Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1888-05-18

Till all those penitential days are gone
Ard when, at last. this mourning life is spent,
Still in the dust I'll slumber on and on.
.---------=
MYSTERIOUS MURDER.
BY ABfsIE G. M'kEEvER.
Nobody could tell just how the
Countess De Lara had bewitched the
society in which she moved, the very
cream de la cream, that was at her feet
and worshiped her.
She was very beautiful, accomplished,
Ind reputed wealthy; her jewels were
very large and fine. She was accom-
panied on her tour of the United States
BY her uncle, a gentleman of wealth
bnd splendid bearing, gray-haired, but
quite youthful in appearance otherwise.
Not to know or to be intimate with
he Countess was to be mere nobody,
hence such time as some of the elite
bad struggling for her smiles.
1t was little strange that her favor
hould fall upon George Franklin, a
Jerry ordinary appearing young man,
but whose father was worth mint of
money. Her smiles quite turned
Georges head, and his fathers bank
ccount suffered in proportion.
Now it CHANGED that ere the coming
the beautiful Countess, George had a
veetheart in a very different set; a
pretty milliner, and as good as she was
pretty, to whom George had been en-
aged for six-month. only everything
Fas kept quiet until his father could
be brought around to see the charms
md acknowledge the worth of his own
lear little Nettie Dare.
What poor, wronged Nettie thought
bout the Countess and her sway over
Ter truant lover, no one ever knew, but
Yer pink cheeks grew pale and her
brown eyes had pathetic way of gaz-
hg out the window that told of secret
pain.
Thus matters stood until one morn
pg the city was electrified by a cruel
lnrder in its midst.
Rich old friedrich Franklin had been
lurdered in his bed in the early morn
rg but by whom? All, that was the
uestion!
ltappeared the old gentleman had
zone to bed in his usual health, but, &C.
ording to the housemaid's tale, after a
|lolent quarrel with his son George.
When questioned as to the nature of
he quarrel she said it was over money
natters; she couldn't tell just what,
nly she believed George wanted a
arge sum to pay debt. She had lis
ened at the door, but could not under
fand perfectly, only the old gentleman
ngrily and firmly refused his request,
md thus they parted.
Other parties knew of Georges press
ng need of money, and one, a friend,
emembered to have hoard him say,
MY the night before the murder, that
De Governor" was to be made to shell
ni BY hook Or by crook.
The result of all this was, in very
mort time George was arrested for
is fathers murder.
Every one turned their backs on him
pa believed him guilty, even the
countess, who was quite i'll, and
tterly refused to believe his protests
Innocence.
Dld l say every one? No, he had one
lend who was true, and believed him
Foelly wronged, his old sweetheart,
gettie.
one hastened to the Jail, but was re-
used adnittance. But she went
.falght from there to the Chief of Po-
&c and laid her plea before him.
ne merely shook his head and re-
Used to believe her wild suspicious, or
send one of his detectives to look
htoit.
Nothing daunted, she went from his
fesence to one of the worst streets in
le city, and there found the object Of
sf search. a regular street Arab,
nose dirty face lighted up with joy at
eht Of her. u
=. MISS Nettie Lor', its.never your"
les Tom. I came for you. I
aa' you. have work for you. Come
s'ue down the alley SO we can
inverse ~ without being overheard.
ION followed instantly; he remem-
'tea time when ,Nettie Dare's hand
~ stood between his mother and
afVatlon, and of the many, many
Illnesses he felt he never could re-
lie lent willing ear to her plea and
' a',, in her suspicious firmly.
hdo Just as you say, Miss Nettie,