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Ir,r" AN INDEPENDENT FAMILY NEWSPAPER. FSj!S?
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Vol. ArIII. IVcav Bloomfleld, Tri., TiioHclxvy, U'elitiiry 3, 1874. TVo. 5.
IB PUBU8I1RU BVKIIY TUESDAY MORNINO, BY
FRANK KOETIUEB & CO.,
It New Bloomfleld, Terry Co., Ta.
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ADVERTISING IlATliSl
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EEJSCTED.
Ah, who can probe a woman's heart t
For love by subtle laws is bound,
And scorns analysis of art
Not always love by love is crowned.
Who knows why bee or butterfly
From all gay (lowers that woo the sun
Selects a few, may toll you why
And bow a woman's heart is won.
Poor yonth, disconsolate, rejected,
Bear like a man your first rebufT,
Nor mope In stricken love dejected,
But show you're made of sterner stuff.
Out In the world I Up and be doing I
And when this bitterness Is past
As fair a maid may bless yonr wooing,
And lore be met by : ve at last.
For not for aye will blighting care
Tour heart with Dead-Sea ashes strew j
Another love-rose It may bear,
As sweet of scent, as bright of hue.
And you, fair, tender-hearted maid I
Whose blessed mission 'tis to bless,
Why was such task upon you laid
To utter No, instead of Tes t
For the BloomP.eld Times.
THE MYSTERIOUS FRIEND.
A Story of Old Virginia
CONTINUED.
CHIRON had caught the meaning of the
villain's eye when first he placed his
hand within his bosom, and he mistrusted
at once the object of the movement, so that
no sooner was the pistol drawn upon him
than he was prepared for the attack. With
a movement, as quick as it was powerful,
the hunter sprang forward, caught the
weapon from Berkley's grasp, and dash
ed the villain to the floor.
" 1 gave you not credit for so much cour
age," said Chiron, in a tone of irony, as
Berkley raised himself upon his elbow.
. A moment more the hunter gazed upon
Ike prostrate man, and then casting the
pistol out through an open window, he
turned and left the apartmont.
The shades of night were settling over
the river plantation, and as the dew began
to fall Ada Wimple left bur garden and en
tered the house. She had just taken a book
and seated herself by the lamp near which
her mother was working, when her father
entered the room. There was a deep shado
on Sir Oliver's countenance, and instead of
his usual social greeting upon his return,
he was taciturn and even sad. Ada caught
the expression in a moment, and laying her
book upon the table, site gazed for a mo
ment eagerly at her father's face, and,
when at length he sank into a chair, she
went up to him and put her arms around
his neck.
- " Dear fathor," she said, as she kissed
him upon the brow, " what makes you so
ad?"
"I know not that 1 should keep this
tiling from you, and I trust that when I
tell you the cause of my sadnes,you will be
woman enough to receive it as you should,"
her CnUier replied.
Lady Wimple laid down her work and
turned toward her husband with look of
all-absorbing curiosity, while Ada, with a
fluttering heart, bade her father speak.
"My child," said he, while the heaving
of bis bosom told how painful it was for
him to tell the cause of his grief, "you
must give up all thoughts of the youth who
aaved you from the Indians, for he Is not
what you thought him."
"You do not mean Oihindo Chester,"
aid Ada, lu a faint whisper, as if afraid to
trust that name in connection with such a
result.
" Yes, Ada, he Is even now in jail under
charge of murder."
"Murder?" shrieked she, starting back
and regarding her father with a half vacant
stare. " No, no, you do not mean that.
You do wrong to trifle with me thus."
" I am not trifling with you, my child.
Young Chester is really in jail for having
murdered Lolowah, an Indian interpreter
and messenger."
" And surely you do not believe him
guilty of such a orimo," uttered the young
girl, without a moment's hesitation. "You
cannot believe that he murdered the mes
senger." Sir Oliver gazed a moment into his
child's face, and it was not without a feel
ing of pride that ho saw the proud flashing
of her eyes and as he dwelt upon their con
scious beams he found his prejudice against
tho .young accused gradually dwindling
away ; but with a father's solicitude for the
welfare of his children, ho wished the con
nection between young Chestor and Ada
sundered, and said :
" The evidence is very strong against the
young man, and I fear that he will bo con
victed of the crime, and consequently you
cannot wonder that I should wish you to
forget him."
" But this evidence what is it, father,
and what aro the circumstances attending
tho case V" asked Ada, in an earnest tone,
but yet with such a confidence in Orlando's
innocence that she was almost calm.
