Newspaper Page Text
as
FORTY YEARS AGO.
[Continued trom 7th page,
tally failed to make any discovery of the kid
nappers, and seating himself on a huge rock,
anxiously awaited the arrival of his friend.
The country was sparsely settled, and *itb
few exceptions, society was in a rude and un
settled condition. Dwelling houses were quite
distant from each other, and sometimes a party
of Indian hunters were met between them. Late
in the afternoon one of these parties, consisting
of four men and two boys passed by, and from
these Willie learned that no strangers had been
seen in the vicinity for some time, but that
they had just discovered fresh horse tracks in
the valley below. He at once proceeded to the
spot indicated, and there, where in all probabil
ity no horse had ever passed before, he found
tracks which be well knew had been made by
Julius’ horse. Both he and the Indiana decided
that the tracks bad been made but a few hours
at most, and hoping to overtake his fnend be
fore dark, be made all possible baste to follow
the trail. This was easily done for a few miles,
but coming to a rooky section of the country,
the tracks were lost, and night found him wan
dering through the woods alone, without “J
snide to direct him except the stars which kept
their silent watch in the heavens ft bove.
The forest was dark and gloomy, and the hills
were so high and precipitous that he sometimes
found it necessary to dismount and lead1 his
horse. When for two long hours he had been
thus wandeiing, he saw a faint light shining
through the cracks of a small log bouse a short,
distance before him. It had until that moment
been concealed from his view by the dense
undergrowth which grew almcst to its walls.
He stopped and listened. Everything was
silent in and around the cabin, and the light
seemed to be going out by slow and impercepti
ble degrees. The scene was so umnviting-so
dreary and desolate, that he resolved to steal
awav without making himself known. But just
as he was turning to go, Bollux becoming
alarmed at something, gave a loud snort, which
was soon answered at the door of the hut by a
rough voice demanding
•Who’s that?' . , .. ,
•A friend who asks protection for himself and
horse through the night/ replied Willie, a little
disconcerted. .... 1
‘Come up then, old fel, an let s see how
you‘re lookin/ said the ugly voice, a shade
softer than befoie. . ..
With some misgivings Willie approached the
house, and fastening his horse to a tree, he went
in and took a seat a little to the right of the
door. , , .
<Wal, stranger/said the man, surveying his
guest from head to foot, ‘this is jest a leetle the
oddest time for a young chap like yer to be
bruisin' over these hills that I ever seed or
heerd on. Good lookin', too, an* then yer hoss
looks like he*d been fed on butter an*-eggs, and
then rubbed down with a smart sprinklin' o'
hog's fat. Whar from, an' what mout yer name
be?' ,
•My name is Willie Montgomery, and my
father lives something over a days journey to
the south of this. I will be pleased to know
vour name.'
‘Horand, Frank Horand, sir, is my name/
replied the man, in rather an uneasy manner.
‘Thank you/ replied Willie, pleasantly. ‘I
expected to meet a friend in this part of the
country this afternoon, but failed to do so. He
rideB a large black horse, is younger than my
self wears a dark colored suit, a white beaver
hat,’and is of good personal appearance. Have
you seen anything of such a person during the
dfty ? *
‘No, • replied Horand in a surly tone. ‘No/
again hissed the man through his great butter-
teeth. What makes yer think I‘ve seen sich a
feller an 1 his hoss? 8ome town chap like yer-
self from Athins whar daddy use to go when I
was a boy, and swap his ‘possum skins for rum
an'terbacker.' . . ...
'No, Mr. Horand, neither I nor my friend live
in Athens or any other town.'
‘Then what fotch you an' that other chap to
these diggins?'
‘We came in search of a lost—'
‘Yer need go no furder with yer stuff, for I've
seed nothin' of the hoss nor his rider/ inter
rupted Horand in a rough, disconoerted way,
that Willie thought it prudent to drop the con
versation, at least for a time. He knew that
something was wrong, and much preferred to
be alone in the woods. Being well armed and
of Herculean strength, he did not fear personal
violence, still he felt uneasy. Hie host was a
very small man, abont forty years old, with the
word villain plainly written upon his featuws.
