Louisiana capitolian., 1881-10-04
TRAGEDY IN THE FOREST,

lhe family OF Clltfhurst were sittins
at breakfast when Gresham, the distric,
attorney, drove up to the door.
"Come with me to the forest" he sale
to Mr.. MOrdaunt, in some excitement
"There has been terrible murder com
mitted there, and l want your advice
Mr.. MOrdaunt was a retired LAWYER
who had been particularly celebrated in
criminal cases, and who spent his sum.
mers at the estate he owned, called Cliff:
hurst, a few miles from Berkton.
"Willingly," he said, Il confess ] still
take an interest in all difficult cases."
When we were seated safe in the car.
riage, Mr.. Gresham said:
III 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 incredulity.
$50 said. when | first heard of il.
But the proof is unanswerable. She is
now in Berkton jail
II don't believe word of it, ;" rerorted
the other. 1--WE know her slightly. vet
we'll enough to make sure that there is
some mistake about it. No, it can't be. {,
His companion shook his head. II
fear you are TOO sanguine. But you will
see and judge yourself. There is TO be
an inquest at the Lscks."
The Locks, as the name implied, were
on the canal. There had always been a
small settlement there, but since the
railroad had been built, depot, followed
by postotfice, the hamlet had yrowf
considerably. Close by was a Gan in
the South mountain, which led to what
was called the forest. 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 deserved, for exc :pting 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 principally of
German descent, their ancestors having
come from the Palatlnate a century and
a half before. They retained. in re-
degree, the manners and cns-
toms OF the t3therland. Their houses
We're generally of stone, frequently
with overhanging stories. and often with
stone staireases bnilt outside.
In one OF the widest parts of this for
est, high up on spur of the sandstone
hills, lived or had lived. o!d Wilhelm
stray, usurer, a miser. the crueIest of
creditors, it was said, and Il tyrant to his
tamily and all under him. lie was sup
posed, however, to be the richest man
n the country and it was his only child
who was now accused of his murder.
"It seems, said the District ATTORNEY.
that his daughter had been clandestine.
y meeting young man. and that her
ather hearing of it fell into rage, and
threatened 10 turn her ont of doors.
There was noJhing against the lover IN
ess it was his poverty. His father. Col.
NolcOtt. was once member OF Con-
sress for the adjoining district, and he
himself rising young lawyer. The
girl had first met him at the house of an
I'D schoolmate. She was at Mrs. Col
boarding school, as you per
laps you know. Stingy as old Stray
vas, he appears to have wished his only
'hild to be brought up liked lady.
What passed in the interview between
asher and daughter is not fully known.
iyha .,,r1 -