The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1885-03-11

ginia, was in the armory grounds at that
time Governor Willard knew Floyd, and
ssked to be taken TO him. He was hne
looking, typical Virginisn, with curling dark
hair, rather eaglelike nose, and warm tenn
permanent. HIS misfortune, 1 think, gener-
ally came from his personal fealty to his
friends He received Willard with kindness,
heard the statement that Cook was probably
his bTother-in-lsw. aud said he would send
Us of to Charlestown without farther en-
baTIassmenI.
Now" remarked Mr.. Voorhees,. ST had
lot gone to Harper's Ferry under any great
belief that my services would be really re-
qUired. I thought that Willard had laoored
under some misapprehenslOn; that TINS
young outlaw could not be the brother OF his
wife. whom l knew very well, and who was
beautiful woman and q highly intelligent
one. This opinion / continued to have un-
til we reached Charlestown and entered the
Jail. 1t is a popular mistake to say that the
people of CharlestOwn were turbulent or OIL
fensive. There were good many people
there and they wore determined. slgnlh-
cant look, but they were quiet. Governor
Willard led all the proceedings we took at
that moment, and when it was sad that Sen.
ator Mason, of Virginia was IN the town he
asked at once to be taken to him. Mason
was a very fine looking man of considerable
hsuteur. AS Virginian, be was sensitive
to the attack made on his neighbors. l had
never seen him before. Willard, however,
was quite his match in address. Governor
Willard was one of the noblest loOking men
l ever saw, and perhaps the greatest natural
leader Indiana ever had. DE wss very
young man when he died. soon aftsr
these occurrences, but he mad swept our State
like a tornado against q msn rs able as
Morton and was the idol of the democracy
cut there. He stood tall, with his head we'll
thrown back, and when he introduced him.
self to Mr. Mason, Mason seemed TO feel the
ii 49,
jail. We entered that building add passed
into hall or corridor and we're taken into
quite large room. Nobody was in that room
but rather small young man, who was sit
ting near the window with his cheek In the
hollow of his hand. He was looking out OF
the window in an abstrsc ted way, as at some
thing far of was the last one to enter.
Mr.. Mason, l think went in first But
looked in that room as We came to it, and
there cav stamped on that young mans
face, though he was of a more haxen COM
plexion than his sister, the unmistakable
Likeness of Carrie Willard. My heart began
TO dToop. I bad the evidence before me thai
Willard had rot been mistaken in the iden-
tity of the young man. / was so much over
come for a moment that l did net entsr the
room. but paced the hall outside. | knew
that had to defend this youth upon the
tsr ible charge against him.
When l went into the room Governor
and Senator Mason was looking at them
both from chair. / do not think much, if
any thing had been said The young man
had now turned his face around. still keep
ing his hand as he sat against his cheek, and
re looked at Willard with distant recogni-
tiGn as if he was not decided about welcOm-
II him. He had a bread forehead, fine long
locks OF brown hair, nearly transparent
skin. in which you could see the blue veins,
a smooth face, and the chm firm though
slight. lie had fine mouth and beautiful
white teeth in IL, as l saw afterward
Be was looking at Willard as at TREND
Who might now be an enemy, aud with
cut very great concern, bat like one wearied
L will not attempt" SAID Mr.. Voorhees,; ito
repeat the conversation, though IL was not
leng. 1t was something ike this: john
ssld Governor Willard, how came you to be
in such company? These men are of diff
feIent sort from you. You have been better
piled without any excitement that he was
there. Governor Willard then said: John,
Why have you not written TO your sisters?
They loved you, ana you have been lost to
them for two or thee years Cook replied
il the same wearied, dreamy wsy, turning
his face back from the window out of which
he had looked with the same air Of dreami.
ness: Il have been in Kansas and out where
| have had good many things to think of.
Sometimes / have not had the facilities to
write. At other times have been too much
engaged But john said the Governor,
looking at him with all his might, what
were you doing in Kansas or anywhere with
these outrageous criminals and disturbers of
your country's peace? / want you to tell
ms how you came in such company
Cook then dropped bis hand and looked
firmly in Governor Willard's face, and his
blue eyes dlstended and flashed, and as he
raised his upper lip could see those fine
" faath "a Ash hal
to Kansas three years ago to get my living
and disturb no man. l had no intention of
breaking the peace anywhere, but the border
rUHans had come into Kansas to do as they
pleased. was going from LeaYsnworth TO
Lawrence with cherished friend, Alexan-
der Stuart, when a band of these
border ruffians rode up to US and
FREQ upon us, and they killed my friend
by my side. His blood was spilled upon
my garments. He died in my arms.
raised my rife and emptied two of their sad.
dies. For this act price was put upon my
head, and was hunted like a VOLT AS
Cook spoke these words he turned bis face
from his brother in-law and looked right at
James M. Mason, as il he instinctiVely
guessed that man to be in sympathy with
those border ruffisns. Mason was a proud
II an, but as ne heard these words his mind
seemed to be disturbed, and the young fellow
looked hJm through.
governor Willard then spoke up and said:
John, Il that was the case IL will account for
your having been in Kansas, but what are
you doing here in this peaceful community
among a band of ASA ssins?' Cook, who had
been aroused before, as if Iesenting the re-
Elections upon his companions and their
motives hesitated a minute and said: Yes,
l am here He gave that dreamy look out
of the window again, and then returningthe
gaze OF his brother in-law, though in more
sottened way, hs said: 'Ashbel, when l was
in Kansas learned 10 hate slavery. felt
that it was not right to keep men enslaved,
and did for these men what / would expect
them to do for me if / were in their place.
came to set them free il 1 could" Governor
Willard remarked that it had been q poor
business, or something to that effect. Cook
said: We'll, AN disappointed in the slave.
l put arms in his hands, and he would not
fight. thought he would fight for his free
dom. He has not done so, but can not feel
that tried to do wrong when l came to help
him. john said Governor Willard, your
sister is my vile. And l have made up my
MIND TO stand by you. You are in peril OF
your life. l shall not desert you 'Ashbel,'
replied Cook, my life has been in peril for
two years, Cay and night. I have been in
peril sll the time. This is nothing new to
me- But, John said Governor willard,
you have never been in such peril as you
are now. Every probability Of a criminal