New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1903-10-24
Written Tor the Enterprise Observer
THE TRUTH ABOUT THAT
INQUEST.

INV HpOtI
INQUEST.
1t wns undoubtedly n rcmarkab
case, said Uncle Ben?
Any truth about it, uncle?
Any truth about it?
Why, said he, I'd swear right no
on. tho Holy Bible.
Don't swear, uncle. we take vo,
word for it.
Very we'll. said he You know m,
You know that when | do say any
thing, | am always ready to back
with fist. oath or rapicr
Uncle Bon. knocked the ashes on
of his corn cob pipe. filled it anew
lighted II and spoke ns follows,
In those days. mind Won that
spenk OF the iifttes. just previous to tlI,
civil war the little town Of Gushing
was the samo outlet little town tina,
It II now, nesting cozily, ns il wore,
IN the lap Of the Attnlsnpna region. on
the poetical banks Of the Tochc.
On TINT cvcntful morning. the sun
had put IN m appearance. but na usual
it's rays We're dim. Say boys. YOU
don't believe in presontiments. DO YOU.
| know you don't
You young spruce Americans are
too smart for that. But / do believe
in presentiments, and I'll tell you why.
On the eve of the battle of Chnnccl-
lorsvillo our Colonel
What has that battle to do with
your story. Uncle Ben?
Nothing. absolutely nothing, BOYS
nevert helcss, my Colonel was n douced
fino man. But to our story. II is n
notorious fact, that no where ON this
round planet Of ours. you can find
people more apathetio and happier
than the people Of tho town of Cush.
ing. Taking them na it comes, they
are remarkably kind. polite and well
bred. and easily excited. -
But then they do got excited.
though
But to my story.
On this eventfnl morning, no bird
,hirped, no rooster crew; no song
broke out in crystalline cascades from
musical lips behind folded blinds; no
'ound disturbed the quiet of the town,
ave tho occasional lowing of cnttle.
II the luxurius howling of some dog
II distress The very air That he
'reathed was heavy: the sky itself |
ooked dismal and gloomy; one felt M
! something was brewing; Ms IL some
hing unusual was to happen.
All of sudden, n rider dashed Mt n
enrful speed along the Main street OF |
he own, urging on his horse with |
whip. voice and spur From under
he broad brim Init, escaped profu.
ion OF hair which streamed on the
'reeze, aud his long beard, as black
~ the wings of u raven. and parted
" the wind, played on his broad
houlders. He was n fine specimen
# man, and an ideal rider. He bent
Onward as he refined his horse, and
he outlandish spurs. called - racat-
has, which were fastened to the
reels Of his boots. clicked almost as
oud as the tiny bell Of tho ice cream
nan. His horse foamed at tho mouth,
md its heaving and bloody sides testi-
led well enough, how furiously he had
,een ridden.
Boys. 1t was n sight worth seeing.
When he reached the open space in
ront Of tho church he checked hiR
lorse to stnndstill and vaulted out
II the saddle. The dramatic, Mazep-
N, like arrival Of the rider created n
tir In the little town, inhabitants is-
ued out of their houses like bees from
hive and the stranger coon found
himself in the midst, of crowd that
canned him curiously, and wondered
What in the world his furious riding
meant.
Where is the Coroner said he.
This simple query. intensified the
uriosity of the bystanders who felt
hat something unusual and awful
must have happened and TINT the
traDger was the bearer of some horri-
lie news. Boys. remarked Uncle Ben
whenever the Coroner liz looked for in
his wise. you can bet your bottom dol
ar TINT some bloody work been done,
nd that murder has been abroad
What is the matter? What has hap.
enedy queried on dozen voices
The stranger eyed the crowd with
he consequential air of one who has
information in store, What
: the matter said lie? Some one has
cen murdered. that's NIL Seigneur
esus. said n plump fair matronly
title woman. signing herself, nous
I