The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1876-06-21

facing toward the sea, Robert drank in
the beautiful scene spread before and
around him, until the draught became
almost too exhilarating, and he gave
vent to his pleasure in expressions of
the strongest admiration.
Whilst thus engaged, Hugh, who
had approached unObserved, with a
single bound stood beside his brother.
The appearance of Hugh caused his
brother to shrink half in terror from
him. But laying his hand on Roberts
arm, he harshly VIII spered, "Robert
Ferguson, you or l must now die"
Robert looked into his brothers eyes,
and the fire of the mailman cleaned
from their depths. That one look was
enough, and Robert knew that the
spirit of disappointed love was driving
his brother on to accomplish the crime
he meditated.
Robert was brave; and with a spring
he clasped his brother, intending to
throw him inside of the keep, but des-
peratiOn was no match for madness,
and Hugh, freeing himself from his
brothers grasp, caught him in his arms
and with one wild, despairing shrek
that was echoed from all the cliffs
around, the body Of Robert Ferguson
lay, disfgured mass of blood and
bones, on the rocks beneath the keep
Of Dunluce.
Before the echCes had died away
they were taken up by cry of anguish
even wilder than that of the murdered
man, and turning around the murderer
was confronted by Mary Neil, who had
witnessed his crime, and who now lay
lifeless on the swarl close to the keep.
One bound and he Was by her side, and
STOPPING over the PROSTATE form, he
imprinted long, long kiss on her I'M
conscious lips; then turning, the frat
ricide fled from the home of his child
hood, the curse of Cain clinging to his
brow, and broken-hearted mother
and crazed maiden left to mourn his
develish work.
The absence of Mary caused her
parents some uneasiness, and after a
long search, she was discovered near
the keep, in the same position Hugh
Ferguson had left her.
The senseless body was borne to the
house, and it was days before conscious
ness returned; but, alasl with con-
seriousness came the fearful knowledge
that Mary Neil, the ONCE innocent and
happy maiden would be hopeless
maniac for life.
The strange disappearance of the
FerguisOns created an intense excite
ment throughout the country, and ev-
cry imaginable spot was hunted with
out success, until at length the wild,
incoherent rawlings of Mary gave the
clue to the heart-rending tragedy.
The rocks beneath the keep of Dun
luce were searched, but the body Of
Robert Ferguson was never recovered.
The tide had carried the shattered re.
mains far out to sea, and buried them
low in the depths of its caves.
Mary Neil never recovered her rea.
son, but wandered aimlessly around
the country, helpless maniac. She
was known everywhere as Crazy Neil,
and often in my boyhood days have
watched her as she sat on the keep Of
Dunluce, keeping time to the moaning
of the waves and grooming over some
old pathetic love ballad. The young
sters respected and pitied her, and there
was not an urchin in the whole country
who would not fight, if necessary, in
the defense of Crazy Neil.
On a beautiful summer evening,
when the sun would be sinking behind
the western wave, poor Mary could be
seen vending her way to the keep,
there to mourn the long night through
the loss of him she had loved so well,
and whom she called her ''lost Robert. u
Nothing was ever heard of Hugh
Ferguson, and it was believed by all
that he committed suicide, but this
itself was mere conjecture. Wherever
he went his sins found him out, and
made of life a miserable, wretched
existence.
Years have passed since 1 last saw
Crazy Neil, but ever when think OF
the unfortunate being and her sad his.
tory, the days of old come back to my
heart, and drop sigh to her memory.
A correspondent entered an office.
and accused the composition of not hav.
| inc Dunctuated his communication