" Mr. Berkley related to me the circum
stances. Lolowah was missed, and two
men were sent in quest of him, and these
men found young Chester in tho very act
of burying the body of the Indian, and he
was accordingly arrested and brought
down, and has been committed to answer
to the charge of murder."
" And does Orlando deny that he killed
the Indian."
"No, ho owns that he killed him, but ho
says he done it in self-defence."
"Then said Ada, while a now light shone
from her eyes, " I believe that, he did.
Toll me, father, would you say that Orlan
do murdered those three Indians whom he
shot to save my life f"
" Of course not, my child ; but this case
is vastly different."
" It is only different in that he saved his
own lifo, instead of Baving mine. No, no,
father ; though every tongue but his own
should tell me that be committed murder,
I'd not believe them. When first you
spoke, the words struck upon my heart
with a fearful sound, but now I scarcely
heed the imputation. They cannot convict
him of the crime, for their own conscience
must tell them that lie is innocent. Let
me know, let me feci that ha is capable of
crime, and I'll cast his image from my
heart.
Bir Oliver Wimple gazed in surprise upon
his daughter, as she spoke ; but be mado
no reply, seeming rather to be pondering
upon the circumstance. Ada, too, assum
ed a thoughtful mood, and after reflecting
several moments, she continued :
" Tell me, father, do you not think there
is something strange in this affair? For
the last month there have beeu numerous
small parties of Indians committing dep
redations about us, and many of them have
been caught and puuitdied ; and now a
young white man, who has always borne
an irreproachable character, has slain one
of the red men, and, notwithstanding his
explanation, he is charged with murder.
Is there not something strange iu it?"
" Ada," said her father, in his moderate,
calculating tone, " I don't know but that
you are right. There is something curions
in this case and now I think of it, Mr.
Berkley seemed rather ill-tuned with re
gard to the matter, and some of his ans
wers were anything but satisfaotory,though
the excitement of tiie circumstance pre
vented me from noticing It then, as I do
now."
During this time Lady Wlmplo had ut
tered not a word, seeming, as was usually
her way, to wait until her husband had
fully explained his own views ere she ven
tured an opinion, and then she Invariably
coincided with him. Now, however, the
case had arrived at a point where she
thought she must speak, and she had al
ready formed her, words for utterance, when
she was suddenly out short by the report
of a rifle near the house, and uttering an
exclamation of fear, she sank back trem
bling in her ebalr.
Ada was somewhat startled, too, by this
sudden report, and she caught her father's
arm while she bent her ear to bear what
sound might follow next. Sir Oliver gently
laid his daughter s hand from off his arm,
and having seized his hat, he started forth
to learn the cause of the strange Interrup
tion. The moon was shining brightly, and
and as the baronet stopped out anon the
gravelled walk he saw a glgnntie figure,
standing only a shoit distance from the
corner of the house, quietly leaning upon
a rifle.
" How now ?" cried Bir Oliver, as he ap
proached the spot where stood the stranger.
As the bnronot spoke, the strangor turn
ed towards him and revealed the features
of Chiron.
" Your pardon, Sir, for this intrusion,'
said the stranger, as he brought his rifle up
under bis arm and stepped forward a pace.
" Chiron?" uttered the baronet.
" Yes ; I was here, if you remember,
when your daughter roturned from her ex
pedition up tho river."
" I never should forget you," said Bir
Oliver, as he measured with his eye the
huge proportions of the hunter ; " but what
means this disturbance this rillo shooting
about my promises?"
" I assure you," returned Chiron, with a
smile, " had I known that T was to have
been made tho mark for a rifle bullet, I
should have chosen some other spot than
this upon which to have stood the fire ; but
you know we seldom get sufficient warning
of such events to admit of very choice ar
rangements." " What, sir I'1 exclaimed tho baronet, in
amazement, "do you moan to say that you
have been shot at?"
" I have, sir. There, do you see that
beat just crawling out from under tho
bank ?"
"Yes," said Sir Oliver, looking" in the
direction pointed out.
" Well, sir, thero are two men in it and
they have followed me up from the town.
I took no notice of them, for I little thought
they meant mo harm ; but as I hauled my
canoe up on the bank and started towards
your house, one of them fired at me. . The
ball whizzed past my head, and as I turn
ed towards them they paddled under tho
bank and started back down the stream."
"And have you any idea who they are?"
" Yes, I think I know;. They are two
men named Oilman and Coltou."
"Oilman and Col ton," uttered tho bar
onet, with a moment's thought. " Why,
those are the two men whom Mr. Berkley
told me detected young Chester in tho act
of burying the body of the Indian."
" Yes, they are the same ; and now they
scorn to wish that I wore buried."
