The tribune. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1875-07-21
DOOMED.

On a handsome lawn fronting an old
ivy-grown mansion in the State of Vir-
ginia, one pleasant afternoon, not many
years ago, group of young people of
both sexes were gathered. Standing in
their midst was an old woman, bent
down with age, looking rs if she stood
on the brink of the grave; but her dark,
restless eyes showed that there was Wig
orous life in her mind, if not in her
body.
She had been "telling fortunes" for
the young people gathered around her,
and to all but one she had foretold a
bright and happy future. The excep-
tion of this rule of blessedness through
life was n handsome boy of nineteen,
with dark, passionate face, aud an ex-
preston which indicated perfect fear
lessness.
Five years before the opening of this
story an old gentleman and his nephew
had moved to Virginia, and buying a
farm, had made It their home. Mr..
Mercer and 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 acquainted with all
in 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 his
whole family, and Franks parents hay
ing left him to Mr.. MERGERS charge he
determined to devote himself to the
boy, and found sufficient enjoyment in
his company, and in cultivating his
farm. Though reported very wealthy,
and that he always kept large sum of
gold in the honse, Mr.. Mercer and
Frank lived in a quiet way, and made
no display.
Thus passed Franks early youth from
his fourteenth until his nineteenth year,
when our story opens. A man of su-
perior education, Mr.. Mercer bad been
his nephew's teacher, and had impaired
to him much knowledge of the world,
of letters, and people, so that Frank, at
nineteen, was as we'll informed as if he
had possessed cultivated education
There were those in the neighborhood
who reported that the boy was wild and
dissipated, and this found ready believ-
ers in others; so that Frank had some
enemies rs well as many friends.
Thus we find him; and the evening of
the commencement of our story he had
been invited to an entertainment given
by wealthy planter to his children.
Mr.. Dewes, the planter, had three
children, the youngest and loveliest of
whom was Mary, q girl of twelve. Mary
and. Frank were the best of
friends, and loved each other dearly; 80
when the fortune teller predicted dark
and stormy future for Frank, the tears
arose to the child's eyes. and she said !:
. edo not listen to her, Frank"
But the boy laughed, and. turning on
his heel, walked away.
Two days afterward, he left home for
weeks hunting in the mountains; but
the second night after his departure, the
neighborhood 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 win.
. dow open, he sprang in and walked
across the hall to Mr.. MERGERS cham,
ber, from whence the cry came. Lying
upon the floor was the old man, dead,
while near him stood his nephew with q
bloody knife in his hand. In fright, the
negro rushed from the house and gave
the alarm. Persons from the neighbor.
hood were sent for, and Frank was
SelZeu aBtiuSt every f'IoISSbaitlou bIaG 1e
did not kill his uncle, and thrown into
gao!.
The feeling against the youth was in
tense, for the negro told the story OF
how he had found Frank; and a way
faring peddler, who had just assembled
the front steps to ask to stay all night
corroborated his statement.
The trial came off, and the charges
were made known. Frank was accused
OF starting upon a hunting expedition
rs blind, and then returning from the
mountains by night, had entered the
room, and attempting to remove large
of gold kept by his uncle, had aroused
him, and, upon being discovered, hat
driven his hunting knife into the hear
of Mr.. Mercer; the gold was on til,
floor, its weight having torn through tn,
bag when it was raised. The knife will
which Mr.. Mercer was killed was one HI
had given to Frank some days before
and was large dirk knife incased in
silver scabbard.
Pale as death, but showing no sign O
fear or guilt upon his handsome face
the prison ; ~. unmoved by his sen