The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1875-10-20
A SHOCKING TRAGEDY.
A Double Marriage Followed by a
Double Funeral.

Vile, Penn A., was left a widower with one
child by the accidental death of his wife
and a second child, they being thrown
from wagon by a runaway horse The
care of the farmers house was then de-
volved upon his daughter Harriet, aged
sixteen years. A girl named Mary
Stokes, about the same age, was en-
plOyed to aid in the household work
This girl had lived in the house about
eighteen months, when Miss Russell dis
covered that her father was paying the
attention of a lover to the girl, and that
close intimacy existed between them.
Naturally shocked And indignat at this,
the farmers daughter dismissed the
Stokes girl from the situation in the fam
lily. When Russell learned of this pro-
ceedure he Immediately brought the girl
back, and told his daughter that she
was to remain there as long as she chose.
The daughter thereupcn left the house,
and went to work at sewing in the neigh
borhood? The affair created great scan
dial in the rural social circles Mary
Stokes finally left Russell's and returned
home A few days afterward Miss Rus
sell resumed her old position in her faith
er's house, ana the scandal soon ceased to
he the subject Of gossip.
MISS RCssEIL's LOVER
Living in this village was a highly re-
spected young carpenter named Horton
Hurst. His father owned farm adjoin-
ng that Of Russell's. Some years ago a
difficulty arose between the two farmers
about the proper location of line fence
A long, bitter, and expensive law suit
followed Farmer Hurst was finally sue
cessful in the suit, and died two years ago
Russell hated the name of Hurst, and
when, some three years since, he made
the discovery that his daughter and the
son of his old enemy had formed an at
tachment for each other, and were actu-
ally engaged to be married, he threatened
to disown Harriet if she did not at once
renounce the idea of wedding young
Hurst. She made the sacrifice in obed-
ence to her parent. When she left home
On account of the difference with her
father and Mary Stokes, she and her old
lover met again, and renewed their vows
that had been broken. This did not come
TO the ear other father until some months
after he returned home. He then reit-
Grated his displeasure at her choice, and
declared that she should never take the
name of Hurst so long as he lived.
THE TWO WEDDINGS.
About three month ago Russell as
founded his daughter by telling her that
he intended to soon marry the girl Mary
stokes, and bring her back to the farm
house. Harriet was firm in her opposi-
ton to the old mans folly, as she termed
It, and assured him that when he brought
his wife home he would find his daughter
gone from the house, never to return.
Not long ago Russell made known to
his daughter that he was TO be married
on the following Friday. She made no
reply, but went to work at once in per-
fecting arrangements that had been pend
ing between herself and Hurst for sever>
al weeks, in view OF the marriage of her
father. Friday morning the old farmer,
first telling Harriet that he would return
with his wife in the afternoon, drove
away toward the home of Mary Stokes.
The daughter placed the house in readi.
ness for the return of her father, and
about noon started for Roseville She
left behind her, on the bureau in her
room, the following letter, addressed to
her father:
"DEAR FATHER-I have always tried to
be dutlful daughter TO you. but the act
that you intend to do to-day is more than
can submit TO, as | have more than
once told you. You choose a companion
above me. hope she will be as true to
you as | have been, and that you will
both be very happy. Do not think am
writing this with light heart. although
IN leaving the home of my childhood |
go to find a home with one | have long
loved, and whose wife expect to be in
few hours. God bless you, father, and
goodbye. Your once loved daughter,
HATTIE"
On reaching this village, Miss Russell
was met by Horton Hurst They pro-
ceeded to the house of Mrs. William
Filley, sister Of Hurst's and about 8
o'clock in the afternoon we're married at
the Methodist church. Afterward thew
went, in company with Mrs. Filley, and
young gentleman, a friend of Hurst's,
to the village, where it had been arranged
70 take dinner. They were nearly
through the repast, which had been very
like a wedding feast, when the door of
the dining>room was burst in and Faith
err Russell, pale with rage and singular
glitter in his eye, sprang into the apart
ment. His daughter arose hastily and
ran toward him with outstretched arms.
but he threw her aside, and sprang upon
her husband.
THE TRAGEDY.
"You id scoundrel!" he exclaimed.
"You set my daughter up to leave her