4 TERMS -PAYABLE IS ADVANCE,) (WTTHIlf TUTU COtmTT,) ? f 1.25 per Year ; 75 Ota. 6 Months. ) AN INDEPENDENT FAMILY NEWSPAPER. (TERMS PAYABLE IK ADVANCE, (nnUlde till county, with Pontage Included,) ($1.60 per Year; 85 Cts. 6 Month. Vol. VIII. Now Ulooiuiloltl, I3 n., Tuesday, December 15, 1874. No. SO. sjs 11 fpi '' TitiW'iiTi 1 mi 5 i 57 III . if i i a Sir 2M IS PUBLISHED BTERT TUKBTUT MOBRIHO, BT FRANZ MORTIMER & CO., At New Bloomflold, Terry Co., Ta. Being provided with Hteam Power, and large liyunuer ana uon-rreftnen, we are prepared to do all kinds of Job 1'rlntinn in good style and at Low l'rlces. ADVERTISING KATES I Trantient 8 Cents per Un o for one insertion 13 " " ' twoinsertions 15 " " "three insertions Business Notices in Local Column 10 Cents per line. VKor lonRer yearly adv'ts terms will be given spun application. THE BOWERTON MYSTERY. IT was a quiet place with few strangers arriving within its borders. When, therefore, the mail-coach one day brought to Bowerton, an old lady and a young ono, who appeared to be mother and daughter, excitement ran high. The proprietor of t he Bowerton IIouso, who was his clerk, hostler, and table-waiter, was for a day or two the most popular man iu town. The old lady was quite feeble, he said, and the daughter was very affectionate and very handsome, lie didn't know where they were going, but they registered them selves from Boston. Name was Wyett young lady's name was Helen. lie hoped they wouldn't leave tor a long time trav elers were not any too plenty at Bowerton, and landlords found it hard work to scratch along. Talked about locating at Bowerton if they could find a suitable cottage. The Wyetts dually found a suitable cot tage, and soon afterward they began to re ceive heavy packages and boxes from the nearest railway station. Then it was that the responsible gossips of Bowerton were worked nearly to death, but each one was sustained by a fine pro fessional pride which enabled them to pass creditably through that most exciting period. For years they had skilfully pried into each othor's privato affairs, but then they had some starting-place, some clue ; now, alas ! there was not in all Bowerton a sin gle person who had emigrated from Boston where the Wyetts had lived. Worse still, there was not a single Bowortonian who had a Boston correspondent. But Bowerton was not to be baulked in its strivings after accurate intelligence. From Squire Brown, who leased Mrs. Wyett a cottage, it was learned that Mrs. Wyett bad made payment by check on an excellent Boston bank. The poor but re spectable female who washed the floors of the cottage informed the publio that the whole first floor was to bo carpeted with Brussels. The postmaster's clerk ascer tained and stated that Mrs. Wyett received two religious papers per week, whereas no one else in Bowerton took more thau one. The grocer said that Mrs. Wyett was, by jingo, the sort ef person he liked to trade With wouldn't have anything that wasn't the very best. The man who helped to do the unpacking was willing to take oath that among tho books were a full set of Barnes' Notes, and two sets of commen taries, while Mrs. Battle, who lived in the bouse next to the cottage and who was suddenly, on hearing the clashing of crock ery next door, moved . to neighborly kind ness to the extent of carrying in a nico hot pie to the newcomers, declared that as she hoped to be saved there wasn't a bit of crockery in that house which wasn't pure china. Bowerton asked no more. Brussels car pets, religious tendencies, a bank account, the ability to live on the best that the mar ket afforded, and to eat it from china, and china only why, either one of these qual ifications was a voucher of respectability, and any two of them constituted a patent aristocracy of the Bowerton standard. Bowerton opened its doors and heartily welcomed Mrs. and Miss Wyett. It is grievous to relate, but the coming of these estimable people was the cause of considerable trouble in Bowerton. Bowerton, like ail other places, contained lovers, and some of the young men were . not so blinded by the charms of their own particular lady friends as to be oblivious to the beauty of Miss Wyett. Finally Jack Whi'flor, who was of a first . family, and was a store-clerk besides, pro posed to Miss Wyett and was declined ; then the young ladies of Bowerton thought