friend as well as servant and would
have risked his life for the man who could
make his life miserable or pleasant, and no.
bly, chose the latter.
MARS Louis" said the darkey ''doan hab
no truck wild that man. He doan kere no
noah fur blood den he do fur water" and
he put his hand gently on his masters arm.
"Get away, Buck said GULL, 'he has in
suited me and must pay the penalty"
Let him alone" coolly remarked Dent,
and the next instant he lay full length on
the ground. Blood flowed from his mouth
and for a time he seemed to be insensible.
Recovering suddenly, he drew a barlow
knife, and as GULL stopped over to raise him
he uttered an oath and plunged his knife
blade into Guill's breast. Such a stampede
followed that Dent escaped. GULL lay on the
bosom of his faithful slave,
"Buck, I'm dying" he said. 'Tt was a
murder Buck, are you here ?''
Eyes, Mars Louis is heah."
'1f Dent is not hung by law 1 want YOU
to kill him."
Eyes, Mars Louis"
But don't take advantage OF him. Fight
him with knife. Do you promise %
Eyes, Mars Louis. I'll follow him ter de
dead !"
The tragedy sent thrill of horror through
everyone. Old men shed tears, when they
saw poor GULL lying on the ground, with his
hands full of grass, pulled up with the grasp
of death.
Gull was buried in a little orchard near
the old farm house. Buck delivered the
funeral Grafton. Several ministers offered
their services, but the colored man claimed
the right, ana as no one could doubtthe friend
ship which existed between master and SER
want, no one disputed the right of the faith
full man to conduct the ceremonies. On Sun
day afternoon, when the suu-shone bright on
the apple blossoms when the blue-Iay fit
ted and the "sap-sucker'' pounded the old
black trees. Buck stood at the head of his
masters grave. Friends and neighbors gath
cred around, and children peeped over the
red mound into the deep cavity shuddered,
and drew back. For full FIVE minutes Buck
stood without uStering a word.
81 doan know how ter preach a funeral
Lord" he said, ''but knows what hit ez ter
feel de fullin' oh de heartstrings Ez smile
can change ter tremblin OBJ de lip so does
sorrow set heaviest on de heart what vuz
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