Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-05-03

You must give up all acquaintance
wit the Parsons family, my daughter.
They are not fit associates for you, and
the suspicion Of having killed their
fa her will be an everlasting stain upon
them
Thus spoke Miles Williams, we'll
to-lo farmer, to his daughter Emma.
The Parsons family owned farm in
the same town. They were descendants
of old settlers, and had always stood
we'll in the community until recently.
One evening in January the father,
Richard Parsons, was missing. About
a month later, when the ice began to
Break up, his body was found in the
pond in the vicinity. The condition
of the body indicated violence. There
had been some slight difficulty between
Parsons and his wife, which, but for
his death, would have passed unnotic-
ed. Two witnesses sWOre, at the in
quest that they had seen the deceased
on his way to, and near, his house, on
the evening that he disappeared. and
gossip was busy with the name of Mrs.
Parsons as possibly responsible for her
husbands death.
There was no tangible evidence
however, before the coroner's jury
against any one, and q verdict was re.
turned of Murder by a person or per
sons unknown.
Alden Parsons, the eldest son of the
deceased, was worthy young man,
and general favorite in the commun-
itv. The death of his father, and the
rumors which he knew were rife re-
n or.f,r Nv
against him, but he resolved to live
them down, and the rest of the family
were of the same resolution. In this
they were wise, for the best answer tC
any false ccu5a "a Is to "llve 1t
down"
Alden had been favored admirer
of Emma Williams. He was twenty
two, and she but seventeen-too early
an AGE for her to form any definite
plans for the future, but not too early
to exercise Judgment and caution in
the choice of associates.
Alden was not strikingly handsome.
His Saxon blood showed itself in light
hair and deep blue eyes. His features
were regular, but not classic, and his
form was short, but of strong, we'll
knit. and compact type. But the eX-
preston of his eyes and of his features
remove him above the commonplace.
1t was an honest, fearless, manly, re-
spcctful, and self-respectIng look. 1t
won him friends, and once won by
first acquaintance, he easily held them
by his subsequent conduct.
He loved Emma Wiliiams-a black
eyed, dark haired, graceful brunette,
who was as frank and cordial in her
affections as she was maidenly and
1ilial in her behavior.
Before the tragic event spoken of
above it was generally expected among
the people of the town that Emma
would one day become the wife of Al
den.
But Miles Williams was one of those
men who, thinking themselves far
above the reach of calumny or calam-
ity, have no pity or sympathy for
the miseries of others. They forget to
ignore the injunction: Judge not,
and We shall not be Judged"
Mr.. Williams determined that his
daughter should 10 longer keep COM
pany with Alden Parsons, and his de-
cision was announced in clear, cold,
anu positive lauSuaSe.
Emma did not argue or demonstrate.
She had no mother to appeal to, and
she was too dutiful a daughter not to
submit to her parents will in n matter
in which she felt that his will ought to
be her law. All she asked was the
privilege of final interview with her
lover. This was granted.
4 knew it would come, Emma,
said Alden Parsons, sobbing as if his
heart would burst when they met
that evening at a secluded turn in tie
old road that skirted the two farms.
.'But"-and he dashed away the tears
II will live it down, as | have said
would. will yet prove to your father
that Alden Parsons is worthy of his
daughter"
Il believe you, Alden" answered
Emma, as she wept on her levers
broad shoulder-''l believe YOU; and
be sure that, young as am, no other
will take your place in my heart"
1t was sad parting. but, the add
tional blow did not unnerye Alder
Parsons. 1t only confirmed his deter
mnation to remove the cloud from his
family name IN the only way that he
thought it could be removed-by pa.
thence and perseverance in well-doing
A little over two years passed away
Nothing new was developed as to tht
fat of Richard Parsons. The famil,
continued to conduct themselves in
ay to earn the esteem of the nei ghbor
ID; and the suspicious regarding
were gradually diSSipatinp