that perhaps Helen Wyett had some sense after aU. Then young Baggs, son of a deceased Congressman, wished to make Miss Wyett mistress of the Baggs mansion and sharer of the Baggs money, but his offer was re jected. When at last the one unmarried minister of Bowerton, who had been the desire of many hearts, manfully admitted that he had proposed and been rejected, and that Miss Wyett had informed him that she was already engaged, all tho Bowerton girls declared that Ilelen Wyett was a darling old thing, and that it was perfectly shameful that she couldn't be let alone. After thus proving that their own hearts were ia the right place, all the Bowerton girls asked each other who the lucky man could be. Of course he couldn't bo a Bowerton man, for Miss Wyett was seldom seen in company with any gentloman. He must be a Boston man be was probably very literary Boston men always were. Besides, if he was at all fit for her, he must certainly be very handsome. Suddenly Miss Wyett became the rago among the Bowerton girls. Blushiugly and gushingly they told her of their own loves, and they showed her their lovers, or pictures of those gentlemen. Miss Wyett listened, smiled and sympa thized, and when they sat silent expectant of similar confidences, they were dis appointed, and whon they endeavored to learn even the slightest particular of Helen Wyett's love, sho changed the subject of conversation so quickly and decidedly that they had not the courage to re new the attempt. But while most Bowertonians despaired of learning much more about the Wyetts, and especially about Helen's lover, there was one who had resolved, not to know the favored man, but to do him some frightful injury, and that was little Guzzy. Though Guzzy's frame was small, his soul was immense, and Helen's failure to comprehend Guzzy's greatness when be laid it all at her feet had made Guzzy ex tremely bilious and gloomy. Many a night, when Guzzy's soul and body should have been taking their rest, they roamed in company up and down the quiet street on which the Wyett's cottage was located, and Guzzy's eyes, instead of being fixed on tho sweet pictures in dream land, gazed vigilantly iu the direction of Mrs. Wyett's gate. At length there came a time when most men would have despaired. Love is warm, but what warmth is proof against the chilling blasts and pelting rains of the equinoctial storm? But then it was that the fervor of little Guzzy's soul showed itself; for, wrapped in the folds of a waterproof overcoat, he paced his accustomed beat with the calm ness of a faithful policeman. And he had his reward. As one night he stood unseen against tho back-ground of a high wall, opposite the residence of Mrs. Wyett he heard tho gate hor gate creak on its hinges. It could bo no ordinary visitor, for it was after nine o'clock it must be he. Hah I the lights were out 1 lie would bo disappointed, the villain I Now was the time, while his heart would bo bleeding with sorrow, to wither him with reproach es. To be sure he seemed a large man, while Guzzy was very small, but Guzzy believed his own thin legs to be faithful in an emer gency. The unknown man knocked softly at the front door, then he seemed to tap at sever al of the windows. Suddenly he raised ono of tho windows, and Guzzy, who had not until then sus pected that he had been watching a house breaker, sped away like the wind and alarmed the solitary constable of Bower ton. That functionary requested Guzzy to no tify Squire Jones, justice of the peace, that there was business ahead, and then hasten ed away himself. Guzzy labored industriously for some moiaeuts, for Squire Jones was very old, and very cautious, and very stupid ; but he was at last fully aroused, and then Guzzy had an oportunity to reflect on the great ness which would be his whon Bowerton knew of his meritorious action. An iustaut later the coustablo entered, followed by two smart-looking men, who "hud between thorn a third man, securely handcuffed. The priuouer was a very haudsome, intel ligent-looking young man, except for a pair of restless, over-bright eyes. "There's a difference of opinion 'bout who the prisoner belongs to," said the constable, addressing the squire ; "and we agreed to leave the matter to you. When 1 reached the bouse, theso gentlemen al ready had him in hand, and they claim he's aa escaped convict, and