His mouth yas of huge dimensions, and studded
with a set of scurvy-eaten teeth so loDg that his
thin lips did not conceal half their length. His
eyes, set at an acute angle with his large flat
nose, were of a yellowish cast, and intensely sel
fish in their expression. His head was covered
with a tangled mass of coarse brown hair, which,
falling over his small, wedge-shaped face, gave
him a hideous appearance that was by no means
relieved by his rnde manners and ragged coat
An old rifle and powder horn were hanging
against the mud-daubed walls, one or two rude
benches, and a bed of dirty rags were the only
artioles of furniture to be seen.
While gazing with astonishment upon this
sad condition of life, a tall female figure arose
from the bed into a reclining posture, and
stared the bewildered young man in the face
with such a steady and evil gaze that he invol
untarily arose from his seat. Of all beings he
had ever seen, not excepting Horand himself,
she appeared the most hideously ugly. Grow
ing nervous under the evil stare of her great
glassy eyes, he moved towards the door with
the intention of gaining his horse at a single
bound; but the weird form stretched forth her
long bony arms, and giving a sleepy yawn,
bade him remain still, and arose to her feet.
She was full six feet high, of slender frame, and
altogether one of the most ungainly figures
that ever mocked the human form. Her
leng sandy hair fell in tangled masses over her
shrunken shouldeis, and had perhaps never
known the application of a comb. Her nose,
long and tapering to a point, turned low oyer a
cadaverous mouth which, being wholly destitute
of teeth, caused her thin leathery lips to col
lapse in such a manner as to cause her nose and
chin to meet Her face, shriveled and sallow,
had something of the appearance of an Egyptian
mummy fresh from the tombs of the Pharaohs.
To complete the outline of this horrid pioture,
her dress was of the coarsest material, and dirty
and ragged to the last degree.
■Gome, thar Ruth—down with yer long slim
sides on the bed agin/ shouted Horand, as the
figure made a movement towards Willie.
She paused at the rough command and stood
silently gazing upon the speaker in a defiant
attitude. At that moment Willie’s horse began
to stamp violently, and preferring to take his
chances in the woods rather than remain in
that miserable abode, he left the house for the
apprifiDt purpose of quieting his restless steed.
Aa he left the door he heard a horse give a neigh
of recognition not far distant; and at that mo
ment Pollux tore away and ran violently up the
hill, followed by his master. Onoe he paused
to listen, but save a rumbling noise of falling
logs and scattering boards, where the horses
met, he heard nothing. Hastening forward, he
arrived at the spot just as the Btrange horse
burst through a rough log pen where he had
evidently been confined. The two ran together,
and placing their heads in a close proximity,
they stood motionless as if in a loving embrace.
Trembling. Willie saw the horses meet. He
had found Castor, bnt where was his master ?
Loud and long he called Julius, but no answer
was returned. Then the thoaght came that the
villain Horand had murdered his friend
and taken possession of his horse. He
could find neither saddle nor bridle, and this
so strongly confirmed his apprehensions that
he resolved to go back to the hut for the pur
pose of inquiring into the matter. While en
deavoring to seoure the horses, a bullet whistled
close by his head, and the keen crack of a rifle
pierced the still night-air. The flash was be
tween him and the hut, and perhaps about
twenty yards distant As it disappeared he
heard Horand muttering as if to himself:
‘Take that, yer dandy! I reckon as how 111
have two hosses now instid o' one.*
Willie oonld not see the speaker, and to avoid
the probability of another shot, quickly stepped
behind a large tree that grew near by. He lis
tened, bnt could hear nothing. He knew that
Horand was waiting to pee the result of his fire.
Presently the anxious boy heard his enemy ap
proaching, cautiously feeling his way, step by
step. No man knew how to use firearms better
than Willie Montgomery, and being provided
with a brace of superb revolvers, he held them
ready for instant use, with the intention, how
ever, of shedding blood only in the last extrem
ity—the more especially as Horan d‘s death at
that time might destroy all hope of learning the
fate of Julius Latrain.
The horses, being accustomed to the dis
charge of firearms, still stood motionless near
the fallen stable. It was a fearful moment for
the untried arm of the youthful adventurer.
