The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1872-05-04
DOOMED AND SAVED.


ivy grown mansion, III the State of Fir-
sinia, one pleasant afternoon not many
years since, a group of Joung people of
both sexes was gathered. Standing III
their midst was AN old woman, bent
down with age, looking as if she stood on
the brink of the grave, but her dark, rest
less eye showed there was vigorous life in
her mind, if not in her body
She had been "telliug fortunes Cor
and TO all but one she had ioretold
bright and happy future. The excep-
lion 10 this rule was bright, handsome
boy of nineteen with dark passionate
face, and an expression which denoted
perfect tearlessness.
Five years before the opening of this
story, an old gentleman and his nephew
had moved to the State of Virginia, from
some Northern State, and buying farm,
had made it their hume. MIR Mercer
and his nephew Frank were treated with
kindness by the gentlemen of tn G neigh
borhood, and they received invitations 10
visit the plantations near Them. Frank
became acquainted with all the country,
but his uncle never left his farm, and
seemed To shun society. For this many
reasons were given, but the true one was
that he had lost all his family. ami
Franks parents having left him in Mr..
Mercer s charge, he determined TO de vote
himself TO the boy, and lie found sufficient
enjoyment in his company, and in cult
waiting his farm. Though reported very
wealthy, and that he always kept a large
| sum OF gold in the house, MIR Mercer and
! Frank lived IN Il quiet way, and made no
I;aI.lay
Thus passed FranH-s youa, r.o.. lie
! fourteenth until his nineteenth year, un>
Ill our story opens A man of superior
education, Mr. Mercer had been his
nephew's teacher, and had impaired to
him much knowledge of the world, let
ters, and of people, So that Frank, at
nineteen, was as we'll informed as if he
possessed cultivated education. There
were those in the neighb,rhood who re-
ported that the boy was wild and dissi>
pated, and this found ready believers in
/ others SO tha; Frank had some enemies
as well as friends.
Thus we find him and in the even
ing of the commencement of our story
he had been invited TO an entertainment
given by wealthy planter to his chill
dren.
DR.. sDewes, the planter, had three chill
dren, the youngest and lovellest of whom
was Mary, girl of twelve. Mary and
! Frank were the best of friends, and loved
each other dearly so when the fortune.
teller predicted dark and stormy future
for Frank, the tears arose 20 the child s
ewes, and she said Don't listen to her,
Frank"
But the boy laughed, and turning on
his heel walked away.
Two days afterwards he left home for
a weeks hunting among the mountains ;
but the second night after his departure,
the ighborhoGd was aroused by the
startling news that old Mr.. Mercer had
been murdered by his nephew. One of
the servants passing the house at night
heard cry, and seeing Franks window
open, sprang IN and walked across the
hall TO Mr.. MERGERS chamber, from
whence the cry came. Lying upon the
floor was the old man, dead, while near
him stood his nephew, with bloody
knife in his hand. In fright the negro
rushed from the house, and gave the
alarm. Persons from the neighborhood
we're sent for, and Frank was seized
against every protes;ation that he did not
/ IN his uncle. and thrown into Jail.
The feeling against the youth was In