that they've track ed him from the prison right straight to Bowerton." The prisoner gave the officer a very wicked look, while thoso officials produced their warrants, and banded them to the justice for inspection. Guzzy seemed to himself to grow big with accumulating importance " The officers seemed to be duly author ized," said the squire, after, a long and minute examination of their papers; "but they should identify the prisoner as the escaped convict for whom they are searching." " Here's his description," said one of the officers, " in an advertisement : 1 Escaped from tho Penitentiary, on the th instant, William Boigb, aliat Bay Billy, alia Hand some ; age, twenty-eight ; height, five feet ten inches ; complexion dark, hair black, eyes dark brown, mole on left cheek ; gen eral appearance handsome, manly and in telligent. A skilful and dangorousburglar. Sentenced in 1800 to five years' imprison ment two years yet to serve.' "That," continued the officer, "describes him to a dot; and, if there's any further doubt, look here !" As he spoke, he unclasped a cloak which the prisoner wore, and disclosed the strip ed uniform of the prisoner. " There seems no reasonable doubt in this case and the prisoner will have to go back to prison," said the justice. " But I must detain him until I ascertain whether he has stolen anything from Mrs. Wyett's residence. In case he has done so, we can prosecute at the expiration of his term." Tho prisoner seemed almost convulsed with rage, though of a sort which one of the officers whispered to the other ho did not exactly understand. ' Guzzy eyed him resentfully, and glared at the officers with considerable- disfavor. Guzzy was a law-abiding man, but to have an expected triumph belittled and postponed because of foreign interference was enough to blind almost any man's judicial eyesight. "Well," said one of the officers, put him in tho lock-np, and investigate in the morn ing. ' Why, would you believe it, judge? they say Billy has one of the finest wives in the Commonwealth handsome, well educated, religious, rich, and of good fami ly. Of course she did not know what his profession was when she married him." Again the prisoner seemed convulsed with that strauge rage which the officer did not understand. But the officers were tired, and they were too familiar with the disapprobation of prisoners to be seriously affected by it ; so, after an appoiutment by the squire, and a final glare of indication from little Guzzy, they started, under the coustablo's guidance, to the lock-up. Suddonly the door was thrown open, and there appeared, with unooverod head, streaming hair, weeping, yet eager eyes, and mud-splashed garments, Helen Wyett. Every one started, the officers stared, the squire looked a degree or two less stu pid, and hastened to button his dressing gown ; tho restless eyes of the convict fell on Helen's beautiful face, and were restless no longer ; while little Guzzy assumed a dignified pose which did not seem at all consistent with his confused and shame faced countenance. "We may as well finish this case to night, if Miss Wyett is prepared to testi fy," said the squire, at length. "Have you lost anything, Miss Wyett?" "No," said Helon; "but I have found my dearest treasure my own husband." And putting her arms around the con vict's neck, she kissed him, and then, drop ping her bead on his shoulder, she sobbed violently. The squire was startled into complete wakefulness, and as the moral aspect of the Bceue presented iUtclf to him, he groau ed : "Onequally yoked with an onbeliever 1" The officers looked if they were depraved yet remorseful convicts themselves, while little Guzzy's diminutive dimensions seem ed to contract perceptibly. At length the convict quieted his wifo, and persuaded her to return to her home, with a promise from tho officers that she should Bee him in the morning. Now, the jail at Bowerton, like every thing else in the town, was decidedly an tiquated, and consisted simply of a thickly walled room in a building which contained several officers and living apartmeuts. A couple of hours rolled away, and loft Beigb still silting moody and silent on the single bedstead in the Boworton jail. Suddonly tho train f his thought was Interrupted by a low "stt stt" from the one little, high, grated window of the jail. The prisoner looked up