Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1892-01-22

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hands. I don't understand even now
why he did 1t, but / am sure it was
well done. An OK wagon, driven by
that old negro you see smoking before
the quarters, brought US here. have
no idea how long 1t took us. was
silent child, and never asked many
questions; and when / saw the green,
cool woods, and the strange beauty
and wealth of the flowers, think be-
lieved we were in Heaven. One day l
found courage to ask Prince, as he was
yoking the oxen, if it were So He
looked at me with kind of reverence.
Many a Man, wise in his own eyes,
would have laughed at my ignorance;
but Prince answered solemnly: DE lit
tie children, Miss Agnes, are allus pref
ty nigh to the Kingdom OBJ Heaven
never forgot the look and the words,
and understand them now, though
did not then"
Piece by piece patched out the
years of her childhood, and it made a
story startlingly dramatic, and almost
incredible to those who have never
learned that adversely sees miracles.
But with all its romance, it was still
the old story of woman hourly cruelty
ing every selfish thought, and filing
her space with lovely deeds and faith
full prayers, instead of lingering years.
When Agnes was seventeen years of
age, the tragedy occurred which
clouded all her future life. She had
then three brothers: Robert, nearly
sixteen; Alick, twelve, and Harry,
seven. Although fifteen years had
passed since it's occurrence, she was
greatly agitated in its recital.
at is very hard to speak of it," she
said, but / want you to know all.
Otherwise much that you may hear of
my father will seem 80 savagely cruel
1t is, indeed, the only key to that por-
ton of his life with which the public
have to do.
SIT was on the gath of October, in the
year 1S4o. There had been slight
frosts, and as father was going to the
mill, which lay in the river bottom,
seven miles off, mother proposed that
| should go with him, and, while the
corn was being ground, help to gather
some Of the winter grapes and pecans
which abound in the valley, and to
which the frosts had now added the
last delicate flavor. was little as
tonished at the proposal, for Robert
and Alick generally went on these err
rands; but l knew mother meant it as
a great kindness, more especially as
there was butter to make, and both
negro boys had gone that morning to
the cedar brake for rails
1.-THE truth was, had little trouble
Of my own at the time-a love affair
which my father, wisely, l have no
doubt, interdicted. For some days !
had felt hard toward him in conse-
quence, and my mothers good, wise
heart foresaw that few hours to-
gether would put all right So she
brought me a clean dress and my white
sun bonnet, and looked into my face
with such an understanding sympathy,
that could not resist the impulse to
twice turn back and kiss her. Oh! !
thank God for this memory. Father
was pleased at my attention, and
smiled kindly at me as l took my
place beside him When we got
to the bottom of the hill pushed my
bonnet back and looked round. She
stood watching us and shading her
face with her hands. Father turned
at the same moment, and she waved us
last adieu.
"A very last one, as it miserably
proved. In less than an hour after
ward she was slain by the Comanches,
after seeing her eldest boy almost
cut to pieces in her defense. Alie%;
and Harry, in the very beginning Of
the attack, had been bound with raw.
hides and given Ep to the care of two
inferior sayages
"Apd yet that day father was in
sp9h wild, gleeful spirits as 1 had
never before seen. Evidently he hat
no presentiment of any trouble unit
we reached the bottom of the hill or
our return. The absence of all sign,
Of mother or the boys silenced him
In another moment he had noticed q
thin smoke coming from the oper
door. With a cry and bound like
nothing human he spraug to the
ground A few minutes told us all oul
misery. The bodies had been set or
fire, but enough remained to identify
mother and Robert, and my father
guessed only too well the fate of the
younger boys
'The earthen floor and heavy logs
had saved the house, but l am sure
neither of us at that moment thought
of it as a mercy. The negroes were
still in the brake, and our only horst
with them. But by nightfall the whole
country was reused and following I
mailman In pursuit of the murderers.
"Some of the neighbors took mt
away, but could not stop If father
should come home, l knew he woulC
expect me, and my heart was breaking
for the dear little fellows whose 10
was worse than death. 1 passed five
days alone-they looked like years
and then at midnight two men carried
a strange Robert Stirling into his house
raving with brain fever. say strange,
because no one ever again saw thu
same generous, kindly, cheerful maj
who had gone with me to gather nut
and grapes a week before.
"How he suffered for the next thre'