The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1875-08-18
DOOMED.

ivy-growil naiisioil lii the State Of Virgil
MIA, one pleasant afternoon, not many
years ago, d group Of youiig people Of both
seKss were gathered. Standing In their
midst was ilii Old woman. bent down with
age, looking Us If SHE stood on tie brink Of
tile grave; but her dark, restless eyes
showed that there was vigorous life In her
mind, II not IN her body.
SHE had been telling fortunes" forthe
young people gathered around her, and 10
| ail bul one she had foretoId bright and
| happy future. The exception ofthis rule
| of blessedi.ess thlpi,gh life was \ land-
some boy Of nincteei,, with dark, l,i.ssion-
ate face, aud M expression which indi-
Gated perfect fearfulness.
Five years before the opening OF this
story an old gentleman and his nephew
had moved to Virginia. and liusiiiE . farm,
had made II their home. Mr.. Mercer and
his nephew, Frank, were treated with
kindness by tile gentlemen of.the neigh-
borlaood, ami they received invitation 10
VISIT tl.r neIghborhood, and they received
Invitations TO visit tie plantations near
them.
Frank soon became acquainted with all
Ii the country; hut his uncle never left
his farm, and seemed 10 shun society,
For this, MANY reasons were given; but
| the true one was that he lad lost Ills whole
family. aud Franks parents having left
him to Mr.. Mercer's charge he determined
10 devote himself TO the boy. and found
sufficient enjoyment In his company, aud
| ia cul,ivating his farn. Though reported
very wealthy, aud that I've always kept a
large sum Of gold In the house. Mr.. Mercer
aud Frank lived In q quiet way, aud made
no display. ...is ~.
'rhus passed Franks early Youth nom
his fourteenth until his nineicenth year.
when our story orcns. a man af superior
Education. Mr.. Mercer had been h's
nepl.ew'st teacher, and had Impaired 10 him
nsucil knowledge afsiie ~oslI. ~ Letters,
aud l,co,ie, :, ti,at frank, II nineiecn.
was ~ well Informed A. lfhe hail possessed
d cultivated education. There were tl,''ss
in sl,e ncigh,orllpo,l who reported that The
l-y ~as Will and disrIlated, aud tli-
f.and ready believers Ia others; 80 that
Fr~nk llc,l some enemies ~ well ~ many
ffi.,sds.
Thus we lind him: and The evening q
] thr commencement u our story he had
bceu inyided to an Entertainment given
by 4 wealthy planter 10 hisrhiIdren.
Mr. Dewrs. III. ilanler. had THREE cl,ll.
! slren, the ynungsss and lovelicst % wl,onl
was Marr, gsrl % twelve. Mary aud
fmnk were the best Ii friends, and loved
varI, ether dearly; - when the fortune
heller prcdicied dark snl stormy future
fr rrahk, the teas arose oihe clliid's
eYer. aud she said:
"bD not listen 70 l.eg Ffsrk.
Rul tlrr boy laughed. and. turning on
BIS heel, walked away.
Two days afterwards. he len home fora
weeks hunting III tie mountains; but The
second night after his delartue, the neigh
borhuoci vas aroused hy the startling news
mat ol,l Mr.. Mercer hal been murdered
| Ly his n.phew. One Of the servants. PAS
ssnv the huslse al night. heard cry, aud
seeing Frank's window open, be srrans
IL aud 2a.ke,l across The hall q Mr.. Mer'
rer,s chamber, from whence the ssran'e'
Lying upon the floor was me old man
deaJ while near him siood his nephew
I lnIle III lis hand. IN fright. the neg"
rushed lrom The ho,iseand gave the alarm.
p,y-us frnm The neighborhood were sehi
lor. and Frank was seized against every
a,n,,.alon ,hat l.e did MT KIN his uncle
nnd ,hrpwn iuta gaol'
The feeling against the youth vas ~
tense. lar the nessotnld The story q how
NJ lind found Frank; aud Nayiarinl
ee,ldlcr. wllo AT4 iust aseendrd the IRON
s.,,,. 10 ssk to stay all highs, cofroooFa'es
hIs statement. s.s
Yne irlal came IN. nnd the el,srees were
wake known. Frank was accused y
starting upon hunting expedition =
blink. ani then returning frcoi the noun
fnIus III night. had entered the room, aus
attempting 70 remove = large 81 s''i' kep
Nv hls uncle, had aroused him, and, uIos
being discovered, had drive III. hunting
knife Into the litnrt Of Mr.. Mercer w ~
aold was on lie ilour, ils weight haslhI
torn through tbs bag when !, was rA'se''
The kisIls with which Mr Mercer w
killed was one he had given 70 ffa'', -,
so..,a days hefore, and was large u'''
knlf. l,,sapsesF ina 4 silver scahbard'
rale a. death, bit slibwlng no sign 2
fear Or gulIt upon liis hhiid1ome face, sh'
nrlsonvr sat unnovcd by llis senlelc'
which wns 10 die on The gallovs. Whe'
asked II he had aught TO say, Frank arose
and looking around tie couff rom, an
in a eleai voi,.e, ahsweied 4
/ @rbasti ciituihstsasiay evidence ha
condemned mel 4 admit y Ieoksas y ~
The deed, but am srilltlcaN ot mufae'
! dropping my percussion cap box "
mountain stream, Ireturned home 70
ltfl5 -. ..sttt...tt ssans NV II On was Use