Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-02-29

06St NAS "~9 S"S OoJSSS VA VAaO
most devoted admiration of all the
youths in and about Gibraltar. But
she did not in any way reciprocate their
attachment, and at mass her eyes were
ever bent upon her book, regardless of
the glances cast upon her by all those
about her. Not one could boast of even
the slightest favor or recognition from
her. But n day there appeared in
Gibraltar a young stranger, q Spani&rd,
handsome, graceful, full of passion.
For the first time the young lady seemed
interested in n of the opposite sex.
They were introduced, they saw each
other every day, fell wildly in'love, and
mutual avowals of their love followed
at no great distance of time. The
young stranger then approached the
father, and asked his daughters hand.
This the father, who had taken q great
dislike to him, Indignantly refused. and
an angry scene ensued. The daughter,
hearing the alteration, entered and
added her prayers to those of her lover.
But the father only grew more angry
and more determined. Then followed
q violent scene between father and
daughter. in which she declared that
she would marry the object of her choice
in spite of all opposition, and James
Baxwell replied that he would sooner
kill her with his own hands than see
her carry such a resolution into effect.
Two days after, an alarming noise
was heard by the neighbors to issue
from q ave Immediately adjoinging
the merchants house, used by him oc-
easionally for domestic purposes. The
noise consisted of loud cries, apparently
of distress, which gradually grew fainter
and then died away. Presently it was
found that the daughter had dissap-
peared. She was no longer to be seen
about her fathers house. The neigh
bors began to wonder, then to murmur,
and finally they went to Bsxwell and
openly inquired for his daughter. She
had dissappeard, certainly, he said, but
whittier she had gone he knew not. It
then began to be whispered that he had
dealt foully with her, and gradually
public opinion became Sc strong that
the authorities began to look into tho
matter. The dwelling was examined,
but nothing was found, and then the
crowd clamored for an examination of
the cave. The officers entered the cave,
and there on lifting some loose stones,
they found a portion of the young lady's
dress, sprinkled all over with blood.
Further search discovered a small
quantity of hair clotted with gore. which
at once recognized by many as be-
ing that of the unhappy girl.
The merchant protested his innocence,
but the proof seemed too strong, and
he wa arrested, brought to trial, and
convicted of the murder of his daughter.
He received his sentence of death in a
sort of stupor, and seemed almost in
sensible up to the time appointed for
his execution.
The day at last arrived when he was
to expiate his crime, and he was led out
from the Jail to the scafold, Just as
the black bonnet was being drawn
down his eyes, a piercing shrek
was heard, and there' appeared in the
crowd the form of his daughter, clad in
white, forcing her way towards the place
where her father stood. 1t was indeed
she, alive. 1t appeared that the young
Spaniard, maddened at the indignities
heaped upon him by her father, had
vowed revenge. After his dismissal, he
had found mean of communicating
with the daughter, and that evening
they met by stealth and planned an
elopement. The daughter escaped from
the house, and together they retired to
a secluded spot, where she remained
concealed. The Spaniard did not
communicate to her his determination
to wreak his vengeance upon her father.
But he contrived to cut off, portion of
her hair while she slept, and at the
same time p%urloined a part of her dress.
These he sprinkled with the blood of a
lamb, and placed them in the cave,
covering them loose with stones just as
they were subsequently found. He had
personally emitted the cries from the
cav which the neighbors had heard,
and which at the time had borne so
heavily against the merchant. He
then went around among the %populace,
and circulated rumors and innuendoes
against the merchant, exciting public
feeling, and instigating the investigation
which followed. In the meanwhile, he
kept the daughter in entire ignorance
Of what was happening, and She, fear
full of her fathers anger, was all too
ready to remain in concealment. But
on the very day of the execution she
happened to hear of her fathers
arrest and trial, and she had now come
to his rescue. The crowd parted as
she advanced, and she was soon upon
the platform at her fathers side. He,
almost u~nobserved. had sunk down
into a sitting posture. With her own
hands she drew the black bonnet from
off his eyes and head. She seized his
hand, she called him ''Father!" but no
answer anne She pressed her lips to
his-they were cold. He was dead!
Another is the case of Jonathan Brad
ford, who kept an inn in Oxfordshire. on
the London road to Oxford. A gentle
man of fortune stopped one night at this
inn, and supping with two gentlemen
whom he met there he foolishly men
toned that he had then about him a
large sum of money. Some hours after
they had retired, n of the gentlemen
being awake thought ho heard . groap