Though modest and unassuming, almost to
effeminacy, he had the cool courage of a vete
ran, and the discretion of a sage. A slight
rustle in the leaves told him that his enemy was
near—feeling for his supposed victim. The
moon was not yet above the horizon; but strain
ing his eyeB to pierce the heavy darkness, he
finally discovered the faint outlines of the
slender form of Frank Horand, crawling over
the leaves, and feeling in every direction with
his hands. While thus engaged the unearthly
voice of Ruth was heard not far distant
‘Have yer killed him?’ asked she.
‘Yes yer ole fool, like I ever shot to miss my
aim. Run and tell Lem and Jake Brown to
come here quick, replied Horand, rising to his
feet.
As he arose, he discovered the horses, and at
onoe advanced towards them. He passed with
in easy reach of the tree by whioh Willie was
standing. One heavy thump, was heard, and
the light form of Frank Horand was trembling
prostrate upon the ground. In the twinkling
of an eye the grip of a giant was upon his
throat, and a heavy knee pressed painfullv up
on his breast. Next a voice whose low whisper
ed ring could not be mistaken, fell upon his
ears :
‘How came this horse here, and where is his
rider ? Tell me quick ! Have you murdered
him ?’
'No; I’ve not seen him.’
‘You told the same about his horse, and I
have found him barred up in your stable. You
have lied to my face, and how shall I know
when to believe you?’
‘Iswear I’ve not seen the rider.’
'Then how came his horse here?’
‘I found him over to Dagon Hole.’
‘Did he have on saddle and bridle?'
‘I seen nothin’ but a bridle, and it's down to
the house now.’
‘I will spare you till my friend is found.
Rise and follow me,’ said Willie, dragging Ho
rand to a standing posture. ‘Now,’ he continu
ed, placing a pistol at his prisoners ear, ‘do as
I tell you, or you st-11 die in '/our tracks.
Walk in front of me till I reach my horse’s bri
dle.’
The man mechanically obeyed, and Willie
stood with his hand upon the pommel of his
saddle, and ready to mount at a moments warn
ing.
‘Now call Ruth that I may know if she is
near?'
Horand called but no answer was returned.
A call for Lem and Jake met with the same
result. Fortunately the onset had been made
while Ruth was gone after these unknown char
acters, and Willie now determined to escape be
fore their arrival. While preparing to do so,
the piping voice of the woman was heard in the
bushes not tar distant.
‘Whar ar'yer, Jake?’ asked she in an under
tone^
‘Ask her where Lem and Jake are,’ whisper
ed Willie.
Horand did so, but in a tone too loud to
suit the woman’s notion.
‘Don't bawl so loud' said she. ‘Then hun
ters is still in these diggins, and’ I speot they
’re done hearn yer squallin, for me with me an-
swere'n yer. Lem an, Jake ’ll be here in a min-
if
Having thus gained all the knowledge expect
ed, Willie grasped Horand’s bushy hair, and
it a single bound gained his saddle. Flaoing
his captive astride his horse's neck, the well
known tension of the reins sent Pollux
bounding, forward, olosely followed by Castor.
The ominous ‘click’ of the pistol close by Ho
ran d’s heart was a potent argument for his sub
mission, and on went the horses at a fearful
rate—over rugged rocks and tangled woods
until at the distance of two or three miles a lev
el portion of the country was gained. Although
there was but little superstition in Willie Mont
gomery’s nature, he involuntarily cast an occa
sional glance behind in momentary expectation
of seeing the weird-like form of Ruth chasing
him through the air. Her ghostly mien and
squeaking voice had so wrought upon his mind,
he unvolnntarially associated her with some
thing of the supernatural, a feeling whioh. at
some period of life, enters into the composition
of all mankind.
Thinking himself beyond the immediate
reach of bis enemies, Willie halted to reconnoit-
er his position. As tribute for his unceremoni
ous flight through its rugged domain, the
brush-wood had claimed his hat and a part of
his clothing. His tace was frightfully lacerat
ed. and Horand, whose head had come in fear
ful contact with a tree, was quite helpless and
almost senseless. Wishing to proceed further
before stopping for tho night, Willie again
struck off at a brisk trot Guided by a well
known star in the South, he soon found him
self descending a peroeipitons hill where his
horse fell to his knees, in some way causing his
pistol to go off In his hand. This bad the effect
to arouse Horand from his stupor, and he pite
ously begged for his life, affirming that he had
never seen the rider of the blaok horse.
