Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1881-06-30
TRAGEDY IN THE FOREST.
BY GEORGE G. MAXWELL.

The family OF Cllfihurst were sitting
at breakfast, when Gresham, the dist
riot attorney, drove up to the door.
"Come wlth me to the fores.,' he
said to Mr.. Mordaunt, in some excite
ment.
"There has been terrible murder
committed there; and | want your ad-
vice"
Mr.. Mordaunt was retired lawyer,
who had been particularly celebrated
in criminal cases, and who spent his
summers at the estate he owned, call
ed Cliffhurst, few miles from Rerk-
ton.
Willingly" he said. 81 confess [
still take an interest in all difficult cas-
es."
When they were seated safe in the
carriage, Mr.. Gresham said:
81 was not more explicit, before the
ladies, because the accused is one they
know Miss Stray. She has killed her
father"
"Impossible," cried Mr.. Mordaunt,
in an accent of horror and increduli
ty.
$50 said when l first heard of it.
But the proof is unanswerable. She
is now in Berkton jail."
81 don't believe word of il, retort-
ed the other. eve know her slightly,
vet we'll enough to make me sure that
there's some mistake about it. No, it
can't be-"
His companion shook his head. 81
fear you are to sanguine. But you will
see and judge yourself. There is to be
an inquest at the Locks"
The Locks, as the name implied,
were on the canal There had always
been small settlement there, but since
the railroad had been built, and de-
pot, followed by a postotfice, the ham
let had grown considerably. Close by
was a gap in the South mountain,
which led to what was called the forest,
a wild stretch of woodland, from five
to ten miles wide, running between
nearly parallel hills, and extending for
some thirty miles from northeast to
southwest The name was well de-
served, for excepting few small
houses, scattered here and there, the
whole district was covered with its
original growth of oak and chestnut,
with here and there grim hemlocks
and pines. The settlers were princi-
pally of German descent, their ances-
tors having come from the Palatinate,
a century and half before They re-
tanned, in remarkable degree, the
manners and customs of the father
land. Their houses We're generally of
stone, frequently with overhanging
stories, and often with stone stair-cases
built outside,
In one Of the widest parts of this
forest, high up or spur of the sand
stone hills, lived, or had lived, old Will
helm Stray, usurer, a miser, the cru
elest OF creditors, it was said, and ty-
rant to his family and all under him.
He was supposed, however to be the
richest man in the county; and it was
his only child who was now accused of
his murder.
ut seems" said the district attorney.
that his daughter has been clandes-
timely meeting young man, and that
her father, hearing of it, fell into rage
and threatened to turn her ont of doors,
There was nothing against the lover,
unless it was his poverty; his father,
Col. Wolcott, was once mem Der of
Congress for the adjoining district, he
is himself a rising young lawyer. The
girl had first met him at the house of
an old schoolmate, she was at Mrs. Col
lingwoods boarding school, as prehaps
you know, stingy as old Stay was, he
appears to have wished his only child
to be brought up like lady. What
passed in the interview between father