quickly, and saw the shadow of a man's head outside the grating. "Bellow!" whispered Beigh, hurrying under the window. "Are you aloue?" inquired tho shadow. "Yes," replied the prisoner. " All right, then," whispered the voice. " There art secrets which no vulgar ear should bear. My name 1b Guzzy. I have been in love with your wife. I hadn't any idea she was married ; but I've brought you my apology." " I'll forgive you," whispered the crim inal ; but " "'Tain't that kind of an apology," whis perod Guzzy. "It's a steel one a tool one of those things that gunsmiths shorten gun-barrels with. If thoy can Baw a rifle barrel in two in five minutes, you ought to get out of here insido of an hour." "Not quite," whispored Beigh. "My hands and feet are ironed." "Then I'll do the job myself," whisper ed Guzzy, as be applied the tool to one of the bars ;" for it will be daylight within two hours." The unaccustomed labor for Guzzy was a bookkeeper made his arms ache severe ly, but still he sawed away. He wondered what his employer would say should be be found out, but still he sawed. Visions of the uplifted hands and horror stricken countenances of his brother church members came before his eyes, and the effect of his example upon his Sun day school class, should ho be discovered, tormented his soul ; but neither of these influences affected his saw. " Bar after bar disappeared, and when Guzzy finally stopped to rest, Beigh saw a small square of black sky, unobstructed by any bars whatever. "Now," whispered Guzzy, "I'll drop in a small box you can stand on, bo you can put your bands out and let mo filo off your irons. I brought a filo or two, thinking they might come bandy." Five minutes later thd convict, his hands unbound, crawled through the window, and was helped to the ground by Guzzy. Seizing the file from the little bookkeeper, Boigh commenced freeing his feet. Sud denly he stopped, and whispered : " You'd better go now. I can take care of myself, but if those cursed officers should take a notion to look around, it would go hard with you. Iiun, God bless you, run !" But little Guzzy straightened himself, and folded his arms. The convict rasped away rapidly, and finally dropped the file and the fragments of the last fetter. The he seized little Guzzy's hand. " My friend," said be," criminal though I am, I am man enough to appreciate your Manliness and honor. I think I am smart enough to keep myself free, now I am out of jail. But, if ever you want a friend, tell Helen, she will know where I am, and I will serve you, no matter what tho pain and risk." "Thank you," said Guzzy ; but the only favor I'll ask of you might as well be named now, and you ought to be able to do it without paiu or risk either. It's on ly this : be au honest man, for Helen's sake." 1 Beigh dropped bis bead. " There are men who would die daily for the sake of making her happy, but you've put it out of their power, seeing you've married her," oontinuod Guzzy, "I'm nothing to her, and can't be, but for her sake to-night l'vo broken open the gun smith's shop, broken a jail, and" here he stopped and picked up a bundle "robbed my' own employer's store of a suit of clothes for you, so you mayn't be oaught again in those prison stripes. If I've made myself a criminal for hor sake, can't her husband be au honest man for tho same reason '" The convict wrung the baud of his pre server. He seemed to be trying to speak, but to have some great obstruction in his lurou;. , Suddenly a bright light shone on the two men, and a voice was hoard exclaiming in low but very ferocious tones : " Do it, you scoundrel, or I'll put a bul let through your head 1'' Both men looked uptothewiudow'of the cell, anoVsaw a bulls-eye lantern, the muz zle of a pistol, and the Bower'on consta ble. The constable's light eye, the sights of his pistol, and the breast of the convict were on the same visual line. "I've halt you covered for the last ten minutes. I only held in to find out who was helping you ; but I heard too much for my credit as a faithful officer. Now, what are you going to do ?" "Turn over a new leaf," said the con vict, bursting into tears. "Then, got out," whispered the officer, "and be lively, too its almost daybreak." "I'll tell you what to do," said little Guzzy, when the constable whispered : " Wait until I got out of hearing." The excitement which