The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1880-12-25
From Frank Leslie's Chimney Corner.
The Mountain Christmas Eve,
[oOkSttbEp rRoM tAsr NEkK.i
BY WALTER EpeAR McoApr.

looEoLuDED FROM LAST wEkK.
Tom, with q ''Hold on a minute, can't
you - FASTENED to answer, and, to his sur
prise, in came a group of men, headed by
Squire Ewell, who lived down by Otter
Cpss Roads--ths magistrate and most
prominent politician of that section. The
party had been riding hard and fast, and
hid that indescribable look about them
which means business of importance.
Ewell, crossing to Foster, said in that rich,
deep voice, 50 we'll known at-public meet
ihgs thereabout! t.sH H.I cas-
"Tom, my mission Ihcre this Christmas
morning is anything bit pleasant. Mollie
Williams has beeti found murdered at the
otter Cross Roads,
Foster and his wife uttered a cry sitnulta-
reously. lie sank into a chair as if he had
bsen shot. I. t.s4. b t., e.
"Did you not have-well, an assighation
with her last night2" said Ewell.
"I swear to God did not see her last
nightl" said Tom, bringing bis fist down
upon the table. A, sound came from his
wife, drowned in the clatter of the dishes.
al can provs that sat up with Dick
Doyle."
"HO@ comes II that you did not go to the
dance at Plummer's? Your wife was there
but strange to say, alone"
"My wife was not there, sduire and as
sure you that you are just as far wrong about
my having been with Mollie Williams"
And he turned with a pSllid smile Il
Matte. But a ghost could not have startled
him more than the sight OF his wife's white
face. .-.4
Ewell was an educated man and man oI
feeling. The scene distressed him; bat, oi
course, about duty there could be no hesita.
ton.
"Tom, in case like this don't wish tc
place any man at a disadvantage, even in
the face Of the dreadful evidence already
accumulated. But We can show that yor
had an assignation with Mollie Williams
last night by means of the man who brought
you the note. You were not at Doyle's til
eleven o'clockj you were not at Plummeri
ball with your wife; and you were not a
home when she returned, as we can prov,
by Joe Williams, who accompanied her
The chain is complete except a single link
ne need witness TO show beyond doub
that you were with Mollie Williams at th,
appointed time-between nine o'clock anC
Item"
II was exactly between these hours tha
Matte, from her conceaiment, had seen he
husband enter the dead woman's house by
the window. Appalled,, as she realized thi
friglitful truth, she tainted.
The miserable husband was mercifull,
taken away before she revived, and th
nearest neighbors being sent for, the cabil
and it's stricken mistress were lef: in thei
charge.
So, on the bright and keen Christina
morning, with the sun shining on the snow
the party wound down the mountain, will
Tom Foster, pale and haggard, in thei
midst and at every cabin door stood a silen
and awe-struek group To look upon the mur
derer, so we'll known TO them all.
And as that Christmas night closed in, tn
wretehed man, with menaeles on his limbs
lay prisoner in the strong room of tn
county Jail.
He was stunned, not so much by his ar
rest and the dreadful charge against him a
BY the revelatioRjn regard to his wife, that
contrary TO his express prohibition, she hst
taken advantage of his absence and visite,
the Christmas Eve dance AZ Pumtners, an,
had returned homo with the man he dread
ed and disliked most on earth-the outlaw
Joe Williams.
Matte had deceived him, and he hai
caught her in the fAlsehood at the momen
ailer 1t had left her lips, never, as he ha'
thought, polluted by one before.
The murder Of Mollie Williams created
we need scarcely say, a great sensation il
the mountains, where, although lawlessnes
was prevalent enough, il rarely took grave
form than "moonshining," Bghts and tips,
practical jokeS The trial in Msfeh, whei
the court would sit, was, therefore locke
forward 10 with impatienee.
Meanwhile Tom Foster lay without
friend on earth, in The county prison. A
day Ly day passed the miserable man foun,
That his wife had deserted him-had, ii
fact, hed from the cabin on Christmas night
aud had not been seen or heard Of since.
Betrayed thus BY the only person o.
whom be had q dght 70 Tsly for rrrauath