South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1878-02-22

OF the kinuest toWaru THAT cruel parent
whose hard nature knew no pity.
One morning. some months later.
was sitting in the parlor at the hotel OF
q near town, when to my surprise. Mr..
Edndssy entered. lie seemed startled
at meeting me, but bowed coldIy. The
hot blood rushed through my veins, and.
for5etrul Of all else but nv injured
feelings and his selishness. I turned
quickly, and, placing myself in front
of him, said.--
Sir, do you still hold 10 your base
design OF separating me from her whom
love far dearor than life2 Yon hold
our future happiness in your hand: will
you dash that cup to tho earth. and blast
all the hopes that we have 50 dearly
cherishedg'
With cold, unfeeling glare in his
eyes. he said. SLOWLY and harshly,-
Yes, IL it costs me my lifel'
Then your life shall bs the penalty
for your heartless crime Die "a you
should die! And, in the frenzy Of jes-
pair, land without The thought of the fu.
tu-e. pointing my pistol at his heart,
drew .the trigger.
My aim was unerring that shot rang
out loud and clear-the death knell of
my darling's fathcr-for | hal killed
him As he lay deal before me. the hor.
ror OF the deed had committed rushed
over me and remorse came too late. MY
next thought was to take my own Fife.
and jult n was about TO do the rash
deed, the door opened, and Mary Lind
say stool before mo. She had core
with her father, and was awaiting him
upstairs when she heard the report OF
a pistol in the parlor-where she knew
lac was she FASTENED to see what it
could mean Our eyes met-and in u
moment she seemed TO comprehend all
With one cry Of anguish that froze my
hearts blood she sprang forward, and
fell upon her murdered fathers pros
trate form.
Il reached forth my hand to touch her,
and found her as lifeless as he was
whom had slain. II shrieked cloud in
my agony
Il have killed her! Ny God forgive =
Fron9 that hoit was maniac.
was arrested, tried, pronounced mad and
sCquitted. For years | would see my
darling lying dead before me. At other
times she world come to me, pleading
with me to give her back her father.
whom she loved. and because | could
not she would scream aloud in her grief.
| These heart cries and visions of my in
sane hours would almost kill me, and
still | would not die. When | became
calm, | would know that | had broken
| her heart.
They laid her reside her Esther IN
yonder graveyard, near your home. Her
father then owned the place. As float
down the river / often see the roses
blooming over her narrow resting place.
| They remind me, IL th5ir purity, Of her
who is sleeping there, awaiting the res
direction, when we will meet, never
more TO part-where we will love each
other as in the beautiful past.
'Oh, Arthur, guard her narrow bed -
keep green and fresh the flowers above
her cold hard pillow water them Mt
midnight with my tears, when wander
there in the moonlight, and pray ttfaf
God may be merciful to me. and keep
ne from further sin. When | am gone,
for my sake remember my lo9e,t one 8
grave, and place me beside her. could
not rest elsewhere. None of those who
hate the old man need know, only let
me in death be near her whom In life
was torn from. IN heaven she will be
mine I"
Such was the old mars story "a he
gave il to me. You have seen poor
Mays grave said my friend, pointing
TO the white rose Lad stood beside the
evening before.