When after much difficulty the top of the hill
had been gained, and Montgomery was consid
ering the propriety of remaining there till
morning, he was startled by a rough voice, ask
ing—
'Who goes there?
Thinking that Horand’s friends had antici
pated his route, and had chosen that spot to in
tercept him. Willie told his prisoner to inform
them that it was Frank Honrad,| and that he
had both horses with him.
'What Frank Horand? and what horses?’ de
manded the rough voice.
Willie knew that these question would not
have been asked by his enemies, and there was
something so strangly familiar in the toneR of
the harsh demand, that Ruth’s saying about the
hunters at onoe came to bis minds, and he quick
ly asked—
'Joe Harper, is that you?’
‘Yes; and I would know Willie Montgomery’s
voice in a thunderstorm,’ was the characteristic
reply.
•No other man could better serve me at this
particular time,’ said Willie as Joe came up.
'What in the d—1 is that you’ve got, and what
does it all mean?’ asked the latter.
When a full explanation was made, and it
was found that neither party had seen or heard
anything from Nelly or her abductor so Joe gave
a keen whistle, and soon there appeared half a
dozen burly looking men,all armed to the teeth,
and presenting a formidable appearance.
Among these stood the tall, straight form of Cal-
veda who, when| informed that ‘the pale-face
flower’ had not yet been found, gave vent to his
significant ‘ugh;’ but Joe Harper who was a
dealer in actions rather than words, took from
bis poeket a long rope which he sometimes used
for the purpose of securing the new dogs which
he had collected since the wholesale disappear
ance of his old stock on the night of Nelly's
oapture. Deliberately fastening the rope
around Horand’s neck, he threw it over a pro
jecting limb, and pulled it sufficiently tight as
to cause the miserable man to stand tip toe.
'Are we all agreed ?‘ asked Joe, in a deter
mined tone.
‘We are/ answered all the burly looking
strangers.
‘Then sir, ‘ said Joe, turning to Horand, ‘what
do you know of the young man wko rode the
black horse that was found in your stable to
night? You have jot ly five minutes to decide.
If you do sotistiHis the whole truth I will hang
you to this limb in the first moment of the
sixth minute. This is no child's play, but the
work of men terribly in earnest. So decide at
once.'
Horand utterly denied knowing anything of
the owner of the black horse, repeating, in sub
stance the same he had told Montgomery. At
the end of the fifth minute he continued to as
sert his innocence, and he piteously begged for
his life. ADd although his protestations had
the appearance of sincerity, the evidence was
plainly against him, and the whizzing of the
rope as it harshly grated over the limb above,
was quickly followed by his shadowy form
dangling in the air.
Willie Montgomery, whose finer feelings
were shocked at such a scene, finding that the
fearful measures of Joe had failed to elicit the
desired information, earnestly entreated that
Horand’s life should be spared until the fate of
his lost friend was more certainly known. To
this a reluctant consent was given; and slacken
ing the rope, the almost lifeless form of the ad
judged murderer fell heavily upon the ground
It was then acceded that after the moon was
up the entire party guided by the prisoner,
would at once proe>?d to Dagon Hole where, as
alleged by him, Castor had been found. While
waiting for the appearance of the moon, Joe
gave Willie some-a.^optit of his adventures since
leaving home.
‘When/ said he, 'Calveda and I left home, we
made rather a circuitous route to the mountains
which lie to the north of us. While roaming
over them we were joined by these hunters who,
upon hearing our narrative of your sister's dis
appearance from home, at once expressed a
wish to give us all the assistance in their power;
and together we made a vow to follow those who
have carried her away, to the end of their dark
journey, or to the end of our own lives- You
will find them large-hearted men, and a valu
able addition to our force. When morning
comes I will give you a formal introduction to
them.
