South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1871-06-09
Doomed and Saved.

looking as il she stood on the brink of the
grave, but her dark, restless eve showed
that there was vigorous life in her mind.
if not in her body.
She had been "telliug fortunes" for the
young people gathered around her, and to
all but one sic had foretold bright and
happy fortune. The exception Of this rule
was a handsome boy of nineteen, with a
dark, passionate face, aud an expression
which indicated perfect fearlossncss.
Five years before the opening of this sto.
ry an old gentleman and his nephew had
moved to Virginia from SOME Northern
State, and buying i farm, had made it
their home. Mr.. Mercer aud his nephew
Frank were treated with kindness By the
gentlemen of the neighborhood, and they
received invitations TO visit the plantations
near them Frank soon became acquaint-
ed with all in the country, but his uncle
never left his farm, and seemed to shun So
ciety. For this many reasons we're given,
but the true one was that he bad lost all
his family, and Franks parents having left
him to MIR MERGERS charge, be determined
to devote himself to the boy, and found
y.
in cuitivaiing his farm. Though reported
very wealthy and that he always kept
large sum Of gold in the house, Mr.. Mer
Ger and Frank lived in a quiet way, and
made 20 display.
Thus passed Franks youth from his
fourteenth until his nineteenth year, whom
our story opens. A man of superior edu-
cation, Mr.. Mercer had been his nephew's
teacher, and had impaired unto him much
knowledge Of the world of letters. and PEG.
pie, so that Frank, at nineteen, was as
welI-informcd as if he had possessed cul.
tivated education. There were those in the
neighhcThood who reported that the boy
was wild and disSipated, and this found
ready believers in others 50 that Franl; had
some enemies as well as friends.
Thus we find him; and on the evening
of the commencement of our story he had
been invited to an entertainment given by
a wealthy planter 10 his children.
Mr.. Doves, the planter, had three chill
dron, the youngest aud loveliest of whom
was Mary, a girl Of twelvo.-Mary and
Frank were the best of friends, and loved
each other dearly; so that when the for
tune-tclor predicted a dark and stormy fu-
ture for Frank, the tears arose to the child
eyes and she said; Don't listen to her,
Frank
But tho boy laughed, and turning on his
heel, walked away.
Two days afterwards he left home for
week hunting in the mountains; but the
second night after his departure the neigh
oorhood was aroused by the startling news
that old Mr.. Mercer had been murdered
by his nephew. One of the servants pass
ing the house at night heard a cry, and
seeing Franks window open, he sprang in
and walked across the hail to Mr. Merser's
chamber, from whence the cry came Ly-
ing upon the floor, was the oil man, dead,
while near him stood his nephew, with
bloody knife in his hand In fright the
negro rushed from the house aud gave the
alarm. Persons from the neighborhood
were sent for, ard Frank was seized against
every protes'ation that lac did not kill bis
uncle, and thrown into Jail
The feeling against the youth was iu-
tense, for the negro told the story If how
be had found Frank, aud way-faring ped
der, who had just asconded the front steps
to ask to stay all night, corroborated the
ncgro's statement
The trial came of and the charges were
made known Frank was accused of start
ing upon hunting expedition for a blind,
and then returning from the mountain By
night had entered the room aud attempted
90 remove n large bag Of gold kept by his
uncle, bad aroused him, and upon being
discovered had driven bis hunting knife
Iuto tho heart Of Mr.. Mercer; the gold
was on tho floor, It's weight having torn
through the bag when it was raised The
knife with which Mr.. Mercer was killed
was one he had given to Frank some days
before, aud was a large dirk-knife eacasod
100 silver ,cabbarj
p.le as death, but showing no sign of
fear or guilt upon bis handsome face, The
prisoner sat uumoved by his sentence,
which was 10 die on tho qallows. When
asked if Doe bad aught to say, Frank arose,
and looking round tao courtroom, 10 a clear
voiea answered
i have Circums.antial evidence has
eond mued me I admit it looks as If /
lid the deed. But / am guiltless Of muir
Ger Dropping my percussion cap-55z in
a mountain stream, / returned home for
more too without caps my gun was use
less. DC was lovely night, and deter
mined to enter tho house by my room vim
dow, get tho caps, and return without ava
Eanlng my uncle. | tied my horse 20 the
fence, spraug into the window, and then
heard loud crash, q call out, aud a shrek
10 iho direction II my uocle's room. I
rushed toIther-a dark form rushed by me
DO thc uncertain light Of the room-aud ]
tell over something upon the floor. With
fear 10 my heart arose, lighted candle,