The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1899-11-09

she to gain her hearts choice but
to lose mother, home, friends and
become an outlaws wife.
They realized the gravity of the
situation and the dangers that be-
set the successful carrying out of
their plans. There were two in
centiyes to a diligent search-an
escaped prisoner to be re-captur-
ed and an erring daughter to be
reclaimed. 1t tested all the re-
sources and tact of this young
criminal to land both prizes his
freedom and his bride. He was
in strange country and the
yOunggirl, butseventeen, at times
was overcome by remorse at leav-
ing home and, unused to travel,
became footsore and weary. This
scene, enacted that night in the
darkness on some lonely by-road,
| shows some of the obstacles that
/ he had to meet, and it is describ
ed by Lewis eve had not pro
ceeded incur fight moro than five
miles before discovered from her
agitated manner, her stilled sighs,
and suffocated breathing, that she
repented of the rash step she had
taken. A dead silence prevailed
and neither of us spoke one word
for at least half an hour, when all
at once she suddenly, burst into
tears, threw off her bonnet, tore
her hair, and uttered the most
frantic expressions, eXclaiming
repeatedly, Omy mother, my poor
mother, what will become of my
poor mother!"
Finally she recovered in part
her composure and they cOntin-
ued to travel for some hours
further when, her feet becoming
blistered and she utterly exhaus-
ted, they stopped in an outbuild-
ing. She slept for four hours on
a pallet of straw he had gathered
from an adjoining stack, and
awoke greatly refreshed. At
daylight they resumed their
journey and at slow gait and,
following circuitous roads and
unfrequented paths, reached Al
bany safely in the evening.
Lewis Immediately went for
minister and they were married
that evening. AS a fee, for the
service rendered, Lewis, by mis-
take handed the minister a ten
dollar Burlington bill, but, fortu-
nately for the minister's wife, he
considered the fee too large for
one in Lewis apparent circum-
stances and declined to take it,
when Lewis gave him two dollars
in silver coin.
The next day Lewis revealed to
his wife, in part his true charac-
ter, but kept concealed from her
his most criminal deeds. The in
formation impaired by him was
great shock and source of grief to !
her.
Lewis entertained the greatest
respect for his wife, Melinda by
name, and often lamented the .
fact that she was welded to one
who was so unworthy Of her. In
his confession he says, "The fact /
is, | entertained for Melinda as
pure passion as ever warmed |
the breast of man, the lovely girl .
had not only won my affections
but she had completely secured .
my gratitude and gained my con
tidence. Although vicious my
self, | respected and admired
virtue in her, and had | only fol
lowed her excellent advice, and
prOtited by the instruction which
repeatedly fell from her lips, |
would not be languishing in jail
upon the bed of death, as | now
am, ashamed to live and yet afraid
to die" She died in Philadel,
phia, leaving two children, while
her bandit husband was in the
mountains of Pennsylvania, re-
naming faithful to him to the
end He subsequently re.mar-
ried and the second wife survived
him.
CONTINUED NEXT WEEK.