Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1882-08-23
She WAS horne AWAY 10 Nelson,s home

She was borne away TO Nelson's homo
that night with the dead body, and when
her father interfered and attempted to
take her back To her own home she flew
at him wildly and then chung to the life
less body of her betrothed, still holding
to the bouquet of hyacinths.
She sat by his side like statute until
he was buried. When the coffin was
lowered into the grave she attempted To
throw herself into 1t, as il determined
never to be parted, even by the grave.
She had heard the solemn service for the
dead chanted by the weeping multitude,
when the coffin was lowered and the
clods began TO fall on the lid that she
rushed forward and would have thrown
herself into the grave. They led her
away raving maniac.
The country was in CONSERVATION at
the foul murder, and as matter Of course
the negro servant was arrested and
lodged in Jail. An inquest had been
held, and the verdict pointed TO the SER
want as the murderer. In less than one
month the wretched negro died in Jail
of broken heart, protesting his inno-
cence to the last, saying that the shot was
fred from the pine woods. Then a lit
tie negeo girl hunting her stray calves
said that big dark man had rode furi-
ously past her in the forest soon after she
had heard the shot, but she could not
identify him, rs he wore his hat pulled
down over his face. Many believed the
faithful servant guilty and as many be-
lieved him innocent. The little negro
girl said she would recognize the man
She saw in the woods if she should ever
meet him again. This girl was the prop
erty of near neighbor, and was seldom
seen out of her own quarters.
Mr.. Harrison and Colonel Stockworth
were the most active in searching for
some clew to the murder. Stockworth
was active and Jealous and SO Mortified
that he tried to excite mob to seize the
body servant Of John Nelson and hang
him without trial; and it is certain that
had the poor wretch lived to stand trial,
he would have been hung. But the strain
on him was too great, and grief and ter
ror combined to release him from the
law and the hangman's rope.
At last the horror and excitement over
this CHASTITY deed began to fade. Poor
Mary Harrison lived a raving maniac for
six months, and then relapsed into quiet
lethargy, and at the end of a year she
rallied, but never regained her spirits.
She would set for hours in abject list
lessness, but never called the name of
John Nelson to any human being. The
only recollection she seemed To retain of
him was the dried and faded bunch of
white hyacinths that still retained the
time-browned stain of blood on their
memory of old faces. She met Stock
worth every few days with perfect COM
posture and when he proposed again TO
her, after the expiration of year and a
half, she consented as listlessly as an
idiotic child.
They were married soon afterward--
she, yielding and obedient, and he, stern
and unsympathetic. Ten years had
passed and three children were born un-
to them. During this period Mary did
not seem to regain her mind, but re-
NAMED docile as lamb led to the
slaughter, while he became more stern
and coarse than ever.
After ten years of quiet listessncss and
profound Indifference, Mary Stockworth
was seated in her chamber watching her
children play and romp about the halls.
A negro girl, now a full-grown woman,
was introduced into the room, bringing
a note and basket of choice fruit from
one of her ncighbors. Colonel Stock
worth's heavy step was heard in the hall,
gress. She uttered startled exclama-
ton:
"Lor', Miss Mary, that is thc man l
saw riding through the woods that night
Mr. Nelson was killedr'
"Hush, girl, that is my husband and
the father of my children said Mrs.
Stockworth, with her eyes flashing with
somewhat of their old light. Her senses
seemed to have returned with the utter
ance of the name of John Nelson, the
first time she had heard it for nearly
twelve years. She sprang to her feet,
and, grasping the girls hand, said;
"Hush; would you hang my husband
and the father Of my childrenP Don't
say any such thing again."
81 tell you, Miss Mary, that / would
know him if had met him in Heaven.
He looks now as he did the evening when
he nearly rode over me in his hurry to
get away. l tell you it is the same man, !"
reasserted the negress, most vehemently.
80, you must be mistaken" said Mrs
Stockworth, her eyes literally flashing
| fire and every feature instinct with vio-
lent excitement which the girl mistook
for anger at her remarks. She was sub
dued in moment to submission to the
will of the patrican lady. and quietly
took her leave.
AS soon as she was alone Mary Stock
worth was the prey to violent emotion.
She sent for her husband to come to her,
the first summons he had ever received
from his wife. He fastened to obey the
call.
When he entered the room he was as
tonished at the changed aspect of his
wife. She motioned him to seat some
distance from him, then rising like an
enraged tigress, like an avenging Meme
sis come to judgment, she stood before
him, her eyes glazing with supernal fury,
and her words Kissing and searching as
the final sentence of fate.
Colonel Stockworth, what were you
doing galloping through the woods that
night John Nelson was murdered? Why
were you therep" she said, but witho out
culver in the once melodious voice.
Stockworth grew very pale beneath his
swart skin; he quailed before her pointed
question. He rallied just a moment, and
replied with brutal cvasiveness:
"Still harping on John NelsonP II is
very unseemly to take such interest in
any man who is not your lawfully we'd
dcd husband. Pshaw, Mary, it does not
look womanly and wifely."
Then you were the murdcrer-you,
the father of my children, and my hus-
band. That girl has just recognized you,
sir" she replied with forced calmness.
What else was said in that interview
was never known TO the outside world.
But his words and his confession goaded
her to madness, and she fell with a
piercing shrek to the floor, where the
cool collectod villain loft her lvinU and