Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1871-09-07


the world. In yonder ZONE beyond the
distant sky. perhaps she looks down in
sorrow upon your disouedionce. If |
loved you less, | might listen to you now;
but, as it is, I cannot do it, You must
give up Richard Wiley.
She did net speak
w here is he now? he said.
He Is in Chicago.
How do YOU know that? You have
heard from him. You receive letters
from the man have forbidden you to
think Of Hal what is that!
A letter had fallen from the folds of
her dress and Gattored to the platform be-
low. She sprang away fiona him and ran
down the spiral stairs and he 70 llowed
her. in boiling passion, and was upon
her as she raised the letter from the pier.
Just then a small sloop drifted past tie
light, under single jib, and he said moth
ing until she white sail was undistinguish-
able in the gloom.
Give me that letter, Agnes. / insist
upon it, be cried.
l will not, father, You shall rot
mock at bis love Tor me-
l tell you to give it up. You shall
not receive letters from him.
| will. l love him There! | glory in
it, and care nothing for your spite and
malice. Your hate Of him has no foun-
da;ion, and I have promised to be his
wife.
Give up that letter, shrieled the uu-
happy father, DRY you will force me to 90
you mischief.
He caught her by both hands and
stroye to wrest the letter from her. She
struggled desperately, uttering piercing
and breaking away from linn, took has
ty backward step. Her foot struck upo n
the comb ing Of the pier, and a loud
splash mud gurgiing cry announced her
fall into the water, and he saw two des-
pairing hands fer aid, as the switt cur
rent bore her away. Tie next moment
he was struggling in the grasp Of Strong
Lands. Two Of he harbor qua d, az
tracted by the cries, had come upon the
moment she fell.
What Is this? cried one. Salem Yer
toD, can ii be you.
OF, beth OF you, screamed the unh ap-
py man. / have murdered her.
Who?
Agpes-my daughter, Let NE go to
her. Fools towards why don't you
get the boat out aud try to save her.
Others had come up by this time, and
boat was quickly IN the water, and a
search began. 1t was hopeless. The
dark water had enguited It's giotim, and
they came back sadly from their useless
search.
Verton had been allowed to enter the
boat, and twice he was only stopped, BY
the efforts OF the men who held him.
from throwing himself into the water
The m+n was half mad. and wnen they
came back. after long search, he was
nearly wild uttering cries like maniac
They took him to the city, and he
passed tue night in one Of the cells, closely
guarded, for they feared be would destroy
himself Next morning he was fully
committed for the murder of his daugh
Ter, aud lay in prison waiting the court.
The excitement ran high in Edgecomb,
for both Verton and lis daughter were
well known, aud his had been /. respect
ed name for many years. Few could be-
.ieve him capable OF the crime of which
he stood accused. But the evidence
against him was terrible.
Maage Senter, young lady friend
of Agnes, much against her will, swore
to the wild words Of Verton upon the
murder The h$rbor guard had heard
the cries Of Agnes, and arrived upon the
spot in tine to see two persons struggling
upon the verge of the pier, aud to see one
Q! them apparently burl the other into the
water.
Tie words Of Verton accusing himself
0 f the murder, we're repeated, and every
one saw there was a terrible case against
the unfortunate man.
A week passed, and Vcrton lay in pris-
on, waiting for the court. a strange
apathy had fallen upon this man, before
ths SO full of vigorous life, not with
standing his age. The hour of ,rial
cane and he was led into court, and those
who knew him started back appalled, as
Thy saw his face, SO completely was it
changed a sort of gray pallor over
Swallowed it, and the hair which before
had been only streaked with silver, was
nov white as snow A low murmur OF
compassion passed through the crowd in
the courtroom as he was brought in, and
the dense mass swayed TO and fro, like a
forest moved By passing breeze
The trial commenced, ard when the
question was asked, Verton stood up and
faced the crowd, not the judge.
Not guilty Of murder. by neighbors.
Guilty Of much, guilty Of bad passions
and oppression, but not Of murder
He sat down amid the restless murmur,
while the staffs of the ushers beat upon
the floor, commanding order. The trial
went on, and thought Verton could bring
many witnesses as to coed character, he
could not break down the overwhelming
evidence against him. His counsel de-
livered soulmoving speeoh IN his defense
and the great audience was deeply moved
but the stern jury sat patiently and
weighed the evidence. At last they re-
tired, and in half an hour came back,
and the prisoner was brought iu.
Gentlemen Of the jury, have you agreed
upon your verdict ?
| We have
Pronounce it.
lie fnd the prisoner guilty of murder
III che second degree.
The judge arose.
Prisoner at the bar, have you anything
to say why sentence should not be pro-
Sounced against you, according to law :?
Verton rose and faced the crowd again