American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1875-09-11

Lucy was rather handsome youn
lady, not over twenty-five, with black ey,
and a clear complexion. Her manner w;
candid and earnest, and l was soon col
WINGED that if her father had not been d,
ranged she at least believed him to be s,
and / readily agreed to take the case. w
were in consultation half an hour in refe
ence TO what witnesses might be summone
to testify to the old mans eccentricities
character, and she had risen togo when
said:
"Why, how forgetful have beenI III
less the will is produced, there is no us
contesting it,
"Why, l have it," she replied
To my astonishment she deliberatel
drew from her pocket and handed to me
legal paper, which Immediately recos
nized as the missing will.
"Where did you get this ~ asked a
most with vehemence.
A puzzled look came over her face
f1ush-then she turned deathly pale.
"Where did you get this ?'' 1 again de
manded, as fearful thought flashed acros
my brain. 80 ss--- s.xs
She tottered few steps, sank tremblin,
into a chair, and, covering her livid fac
with her hands,, ejaculated. IL
| Merciful Heayeni What have / done?'
| g What have you done ~ / echoed will
| some severity "IIl tell you, girl. Yet
have murdered your father"
mo, no, haventt' she said frantic
silly, while she clasped her hands 'ant
looked up imploringly into my face. I" Oh
didn't kill him! Spare mel Save mel"
"Spare youl Save you! Why"
She dropped her face upon her hands
and was silent
Answer me, girl" / said, stcrnly
"Did your cousin Ross kill your father
Speak the truthp'
"Nor' she replied, beginning to cry.
q Then you did!''
mo, NO, nor' she walled piteously.
"At least you know who did? p"
No one did; he was thrown from his
horse"
How do you knows"
You saw him thrown from his horse
and kiIled?'
eyes" s'
What mystery was here. Was the girl
craZys No, that could not be, for why
was she SO frightened? And, above all,
how came she in possession of the will?
Why did you try to have Ross hanged
for murders" asked. - s4sN ;,
Because hated him." H.
How came you 10 see your father
thrown from his horseg"
sion Of sobs and tears, and after few
seconds rcgained control of her voice so
as to say:
"Oh, I'll tell you ALL might as we'll
now. But they won't hang me for that,
will they?"
"For whats" 1 asked, unable to sur
mise what was coming.
al know I'm as bad as if I'd committed
a murder, !" she replied, " but 1 did not
kill him with my own hands. l knew
that he had gone to town to make will
that would disinherit me, and it made me
hate him and Ross both. He rode a fiery
horse, and made up my mind to brighten
it, hoping, confess, that it would throw
him off, and didn't care If it killed him.
So went out ON the road in the evening
10 wait for him. / knew he generally got
home by about nine O'Clock when he went
70 town, and knew what time to go. 1
5ook a white sheet with me-, and when / |
heard him coming l wrapped n around
across the road, directly in front OF the |
horse. The animal was frightened, al |
iad expected, and Instantly whirled and |
AN away, while my father was thrown |
to the ground, his head striking
he loose round stone that was found near.
,y. He did not move aflerward, and |
ook the will from his pocket and hurried |
lome. was FOOLISH enough Ia think |
ought to preserve it, and it has exposed !
ny crime. 1t looks like a.judgment."
Justice to the innocent compelled me
o have Lucy Edwards taken into custody |
o soon as 1 had heard her astounding |
tory. -xe----
She repeated the confession she had
made to ME, and the people were second
ime amazed. ~. -s.ys--s- x
Ross neighbors, who had refused to
ecogniZe him since his release from
prison, and who, had even talked Of order
ng him to leave the community, now
to take him by the hand and say
hat they had never believed him guilty,
nd had constantly predicted that time
would bring his vindicatien IS
/. Ross was soon placed in possession of
us fortune, but he was so generous asto
make every effort to obtain the release of
lis unnatural cousin, saying he wis de-
ermined TO provide so literally for her
hat she should not miss the estate she
ad so justly forfeited.
The singular girl, however, who seemed
strange mixture of cunning and stapid-
y, once more astOnishcd everybody by
scaping from Jail one night, after which
he set fire to the old 7homcstcadG (which
Tas happily extinguished in good. time
zen disappeared from the neighborhood,
nd was never heard from again.