‘While quietly sitting around our camp fire
to-night, we were aroused from our half-waking
slumbers by the report of your pistol. Having
had a difficulty this morning with the most
abominable looking 4 woman I ever saw,
we supposed thatahey If id assembled their clan
and that some of them were sneaking around
here to strike us in the dark, The only practic
able route over the hills is tbe one you fortun
ately struck, and judging the report of the
pistol to be beyond this point, we hastened
here to take them by surprise. Had you not
been on horseback your reception would have
been quite different from what it was. But for
tune iavors the brave. Tbe moon is rising so
let us now haste away. ‘
Preceded by their feeble prisoner, the party
turned a little out of the way to go by Horand-s
hut that they might see what was going on in
that vicinity. When it was sufficiently light to
distinctly discern objects, the conduot of the
prisoner became greatly changed. Joe particu
larly noticed this, and going to him, suddenly
exclaimed:
‘So I have caught sou again, old fellow! Gen
tlemen,this is the vjifl&h who stole our guns this
morning. His back will tell the true tale of his
punishment.*
At this Joe tore off the man's shirt, and his
back was literally skinned by heavy strokes of
the lash.
‘You see, ‘ continued Joe, ‘while Sam Hogarth
and I were looking among the crevices of the
rocks this morning, this man and his miserable
wife saw where we concealed our guns for the
purpose of climbing with greater ease, and when
we were on the opposite side of the hill, they
stole them and all the ammunition we had. We
afterwards caught them, and as it was not con
venient to carry them through a regular course
of law, we resolved ourselves into a court,judge,
jury and all. We found them guilty, and as
none of our party was present, we found it
necessary to execute our own sentenoe. This
may help explain the reason why he was so
easily carried on horseback to-night. ‘
Joe, having thus made bis report, as he term
ed it, one of the hunters' whose name was Paul
Beverly came up and eyed the trembling cap
tive olosely.
‘Logan Leechoo, as I live, ‘ exclaimed Beverly
stepping back in surprise, and involuntarily
placing his finger on the trigger of his long
rifle.
'Is not his name Horand?’ asked Willie.
‘No/answered t5.e'bunter in a furious rage.
‘It is Logan Leechoo, fee half breed, and is one
of the most notorious rascals in the whole coun
try, Mean beyond his fellows this man was
compelled to leave the Catawbas, the tribe to
which he belongs. He first came to this section
some years ago, and has since lived a wander
ing life. He brought with him something in
the shape of a woman who, like himself, is of a
mixed race, being half Indian and half negro.
It was from this woman no doubt • on so fortun
ately made your escape last night. Her true
name is Beck Tamone; but she is more gener
ally known as ‘the Old Hag of the Mountains.’
I think I have heard of her going by the name
of Ruth on some former occasion. In many in
stances of minor crimes the laws are not faith
fully executed in this part of tbe country; but
some months ago these half-breeds committed a
crime that has excited so much indignation
that nothing short of their deaths will satisfy
the people. In open daylight they went to a
man's house more than a day's journey from
this, and asked for dinner. It so happened
that none of the family were at home except a
little girl of ten or twelve summers. She is, or
rather was, a bright little creature, and uncom
monly intelligent of her age. She writes a fair
hand, and to tbi9 we are indebted for the horri
ble tale that I am about to relate.
‘Learning from the child that her parents and
only brother were in the field at work, and
would not return before night, Beok Tamone
held the little innocent until the wretch before
you, Logan Luchoo, cut out her tongue. They
then took such articles from the house as they
oould carry, and disappeared in the woods.
The ohild’s father and neighboring friends are
yet hunting for them, and having the man we
must hurry on and capture the woman also.
Though short, could I tell you a more dreadful
storv ? ‘
‘What is the poor little girl’s name ?’ asked
Willie, after a painful pause.
‘Bettie Doring; and her father’s name is
Mumford Doring.*
‘Were it not possible,’ said Joe, ‘that this
man could serve us further he should not live
another moment. But more of this hereafter.
It is now quite light, and none of the company
are strangers longer. Gentlemen, let me intro
duce you to my friend, Julius Latrain. Mr.
Latrain the gentleman on the right is Sam.
Hogarth; the next, Paul Beverly; the next, Phil.
Harrol; the next, Nat Wrenco; and the next, Dud
Casteen.'
All except the prisoner readily obeyed the
command to maroh, and soon these eight strong
men appeared in plain view of Horand’s oabin.
Ruth was still there, but upon their approaob
she left the hut, and with a rifle disappeared in
the woods. Pursuit was made at once, but she
was not overtaken until after she bad run
something more than* two miles—bouncing
through the forest with inoredible speed. She
maintained a bold front until she saw that her
guest of the previous night was still living, and
that her companion in crime was his prisoner.