possessed Bower ton the next morning, when tho events of the previous night were made publio, was beyond the descriptive powers of the best linguists in the village. Helen Wyett a burglar's wife 1 At first the Bowertonians scarcely know whether to recognize her at all, and before they were able to arrive at a conclusion the intelligence of the convict's escape, the breaking open of the gun smith's shop, the finding of tho frontdoor of Caching's store ajar, and the discovery by Cashing that at least one suit of valua ble clothing had been taken, came upon tho astonished villagers and rendered them incapable of reason, and of every other mental attribute except wonder. That tho prisoner had an accomplice seemed certain, and some suspicious souls suggested that the prisoner's wife might have been the person ; but as one of the officers declared he had watched her house all night for fear of some such an attempt,, that theory was abandoned. For somo days Helen Wyett gavo the Bowertonians no occasion to modify their conduct toward hor, for she kept herself constantly out of sight. When, however, she did appear in the Btreet agaiu, she met only the kindest look and salutations, for the venerablo Squire Jones bad talked incessantly in praise of her courage and affection, and the squire's fellow-townsmen know that whon their principal magistrate was affected to tender ness and morcy, it was from causes which would have simply overwhelmed any ordi nary mortal. It was months before Bowerton gossip descended again to its normal lovel ; for a few weeks after the escape of Beigh, little Guzzy, who had never been supposed to haveunuBual credit, and whose family cer tainly hadn't any money, left bis employer and started an opposition storo. Next to small scandal, financo was the favorite burden of conversation at Bower ton, bo the source of Guzzy's sudden pros perity was so industriously sought and surmised that the gossips were soon at needles' points about it. Thou it was suddenly noised abroad that Mrs. Baggs, Sr., who knew everybody, had given Guzzy a letter of iutroduction to the Governor of the State. Bowerton was simply confounded. What could he want? The Governor had very few appointments at his disposal, and none of them were fit for Guzzy, oxcopt those for which Guzzy was not fit. liven the local politicians became excited, and both sides consultod Guzzy. Finally, when Guzzy started for the State capitol, and Helen Wyett, as people still called her,accompanicd him, the people of Bowerton put on countenances of hope loss resignation, and of a mute expectation wbich nothing could astonish. It might be an elopement it might be that they were going as missionaries ; but no one expressed a positive opinion, and every one expressed a perfect willingness to believe anything that was supported by even a shadow of proof. Their mute agony was suddonly ended, for within forty-eight hours Guzzy and his traveling compauion returned. The latter seemed unusually happy for the wile of a convict, while the former went straight to Squire Jones and tho con stables. Half an hour later all Bowerton knew that William Boigh, aliat Bay Billy, alias Handsome, had received a full and free pardon from the Governor. The next dav Bowerton saw a tall, hand- rsome strangor, with downcast eyes, walk rapidly througn the principal slreet.aud disappear behind Mis. Wyett's gate. A day later, and Boworton was eleetriflod by the intelligence that the ex-burglar had been installed as clork in Guzzy's store. People said it was a shame that nobody knew how soon Boigh might take to his old Uieks again. Nevertheless, they crowded to Guzzy's store to look at him, until shrewd people begun to wonder whether Guzzy hadn't really tuken Boigh as a sort of advertisement to draw trade. , A few mouths later, however, they changed their opinion, for the constable, after the expiration of his term of office, and while under the Influence of a glass too muoh, reluted the whole history of the night of Beigu's first arrival at Bowerton. The Bowertonians were law-abiding peo ple; but, somehow, "Guzzy's customers in creased from that very day, and his. pros perity did not decline even alter "Guzzy & Beigh' was the sign over the door of tho store which had been built and stocked with Mrs. Wyett's money.
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