South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1883-05-04
UNLOCKING THE sHAcKbEs.
IcoNcLCDKD.

10 Fort Smith 10 be tried. did not
exactly see-tle object of this, since. If
the case WAS once arough. 70 trial,
could easily gbe cleared by Lilly's eyi.
1 dence. fWS ~ tv BEsb
After sending some OF the servants
10 bring IN the body, they mounted
ne on y horse, tied my bands behind
me, and my feet under the horse, and,
with one riding before and the other
behind. we set out.
Lilly begged TO be allowed to go.
but they refused. It WIS alonely
ooun;ry where Mr. Williams lived, no
house within twenty miles, or she
would have gone for help to stop
them.
The drst days travel passed with
outincident. Ny captors were tact
turn, saying nothing to- ne, aud but
little to each other. At nigh. they
loosed my hands sufficiently to let me
eat, which was little moro than ex-
pccted; but after supper my hands
and feet were securely chained, the
chain carried around a tree and fas-
tened with paddock.
The next morning our journey was
resumed. We had reached Inc kiam-
alta Mountains, over which we were
going by bride path--a Wild, desc
late region, lit place for a deed OF
crime. began to. fear, from the looks
and words which passed from one to
the other, that | would never reach
Forth Smith. 1t wonld be an easy
matter to Kill me. cast my body down
into some one of the raviucs, which
we were constantly crossing, and in
vent some plausible excuse for my
! disappearance.
AS night came on, they frequently
stopped and held consultations with
each other, casting the. while Chances
Of mingled hate aud triumph on me.
1t was easy enough TO tell the mean.
ing OF this but, even If | had condo
sccnded TO cntrcatics, il would have
been of no avail
Let my fate be what it might, |
must meet it in silence. Many were
the thoughts which passed through
my mind on that hurried ride, but it
! is needless to dwell on them.
The night Of the second day we
caDlped on the edge of an old field.
grown over with broom grass. The
same precautions were taken as on
the previous night. and soon my cap,
tors were wrapped in sIumter
knew that in all probability it was my
last night on earth, and many con.
ilicting emotions filled my MUD, lri-
wing away sleep. But chiefly ] thought
of Lilly, my prairie flower, left to the
mercy Of those rudc men.
'About midnight my moditations
were interrupted by soft rustic be-.
hind me in the bushes, but before I
could speak or make motion, voice
whose music | never expected TO hear
on earth again, said Hush / and in a
moment Lily was beside me.
Then with her arms aroanl mo. her
ops close TO my ear, she told cn that
abe hal overheard Der brothers talk Of
killing ne on the way, being afraid 10 do
50 at home; she hnl caught two Of her
own horses (the best in The country and
| had followed with tie hope OF rescu.
| ing nc.
She had key which she ;honch.
would open the paddock, fastenlnn tie
chain that held me. The paddock was
ono OF the spring kim. with the KEY
hole, simple slip, at the bottom. The
key is plain, fiat bar, with various in
donations IN il to ft tho wards of the
lock, and by simply pressing on it tie
/ lock lies open.
Lilly tried Tho key but it would not
/ 81. As could sec by the moonlight.
/ gn expression OF dsmay fitted over her
face, and she pressed licr hands to her
I head as il 20 think. rs for nc. had
80 long given up al, hope OF life that !
| sat IN silence, awaiting what she would
do, unable to cirtr any suggestions.
Ihcn With the murmured words. ct
| may do :, she left me for . moment. 90.
Ing into tho old fell. Then she return.
/ od, bringing handful Of the broom
grass with her. Selecting n twig of
/ thistle for inst sufficient diameter 90 fl
The siit in tho bottom Of The lock- she
thrust 10 perpoudcujariy az flc az il
w9u'd 20. broke IL of a quarter Of au
inch fr,m The lock. She dill this with
! other s,raws, until the whole kcv.ho,o
was full, breaking thcm evenly, on1v on
the outside, though, Of course. the inside
ends fl Ted into tho wards &C The lock.
. Then sire pressed on the ends anil the
lock few open.
So quietly iba. not n link ratified.
/ Lilly unwoual lto chain, and was
once moye free. We started f,r the
. horses. bit unfortunately had goaY bat
q few feet WHEN stepped on dry
I stick, whic. broke with loud crscE
LILY brothers were light slocpctg. and
tHcy awoke immcda,cly. Not SEEING
uc, i"cy rushed hilhcr pp3 tduhsr In
sg7rch, and just as we reached tho horses
one "i them cau1ht a glimpse crus. and
. 'i'od Tie bali struck LHl'y's horse end
"'IlcbIt In moment had seated her
H.nnc mc, and, eJucealu,nt being no
/ longer possible, rods away a5 fun saec6.
ihsv added and came htr5 ortcr
"s VI. kept our distance; bus ON ec.
count o., ,Hc doublo burden which our
horro carried. were mover able 10 eel,
I t0r oH' OF hearing, while tley follower
With @ persistence worthy oIa ret.r
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