Denying that she knew anything of Julius, or
of the whereabouts of Lem andJJake, Joe Harper
placed his hand upon her shoulder, saying:
‘In the name of Bettie Doring, for she cannot
speak it herself, you are my prisoner.’
This so overcame the wretched creature that
she sank to the ground and begged for her life.
‘Now,’ continued Joe, addressing Horand,
‘lead us to Dagon Hole by the nearest route,
and with all possible haste.’
Traveling to the Northwest direction, when
about five miles distant from the hut, the
party found that a terrific storm had just past
over that immediate section, indications of
which had been noticed by some of the hunters
two evenings previously. Huge trees were
scattered in every direction, and amid this
tangled mass Horand said he had found Castor
the morning before. A careful examination
showed that a horse had passed there since tbe
storm, and further on, a saddle which Willie and
Joe knew to be Julius Latrain's, was found
hanging by one stirrup to a projecting limb on
which it had evidently been caught and pulled
off bv violent surges of the horse.
This caused the party to hasten forward, and
soon ihey entered a pass between two moun
tains, which the guide said led to Dagon Hole.
Here the men saw horse-tracks in both direc
tions, and Calveda observed that those going in
had been made before the storm, and those com
ing out directly after it. Entering the gorge
they found a vast number of dead pigeons, and
clouds of feathers were drifting here and there
before the gale that played in the dreary pass.
When about four hundred yards from the en
trance, they came to the verge of a yawning
chasm between two precipitous mountains
whose rugged sides seemed wild and pic
turesque beyohd all powers of description.
According to Horaud’s testimony the cavern
was from twenty to forty feet wide, and from
fifty to one hundred feet deep. It ranged from
East to West, and was said to be several hundred
yards in length. Broad shelving rocks, covered
with the untrodden moss of ages, projected
from its sides in every direction. The slimy
toad and loathsome spider, the gloomy bat, the
great horned owl, and the deadly rattle-snake
were said to be its only inhabitants; and taken
all in all, its dreary appearance hal hitherto
deterred the adventurer from all attempts to
explore its rugged depths.
Had it not been for Hnrand's candid admis
sion in rejgard to firidin.j Castor in th« fjuiinmii-
ate vicinity, and the subsequent corroboration
of his statements, the entire party would hav-
believed that he had murdered young Latrain
and thrown him in the dreadful cavern.
Having examined every accessible part of the
cavern without making any discovery of their
lost friend, the men stood gazing into the
depths below in silent meditation. The only
evidence found that any one had ever before
been there, was the discovery of several large
I stone hammers lying on the mountain cliffs,
' halt buried in mess and sand. They were of
good workmanship, something in the shape of
a common sledge-hammer, but much larger.
They were evidently relics of a former age, and
according to Indian tradition, had been nsed
for breaking rocks, in whioh gold was found in
rich profusion.
While meditating in sore disappointment
upon these things the keen crack of a rifle
pierced the still evening air. A sudden plunge
and Logan Luchco fell dead upon the ground.
A ball directed by unerring aim had enterred
his brain.
Simultaneously with the report a company of
men appeared on tbe rocks above, announcing
themselves friends.
‘Mumford Doring. as I live! Bettie is
avenged!' exclaimed Paul Beverly.
‘Only in part/ shouted Doring. ‘Beck Ta
mone/ continued he, glancing along the barrel
of a rifle whioh had juBt been reached him by
one of his comrades; ‘Beck Tamone, turn your
side to me, or this ball will scatter your brains
over the rocks at your feet.'
The terrified woman, thinking this the strange
terms on which she might save her life, me-
cbanioally obeyed, another keen report broke
the death like stillness, and ‘the old Hag of the
mountains,’ fell to her knees—the blood pour
ing in a stream from her month.
Willie sprang to her side and found that the
ball had entered her cheek, and passing through
her month, had torn off her tongue. The oause
of Doring’s singular command was explained—
that as the miserable woman had been instru
mental in cutting out his darling Bettie's
tongue, she should stand at his bidding, to
suffer the loss of hers.
Dorring and his party hastened to the bloody
scene, and looking upon the victims of his
deadly revenge, exclaimed.
