South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1875-08-27
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both sexes were gathered. Standing in
their midst was an old woman. bent down
with aye, looking as if she stood on the
brink of the grave; but her dark. rest
less eyes showed that there was vigor-
Gus 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 forctold n
bright and happy future. The excep-
ton OF this rule of blessedness through
life was n handsome boy of nineteen,
with dark, passionate face, and 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, aud buying n
farm, had made il their home. Mr.. Mer-
Ger and his nephew, Frank, were treated
with kindness by the gentlemen of the
neighborhood, and they received invita-
tions 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 socie-
". For this, many reasons were given !;
but the true one was that Ee had lost his
whole family, and Franks parents hav-
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 house, Mr.. Mercer and Frank lived
In quiet way, and made no display
Thus passed Franks early youth from
his fourteenth until his nineteenth wear
when our story opens. A man OF supe-
rior education, Mr.. Mercer had been his
nephew's teacher, and had impaired to
him much knowledge of the world, of let.
tiers, and people, SO that Frank at nine.
teeen, was rs we'll informed as if he had
possessed 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 enc
mics rs well rs many friends.
Thus we find him; and the evening
of the commencement of our story he
had been invited to an entertainment
given by a wealthy planter to his chill
dren. Mr.. Dewes, the planter. had three
children, the youngest and lovcliest of
whom was Mary, girl of twelve. Ma
~ 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 to her, Frank"
But the boy laughed, and, turning on
his heel, walked away.
Two days aitcrward, he left home for
n weeks hunting i'm the mountains; but
the second night after his departure. the
neighhorhood 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 cry, and, seeing Franks window
open, he sprang in and walked across
the hall TO Mr. MERGERS chamber from
whence the DRY 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 q
larm. Persons from the neighborhood
were sent for, an | Frank was seized n
gainst every protcstation that he he did
not kill his uncle, and thrown into jial.
The feeling against the youth was in.
| tense. for the negro told the story of
how he had found Frank and way
faring pcddler, who had just assembled
the front steps to ask to stay all night,
corroboratcd his statement.
The trial came of. and the charges
were made known. Frank was accused
Of starting upon hunting expedition rs
n blind. and then returning from the
mountains by night, and attempting TO
remove large bag Of gold kept Ivy his
uncle, had aroused him. and upon being
/ discovered, had driven his hunting knife
into the heart Of Mr.. Mercer; the gold
was on tho floor. its weight having torn
through the bag when it was raised
The knife with which Mr.. Mercer was
I killed was one he had givcn 10 Frank
some days before, and was large dirk
knife jnCased i'm n silver scabbard.
Pale rs death, but showing no sign Of
I fear or guilt upon his handsome face, the
prisoner sat uumoved by his sentence.
which was TO die on the gallows. Whom
asked if hc hal aught 10 say, Frank arose
and looked around tho court room, and
iu n clear voice, answered
81 have Circumstautial evidence has
. condemned me | admit 10 looks as If
] did the deed. but am ouiltless Of muir.
der. Dropping my percussion cap box
i'm mountain stream. / returned home
for more for without caps my gun was
useless u was q lovely night, and
determined 90 enter the house by my
room window, get caps, and return with
out awakening my uncle. ! tied my
horse to the fence, sprang into the win
dow. and then heard loud crash, a call
and y Shrek in the direction Of my uncle
room. I rushed tlither-a dark form
dashed by me in the uncertain light oil
the rOOm-ond 7 fell over something
upon the floor With fear in my heart
J arose. lighted p candle, and saw my
uucle's body covered with blood gold
scattered upon the floor, and my owl
knife. which had done the decd lying
mar 1 ufDtrI ma tho knife and tim.