" But there is some mystery in this af
fair. What means it all ?"
" I came here to-night for the express
purpose of unravelling to you the whole
plot ; and if you will give me an hour's
time, I will tell you a tale that will make
you wonder at some things, and cease to
wonder at others."
In a few moments the baronet had ex
cused himself from his family and was
seated in bis private room with Chiron,and
after turning the key in the door the hun
ter began with bis story.
Sir Oliver and Chiron were closeted over
an hour, and when at length they came
forth to tho sitting "room, there was upon
the face of the former a strange mingling
of astonishment and gratification, while
the latter, with a bright smile upon his
features, seated himself by the side of Ada.
" Lady," said ho, as be gazed with an
admiring friendly look into the handsome
features, " I have been requested by one
who Is prison to give you his faithful re
membrance, and he trusts that you will not
despise biin because fate has for the time
abused him."
"Theuyou, sir, know something of Or
lando Chester," replied Ada, without seem
ing to notice what he had said.
" I know that he is innocent of all crime,
lady."
" Qod be praised for that assurance, "
said Ada, as she clasped her bands together.
" I knew that be could not be guilty."
" And when I see him again what shall
I tell him of comfort from you ?"
"Nothing," quickly exclaimed ths fair
girl, whilo her eyes sparkled with a strange
light.
" And will you send him no word ?"
asked Chiron, In astonishment.
" No, words are treacbeious conveyances
of thought when they come second handod.
I will go to Orlando's cell myself, and
should you see him before I do, you may
tell him this. lie can ask no more.
" No, and he would not have dared to
have even hoped so much," returaed
Chiron, with a look of admiration,
" May I not go and see him ?" asked
Ada, as she turned to her father t
" We will see about that to-morrow and
perhaps 1 may go with you, as I wish to
talk with tho young man," was the reply.
"And now," said Chiion, as he arose to
depart, " I have some important business
n hand for to night and therefore must
leave you. But I trust to soe you again
to-morrow, and to bring you good tidings."
A fow moments later the old hunter was
wending his way to the cottage In the
woods, and though he passed rapidly along
he kept a careful watch, feeling confident
that thero was yet danger to bo apprehend
ed from tho two men he had seen in the
boat. His intention was to reach the cot
tago, secure the key and carefully search
the chest for tho document he was sure
was secreted therein. He knew that the
chest contained a secret recess, and was
confident that he could touch tho spring
that would reveal the mystery.
CHAPTER VII.
IN WHICH A NEW PLOT IS DEVELOPED.
Roswoll Berkley had began to feel that
too much was known to make it snfo to
bring Orlando to a public trial and conse
quently it was important to disposo of him
in some other way.
The jailor wns a creature in his pay and
it was easily arranged to have him work on
the prisoner's feelings so as to make him
anxious for an escape, and then when the
plans were properly completed, to be con
veniently blind and deaf to any attempts
that should be made by Orlando to secure
his liborty.
But it was not a part of Berkley's plan
to be troubled with young Chester after his
escape, as he knew him well enough to
know that he would with the help of Chi
ron, openly demand an investigation, which
was now what he was desirous of avoiding.
At this time there was a vessel ready to
leave for England, which was in command
of a man who could easily bo purchased to
give him the required aid. And to him
Berkley applied.
A bargain was mado that if the young
man was placed on board his vessel he
would take good care of him, and see him
landed at some out of the way place from
where he could not return. ' In the mean
time it should bo given out to the crew
that the young man was escaping from the
gallows to which he had bfen condemned.
One of the crew named Dick Nolan, was
also bribed to take two more of the crow
and aid in the escape and to convey Orlan
do to tho vessel.
When this was all arranged, Dick No
lan was taken to the young man's cell and
in a confidential manner told him that
Chjrou had laid a plan for his escape, and
the attempt to liberate him would be made
that night.
"But why should I escnpo," said Or
lando, "when my examination will give me
liberty honorably?"
" You may be kept here weeks before
that time," said Nolan, " and in the mean
time your mother is unprotected. For
that reason Chiron thinks it best that you
aro taken out at once. And he has not
forgotten the attempt made to poison you
the first night you were brought here
eithor."
Probably had not his enemies made use
of Chiron's name as the originator of the
plan proposed, Orlando would have turned
a deaf ear to all their proposals. But with
the utter helplessness of his mother placed
before him, and feeling, sure that Chiron
had good reasoa for advising the course
proposed, be yielded a reluotant consent to
the plan suggested, though be would much
rather have staid a short time longer and
then been legally discharged.