‘And so I have found you at last.’ Many days
and nights have I roamed these montains in
in search of you, and until now have had no
idea of abandoning the field. Thank God my
maddened steps may now be taken towards my
suffering home. Beok Tamone, still live to see
how miserable life can be in the condition of
my darling child ! My revenge is now com
plete—nothing more—nothing less.’
A hole was dug in the ground about two feet
deep, into which ghastly form of Logan Leechoo
was roughly thrown; and there, in the dreary
solitude of the mountain gorge, the brigand
was left to his fate.
At Willie’s request the wounded woman was
carried to a neighboring house where some of
the men said she would be kindly treated.
Four of Dorriug's men having joined in the
search of the lest brother and sister, as the
reader now knows Julius and Nelly to have
been, Montgomery's party consisted of twelve
powerful and determined men. Having learn
ed from a special messenger that Julius had
not returned home, the party roamed over the
country for four days in unavailing efforts to
get on track of their lost friends. When on the
evening of that day the men had gone into
camp a few miles beyond the line of a neighbor
ing State, they were a little after dark surprised
by an attacking party composed of between fif
ty and sixty men whom Lem and Jake Brown
had selected from their own class in various
parts of the country. A terrible battle followed
in which Montgomery's men fought like mad
dened tigers. Giving the war hoop Calveda led
the charge; but the odds was too great. When
his ammunition was exhausted he found him
self alone—all his men were dead or painfully
wounded. Still untouched himself he gave a
yell of pain and fell on his face--the battle was
over. The renegade enemy had gained a com
plete victory, but at a fearful cost. Twenty-
two of their men, including Lem and Jake
Brown, were le't dead on tbe field. Still feigniDg
himself dead, Calveda learned that the enemy
had carried away Joe Harper, Willie Montgom
ery, and Paul Beverley with their own wound
ed, and that all the rest of his men, eight in
number, were sleeping the silent sleep of death.
Finding himself surrounded only by the dead
tbe Indian leader began to consider the best
way to make his escape. While thus engaged
he heard a rustle among the leaves, and instant
ly assumed his former position. Directly, two
men oame near, and having satisfied themselves
that all the prostrate forms were dead, they
made a hasty retreat. They were full blood
Indians, and Calveda f6lt fully convinced that
he hid heard the step and voice ot one of them
somewhere in the fer off west, but oould not call
to mind his name nor the time he had met him.
Nor did he know how badly'his heroic comrades
who had just been carried away, were wounded
—whether mortally, or merely disabled- For
one of his strrng attachments this was almost
intolerable torture. In painful suspense, he
awaited the result for something more than an
hour, and then with the tread of a cat, he has
tened to break the terrible news to Mumford
Dorring. Having discharged this duty, he
harried home where he arrived early on the
morning of the second day after the battle. At
Montgomery Hall he found Harry and Corolie
Summerville, together with Emilie Laborde,
their French teicher, and his lovely Olura Sun
down.
Almost heart-broken the Indian told his sad
story, which cast a clond of sorrow as dark and
dreary as ever benighted the household of man.
(.TO BE CONTINUED. )
PERSONALS.
WHAT PEOPLE ABE l)OI\(i A Ml SIVIMi
ALL OVER THE WORLD.
Miss Adelaide Neilson sailed for this country on
Saturday.
Dennis Kearney has announced that he will not
leave California this year.
It is said that Colonel Mosbv has made up bis
mir.d to resign from the Hong Kong Consulate.
Skinchi Yanada is a Japanese rep rter, who
came over the sea with Ulysses and is now taking
notes of the Pacific c oast receptions.
There is a report in San Francisco that Ulysses S.
Grant, Jr., is affianced to a daughter of Col. James
C. Flood, the bonanza millionaire.
George P. Sickles, the father of General Sickles,
is hale and hearty at the age of S4 years. He is a
Spiritualist, and enjoys a matinee by the old mas
ters every afternoon. He has only to rap on his
table, when Beethoven, Mozart or Mendelssohn
will appear and direct an invisible orchestra. The
old gentleman frequently expresses surprise that
his visitors do not hear tiie music as well as him
self.
Yesterdav at Fredericksburg, Ya., a large bowl
der of native white quartz rock was placed to mark
the spot where Stonewall Jackson received his
death wound.
