Year: 1870

One night about the first of January last
two young men living in North Alabama
were murdered in a very shocking and mys-
terious manner. They were brothers, and
one of them was married. The latter was
seated Mt his own freside, engaged in read
ing, when several men wearing masks rode
up to the house and called him to the door.
lie came, and was shot and severely wound
ell. He succeeded in getting away, how
ever, and went to the house Of neighbor,
where the assassins found him very soon
after, and, going into the room where he
lay in bed, riddlcd him with bullets. The
next day the younger brother was found
dead in sink-hele some two miles from
home.


These young men we're born and raised
in Tennessee, and gentleman from Ala
bama, who was himself formerly a resident
of Tennessee, gives us the history OF their
family, which is quite romantic enough for
n irst-class novel. The story, as told to
this report, runs briefly thus:


Twenty years ago the town of Blank,
in Middle Tennessee, was one of the fastest
and most fashionable places of it's size in
the South. OF course the name Of the town
was not Blank, which is merely borrowed
for the occasion. Every other name which
appears in this, except that of Louisville,
will be borrowed for the same purpose.
But one real name will be given. One
Of the finest plantations in the neigh
borhood of Blank was that of Mr.. Brown.
His residence was one of the most ele-
CANT and costly in the county. But MIR.
Brown took less pride in his splendid farm
and beautiful home than in his beautiful
daughter, ut that time young girl of not
more than sixteen, and the reigning belle
of the whole neighborhood. He lavished
upon her Ill that wealth could buy. In the
Grecian beauty of her face, in the exqui-
site grace of her slender form, in the rich
ness Of her toilettes, in the elegance of her
equipage, and in all else that goes to consti-
tutc queen Of society, she was without 4
rival. Lovers ana admirers flocked to her
shrine from every quarter. Some Of these
were rich. and few or none were poor. But
their wooing was in vain. They came, and
woed, and went, leaving her still in maiden
meditation, fancy-free. This, however,
could not last always. In about the fourth
or fifth year of her reign, as an unmarried
belle. she met gay and handsome young
lawyer Of Louisville named Smith.


They first met, it is believed, at a water
ine-place in the interior of this State. In
a short time they were engaged to be mar
ricti aud the day was appointed for the
event to take place. But it would seem that
the appointment was made without the con-
sent Of Mr.. Brown, for when young Smith
reached Blank for the purpose of fulfilling
his engagement lie found that the old gen
tlrnan had placed his daughter in car
ringe and quietly carried her beyond the
limits Of the State. Young Smith returned
to Kentucky, and nothing more was heard
oi him III Blank for six Or eight years.


"No. great while after the above Incl
dent tue hcait AID hand of Miss Brown
wore sought by wealthy and most worthy
Young gentleman namcd Jones, who lived
in distant part Of the State. Ills suit met
the hearty approval OF her friends, for he
was rich, handsome. and a thorough gem
tlcman, and in q short time they were mar
ricd. But the marriage was an unhappy
one. Mr. jones had Il large plantation
in one OF the cotton States, and Lis
business interests required that lie
should spend much OF his time there.





leaving his wife at her fathers, where
she preferred to stav, in the enjoy
mcnt of that society and those comforts
which were not to be found among the cot
ton plantations of the South. Thus matters
went on for several years, when there came
& divorce suit at the instance Of the lady,
though upon what grounds our informant
never knew. The divorce was granted, and
Mrs. Jones resumed her maiden name. 1t
was believed that neither husband or wife
were much to blame in the matter-that
they were mo,e sinncl against than sim
ming.


"A year or two passed by, and young
Smith, who had never forgotten his love for
tie beautiful Tennessecan, returned md
renewed his suit-this time with much bet
icr success, for there was no formidable op-
position, it any at all, and he and Miss
Brown were married.


"And then the war came on. Young
Smith was among the first to espouse the
cause of the South and join the army for
her defence. lie became an officer in O
cavalry regiment and continued in active
service until the close Of the struggle. He
then returned to his wife in Blank, where
he soon after began the practice of his pro-
fcssion. lie returned TO find that his
father-in-luw was bankrupt--that tho
war had involved him in utter ruin.


Very soou Mir. Brown magnificent home
was sold, and he removed to Blank with his
family, consisting then Of his wife and two
sons-t!e two youngmcn who were recently
murdered in North Alabama. Soon after
his removal to Blank from his old home,
i've miles distant Mr.. Brown died, leaving
his wife almost or quite pennilcss. About
the same time the The two boys removed to
Alabama, and Mrs. Brown was left alone
with Mr.. and Mrs. Smith.


"Thcy lived i'll an elegant two-story cot
tage in the suburbs Of Blank. Early one
morning, in the summer of 1867, Mr.. Smith
was found lying at his door quite dead.
The weather was exceedingly warm at the
tine, and it was supposed that he had
scatcl himself in the window Of his room
III the upper story, that he had gone to slccI
while seated there, and had fallen to the
ground, breaking his neck. Another period
of two years went the way of all the othel
years Of the life OF this young widow, still
as beautiful as ever, though saddened and
subdrcd by the clouds which had swept
across her pathway. And then the most
singular event in this singular story came
to pass.


MIR. Jones, the first husband, who had
never ceased to love the woman from whom
he had been separated by decree of the
Law, returned to Blank and proposed a Sc
cond marriage. The proposition was ac-
ccpted, and some time last spring the mar
riage took place-thc divorced husband and
wife rcbttcring with warmer hearts and
firmer faith those VOWS Of love aud con-