The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1875-08-19
CLOUD AND SUNSHINE.

On handsome lawn fronting an old
wv grown mansion in the State of Vir-
ginia, one pleasant afternoon, not many
years ago, a group of young people OF
both sexes were gathered. Standing in
their midst was an old woman, bent
down with age, looking as if she stood
on the brink of the grave; but her dark,
restless eyes showed that there was vigo-
rous 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 bright
and happy fortune. The exception of
this rule of blessedness through life was
a,handsome boy of thirteen, with dark,
passionate face, and an expression which
indicated perfect fearlessness.
Five years before the opening of this
story an old gentleman and his nephew
moved to Virginia, from some Northern
State, and buying farm, had made it
their home. Mr. Mercer and his ne
phew, Frank, were treated with kindness
by thsagentlemen of the neighborhood,
and thS 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.. Mercer's 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 a large sum of gold in
the house, MIR. Mercer and Frank lived
in quiet way, and made no display.
Thus.passed Franks early youth from
his fourteenth until his nineteenth year,
when our story opens. 4 man of supe-
rior education, Mr. Mercer had been his
nephew's teacher, and had impaired to
him much knowledge of the world, of
letters and people, so that Frank, at nine
teen, was as we'll informed as if he had
possessed a cultivated education. There
were those in the neighborhood who re-
ported that the boy was wild and dissi-
pated, and this found ready believers in
others; so that Frank had some enemies
as 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 chill
dren, the youngest and loveliest of whom
was Mary, a 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 to the
child's eyes, and she said, "Do not listen,
Frank"
But the boy laughed, and, turning on
his heel, walked away.
Two days afterward he left home for a
weeks hunting in the mountains; but
the second night after his departure, the
neighborhood was aroused by the start
ling news that old Mr.. Mercer had been
murdered by his nephew. One Of the
servants passing the house at night heard
a cry, and seeing Franks window open,
he sprang in and walked across the cham
Der, from whence the cry came. Lying
upon the floor was the old man, dead,
while near him stood his nephew with a
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 seized
against every protestation that he did not
kill his uncle, and thrown into Jail.
The feeling against the youth was in
tense, for the negro told the story of how
he found Frank and a wayfaring ped
dler, who had just ascended 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 hunting expedition as
a blind, and then returning from the
mountains by night, had entered the
room, and attempting to remove large
bag of gold kept by his uncle, had
aroused him, and upon being discovered
had driven his hunting knife into the
heart of Mr.. Mercer; the gold was on
the floor, its weight having torn through
the bag when it was raised The knife
with which Mr.. Mercer was killed was
one he had given Frank some days be-
fore, and was a large dirk encased in q
silver scabbard.
Pale as death, but showing no sign of
fear or guilt upon his handsome face, the
prisoner sat unmoved by his sentence,
which was to die on the gallows. When
asked if he had aught to say, Frank
arose, and looking around the court room,
and in q clear voice answered:
81 have! Circumstantial evidence has
convicted me! I admit it looks as if did
the deed, but I am guiltless of murder {!
Dropping my percussion cap box in q
mountain stream, I returned home for
more; for without caps my gun was use
less. 1t was lovely night and I deter
mined to enter the house by my room
window, get the caps and return without
awaking my uncle. l tied my horse to
the fence, sprang into the window and
then heard loud crash, call out, then
a shrek in the direction of my uncle's
room. I rushed thither-a dark form
dashed by me in the uncertain light of
the room-and I fell over something
upon the floor. With fear in my heart,
Z arose, lighted a candle, and saw my
uncle's body covered with blood, gold
scattered upon the floor, and my own
knife, which had done the deed, lying
near, I picked up the knife; and thus
was found by the negro, and seen by
the peddler. AS God is my witness, [
did not murder the old man who has
protected me throughout life, and whom
I loved as though be was my own father