A cable despatch from New Zealand announces the
death ther- of John Holmes, ex-member of Parlia
ment for Carleton county, Out. Mr. Hi fines re
cently came into possession of property valued at
$2,000,000, left him by his brother.
Walt Whitman is doing the Rocky Mountains.
At last accounts, after exploring Platte Canon, one
of the most sa vage and lengthy of the Colorado
gorges, he was at South Park, on Neosho Summit,
over io,000 feet high and 2,000 miles from home.
Amid these regions and characters, the Western of
the West, he absorbs the grandest scenery in the
world, feasts on antelope and mountain trout, and
fraternizes with emigrant camps, miners, cow-boys
and Leadvilleans. He stands the travel pretty
wellfor a half paralytic, meets with the warmest
kindness and treatment everywhere and is in fair
condition. He returns home late in October.
Of Mr. Leonard Montefiore who died the other
day in Newport, the London World writes, “he
was peculiar” as being a young man of wealth and
position, who in these selfish days devoted himself
to the moral and intellectual improvement of his
les; fortunate fellow-creatures. His bright pres
ence made him equally welcome in the salons of the
rich and the garrets of the poor, adding lustre by
his wit to the one and bringing comfort by his sym
pathy to the other. All children loved him, and
no wonder; he was such a famous romp and his
fairy-tales were so delightful. About Christmas
time he would go far and wide to find story-books
for his little friends, and would carefully select
those untinged by cruelty or sadness. That his men
tal endowments were above the average, his liter
ary work can testify; but most noteworthy of all
was the combination of mind ano heart which
formed a character so admirable and makes so
deeply felt the loss of Leonard Montefiore.
President Hayes seems to have gone too far away
from home, and had an unpleasant time of it, the
other night, at Hannibal, Missouri. When the train
arrived, about ten o’clock, the President, accord
ing to his habit, rushed out on the rear platform to
talk about the crops, perhaps, when he was assailed
by a crowd of roughs with jeers and abusive shouts.
The President naturally concluded that it wouldn't
be worth while to waste any of his eloquence on
that crowd and he went inside. General Sherman
then appeared and told th 3 roughs that Missouri is
a great State which would some day be peopled by
ladi"s and gentlemen; that they must not insult
the President of the United States, “and you must
not insult me, for it you do, so help me God I’ll
fight.” T ere is no excuse for such conduct in any
city in the country as was displayed by these Mis
souri rowdies. If they didn’t care to see the Presi
dent or hear him they should have remained away,
and not bring disgrace upon their city and State.
Isidore O’Reilly.
Mobile Register.
Sometimes it becomes our duty to record in stately
terms the death of the distinguished, sometimes to
lament with solemn formality the decease of stran
gers, and yet, when the circle of our private affec
tions is invaded, we find it hardest to express, in
words, the emotions which arise from a personal
bereavement. By the sudden death of Mr. Isidore
O’Reilly our whole homestead has been called upon
to mourn the loss of an estimable young man,
whose gentle, manly character had endeared him to
us all. In the past, long in our service, he was ever
faithful, active and earnest, and personally so at
tractive that the ties between us survived all sepa
ration. The life of our young friend was illumined
by the steady sun-light of honor, kindness, and
truth; the natural radiance of a guileless heart.
With that beauty of character which results from a
combination of modesty wiihout servility, of con
sideration for others without display—of earnest
fidelity to duty—of generous kindness in all things
—the nature of the young dead was adorned. Af
fectionate, considerate son, brother and friend, ^ he
did his part in life, lovingly and in earnest. Suf
fering and sorrow in a greater measure than is gen
erally allotted to the young was his—yet, sustained
by a steadfast Christian faith, he bore all with en-
all the sacraments and benedictions of the Catholic
Church, in which he was reared, and which he
loved so well, he passed into the kingdom of his
Father and his God. Many unaffected tears fell
upon the coffin-lid of Isaaore O’Reilly, upon his
grave $he Register lays this little chaplet of affec
tion.
Sufferers Read This.—If you are afflicted
with Neuralgia or Headach *, Nuralgine will relieve
you. It is the only known specific. Every bottle
guaranteed, if taken according to directions. Sold
by all Druggists.
Hutchinson & Bros., Proprietors,
14 Whitehall St., Atlanta, Ga.
SS2