Accordingly about 10 o'clock that night
a laddor was placed against the jail under
the window of the cell occupied by Orlando
and the grating was carefully removed. Ic
was not without a thought that he was
shirking an investigation of the charge
made against him, that young Chester left
the cell even though this course was to re
store him to liberty and would relieve the
fears of his mother.
As he took his seat in the boat, however,
an indescribable feeling of having taken a
wrong step, took possession of his mind,
and even the thought that he would soon
be at home again could not drive it from
him.
At about the same hour that Orlando
was escaping from his cell, Chiron, entirely
unconscious of the danger that bang over
the young man, was removing the key from
the place where Mrs. Chester concealed it,
dutermined to Investigate the secret of the
oaken ehest.
Having removed the contents until tho
bottom of the chost was exposed, he took
his knife and inserting it into a erevloe
that looked like a crack laade by the dry
ing of the wood, pressed down hard. Tho
point of the knife touched a spring, and
what hnd heretofore seemed the bottom of
the chest, raised easily up, showing a small
copartment carefully made waterproof, in
which safely lay the document, which bad
so long and eagerly bcea sought for.
Hastily securing this, Chiion replaced
the false bottom and the other articles ho
had removed and locking the chest re
turned the key to the place from which he
had taken it, and softly left the cottage.
He nt once mado his way to tho river
intending to go by Orlando's boat to the
residence of Sir Oliver, and to inform him
of the safety of tho supposed lost paper,
the value of which he had explained to
him during the interview of tho evening
previous. '
As he enme near the landing he was
surprised to find another boat there and
near it, a man apparently on the watch for
the return of some one then absent.
Cautiously approaching as near as pos
sible without his presence being known, ho
became confident the waiting man was Gil
man, and that he was one of the men who
wcro in tho boat from which tho rifle shot
had come, as he was near Sir Oliver's
house.
If his surmise was correct, "then where
was his companion, and was there mischief
meant to tho residents of the cottage?"
were the questions that arose in the hunt
er's mind.
. As yet ho had not bcou discovered by
Oilman, and the first impulse of Chiron,
was to quietly withdraw, and by keeping
watch learn what the object of this visit
was.
A moments reflection, however, convin
ced him that he had better demand tho
cause of this visit while yet the man was
alone, and perhaps a delay might cause an,
injury which now he could prevent.
Chiron therefore suddenly appeared
before the waiting man and demanded his
business there.
For a moment Oilman, for it proved
to be him, hesitated aud then replied :
" I don't know that you have any au
thority to question my right tocome hero
when I please and to stop as long as I feel
disposed."
" But in the absence of a young friend
of mine," roplied the hunter, " I take the
liberty of seeing who lurks around here,
and as far as possible guard those depend
ent on him from all danger."
"For once then you aro rather lato,"
was the taunting reply, "for evon while wo
talk the inmates of the cottago are being
removed to a plaoe where your care will
not be needed. You have already given us
too much trouble" continued the wretch,
"and I now mean that you shall give us no
more."
As he said this he quickly raised his rifle,
with the intention of shooting Chiron, but
the old hunter was not as unguarded as
Oilman had supposed for he had seon tho
movement, and quickly knocking the rifle
to one side he with on blow from his fist
laid the villain at his feet ; then he took
from his pocket a number of deer-hide
thongs with which he firmly bound tho
fallen man's ankles, and then pinioned his
arms behind him. Having accomplished
this he raised Oilman to his feet, set him
against a treo, and with a long stout thong
the hunter bound him to the trunk in an
upright posture.
Oilman swore and raved, threatened and
entreated, but all to no effect. The old
hunter was inflexible in his purpose, and
as soon as ho bad accomplished it he took
up his rifle and started off, remarking, as
be did so :
" Don't fret, Master Oilman. I'll release
you when I come back."
" You needn't trouble yourself," roturn
ed the villain, with an oath.
". O, it's ne troublo, I assure you ; and
besides, I may want your company haok to "
Jamestown."
" 'Twill be sorry company for you," said
Oilman.
" Rather disreputable, I grant," coolly
returned Chiron, and as be spoke be passed
on, but yet for a long distance he could
bear the bound villain's curses and impre
cations mingled with groans of rage and
disappointment. Continued next week. -
tW A man in North Adams, Mass., had
among other property, a fine pig, valued at
about thirty dollars. This man owed a
small sum to another party in town, who
conceived the idea of collecting the bill lu
this wise : " He got a third man to present
the debtor with a small pig valued at about
three dollars, and, as the law allow but
one pig, under certain circumstauoos, the
creditor attached the best pig and gat his
pay.