The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1881-08-26

South mountain, which led to what was
called the forest, q wild stretch of wood
land, from five to ten miles wide, run
ming between nearly parallel hills, and
extending for some thirty miles from
northeast to southwest. The name was
well deserved, for excepting a few small
houses, scattered here and there, the
whole district was covered with its orig
inal growth of oak and chestnut, with
here and there grim hemlocks and pines.
The settlers we're principally of German
descent, their ancestors having come
from the Palatinate a century and half
before. They retained, In remarkable
degree, the manners and customs of the
fatherlalld. Their houses were generally
of stone, frequently with overhanging
stories, and often with stone staircases
built outside.
In one of the widest parts of this
forest, high up on q spur of the sand
stone hills, lived, or had lived, old Will
helm Stray, a usurer, a miser, the
cruelest of creditors, it Fas said, and
tyrant 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.
"It seems" said the District Attor-
ney, &c that his daughter has been clan
destinely meeting young man, and that
her father hearing of it fell into a rage
and threatened to turn her out of DOORS
There was nothing against the lover,
unless it was his poverty. His father,
Colonel Wolcott, was once member of
Congress for the adjoining district, and he
himself rising young lawyer. The girl
had first met him at the house of an old
school-mate. She was at Mrs. Colling-
woods boarding school, as perhaps you
know. Stingy as old Stray was, he ap-
pears to have wished his only child to
be brought up like lady. What passed
In the interview between father and
daughter is not fully known. The SER
want girl overheard angry words, but
could not distinguish their purport; she
was sure that Just before the alteration
was over, the father threatened to disin-
herit the daughter. Shortly after, the
the old man left the house to walk to the
Locks. where he intended to take the
train TO Berkton. Almost Immediately
Miss Stray followed. Within twenty
minutes, o forgeman, going home, came
on her in the gap, standing over the
dead body of her father. Her agitation
on being detected was, he says, con-
elusive Evidence of her guilt. But this
is only opinion. The damning facts are
the quarrel; an intelligent motive for the
deed; blood on the linen cuff of her
right hand and the finding of an orien-
tai dagger, which she had long used for
paper cutter, in a thicket close by, as
il flung there when she heard the forge
man coming. The dagger was still wet
with the crimson stain, by-and-by when
found"
swhat does the daughter say ?"
"Oh she denies it of course. Says
she had just discovered the body, and
that she was Mortified at the sight, o
horror which the forgeman mistook fol
proof of guilt The dagger, she declares
was last seen by her that morning on hel
table. The blood ON her cuff she ex
plains by saying she had stopped to SEE
If her father was really dead, and 81
stained the linen"
"Well, believe her."
"That's because you know her ant
pity her. Who else could have done th'
deed? Who had any motive? Really
you are too old a man, too experienced
lawyer, TO let sentimental motives clou
your Judgment. The best that can b
said of her is that she did II in fit @
sudden passion-they say her temper !
high; she was goaded to 1t, perhaps
Another Beatrice Cenci."
"God forbid, said the other. "Bu
come, wen say no more until we hav
seen for ourselves.
The two gentlemen frst visited th