The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1880-04-07
r a momeot think that | talk to con.

tOs itdE the QtdtU WHICH 6Ntltb LIt
ll one of the most beautiful cities i,
: the State of Ohio lived wealthy, in
offensive old man named Forester
Tha, man, now in his grave. was ny
beloved father He had daughter
Edns, upon whom he dotted, and she
was. indeed, the light and comfort o
his old age. People called her amia
bic and beautiful, and, as might be ex
ipscted, there were numerous suitorl
tor her hand. aud the fortune which
awaited her upon her fathers death
Among these suitors was q young
man named Fred Merston, the son O
weally merchant of the same city
snf upon him Edna bestowed til,
purest love of her innocent heart
The young man was somewhat wilG
and little inclined to dissipation, anC
on that account Der father violently
opposed the union. Marstou prem
isei to reform, and Edaa, poo girl
trusted implicitly ia him, and they
were secretly married without heI
fathers consent When the news
was broken to the old man the shock
so unnerved him thas be was taken tC
his bed by an attack of nervous pros
tration The newly welded couple
took up their abode in the parental
mansion, Edna positively refusing tc
leave her father in bis illness. Faith
fully she watched by his bedside
ministering to bis every want witt
leoder, loving hands, and praying
earnestly that he might recover and
besrow upon herself and husband tbs
blessings which she 50 coveted.
"Marston proved kind and loving
husband Tor brief period, and then
again fell into his dissolate habits,
frequently malsreating his wife in q
cruel manner. The life Of the young
bride, which she had 90 fondly dream.
ed would be one continued CLEAN Of
sunshine, became overcast with the
dark clouds of sorrow.
''0nc morning Marston was miss
ing from bis bed when Edne awoke,
and q letter left upon bis pillow in-
formed be. that he had decided to
forever leave her and seek a home ia
the far West. Almost crazed with
grief she dew to her .Gther's chamber
for consolation from his dear lips, bat
when she entered the door what q
horrible sight met her alirighted
gaze ~
Here. for the frat time, the speaker
broke completely down. sud covering
bis face with his hands began to sob
violently. The crowd listened with
breathless attention, bending forward
toward the youth as If fearing 10 lose
q word Of the story.
Brace up, lad; brace upi" said
the Judge, wipiug bis eyes 10 a sus.
Dicious manner. "Take all the time
We want, an reel US of the hull busi
ness
The youth rallied, and in choking
voice, his eyes sufTused with tears,
resumed
aUh, gentlemen there upon his
bed, weltering 10 blood, lay. her faith
er; her idolized old father, dead, with
katie which she hod seen in her
husbands possession, sticking in his
breas.l She screamed for help and
then swooned away, and brain fever
held her a raying maniac for eight
long weeks !
when ste recovered she learned
that the murderer ct her father had
robbed him Of a large amount of
money, and that the detectives had
utterly failed to abtain the slightest
clue OF his whereabouts When able
TO leave her room she sought her
murdered fathers grave, aud upon
her beaded knees above those loved
remains che registered a fearful vow
that she would not rest day or night
until she bad tracked the murderer
10 bis hiding place aud slain him as
remorselessly as be had slain her Only
parent.
From the letter lef, bshind she in
ferred that Marston bad gone West,
and she a. once set oni n that direc-
lion. Fortune favored her, for at
Omaha she learned ,hat a man al.
swering her description bad left on
the Uaion Pscific train about three or
four days after the date Of her faith
er's death, tieketed for Laramie City.
She followed upon his track, and at
L9ramie City learned from the stage
agent Of his departure for this place
The next stage brought her here ss a
passenger, like bloodhound upon the
murdeFer's trail :"
With sweeping movement Of the
hand he youth removed bis hat, aud
q wealth of golden hair fell il luxuri-
ant beauty over the shapely shoul-
ders.
"Gentlemen, | an Edna Forester !.
Il cannot call myself by bis sccursed
nsme), and the man, the villain : the
Gend slew was my murderous has
band, who has lived amoaS you as
George Watson, and who was boast
lag aud gloating over his damnable
work when ] sent his guilty soul into
eternity Now, hang me--Fm ready
TO die !"
"An' Pm ready to bow the holy
daylights outer the first crooked son
Of gun that lays ham on her "
yelled the Judge, drawing bis revolv-
ers. "Jist silt this matter down to o
bang up visitation o. God an give US
ysr verdic'-guilty or not guilty ~
The crowd had long before decided
that matter, and "not guilty. came
forth in chorus, and then the deafen-
ing cheers made the old canon ring
again and again.
Edna was escorted back to the
camp and placed in charge of the
wife, VINO soon clothed her
in the proper habiliments Of her sex.
As usual. over any great excitement,
whisky flowed freely, and the health
of toe lady was drunk again and
again by the excited crowd. One en-
thusiastic individual was loud 10 his |
suggestion that Marsten should be |
dug up and hanged with the rope pre-
pared for Handsome Harry" ''for,"
he asserted, "if ever man deserved
hangin' be does ~
The lady disappeared as quietly as
"Harry Forrest" had appeared, and
was never afterwards heard of in the
mines. Tobe Alien went East short