Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1890-05-02

him." she thought. "It is not Willis
fault that his father and mine quar-
relied over that miserable boundary
line"
At half-past n o'clock that
same night, Caleb Trevor, who had
just returned from his usual midnight
tour of inspection among his coal-pits,
discovered his daughter stealthily en-
tering the house, she having slipped out
after the rest of the family had retired.
Where have you been 2" he demaned.
Her face flushed crimson, but she
calmly answered.
To the village of Webster"
"Did you so %alone?"
"No."
Who went with you"
William Harvey"
Caleb Trevor trembled with rage.
Leave the house, he said, in a
%llcarse, choked voice, "and never dare
to show your face here again."
Without a word, Alice turned and
walked away from the house; and, after
locking the door, Caleb Trevor retired
to his bed.
But he did not close his eyes in sleep
again that night. Half an hour after
turning Alice away, he had repented of
his harshness, believing his daughter to
be innocent of anything save disobedi-
ence; and when the first gray streak of
dawn appeared in the east, he arose
from his bed and dressed himself. Then
he awoke his wife and told her what he
had done.
SV0,, 1.01o %,,~yoI ~, y MA. child ont
of doors-out of the home that | have
helped you make-and she alone in the
forest!" cried Mrs. Trevor, Indignantly.
"Call the boys and go in search of her
at once; and if you do not bring her
back alive, l will not live with you an
other day. Go to the pits first, for she
may have sought shelter in the hut
there"
Caleb Trevor called his two sons and
together they hurried to the coal-pits.
The night-o or rather, early morning
was bitter cold. The stars glittered
brightly overhead, and the moon, which
hung low in the west, shed pale, weird
light over the landscape. White,
ghostly columns Of smoke rose lazily
from the pits, while the keen, frosty air
was heavy with the scent Of burning
pine.
Finding the hut empty, they began
to search among the pits. A horrible
thought crossed Caleb Trevor's mind as
he found that one of the pits had caved
in. He called his sons, and together
they scattered" the pit. Sure enough
their worst fears We're realized; they
discovered the remains of a human be-
ing in the pit, and they were evidently
those of a woman.
"My God! it is Alice.!" exclaimed
Caleb Trevor, nearly wild with horror
and remorse; "and L am her murderer.
l drove her from home; and, irving to
keep warm Oh top Of this pit, she fell in
and died a most horrible DEATH
1t is impossible to described the grief
and horror Of the Trevor family. With
the assistance Of some Of the neighbors
the charred bones were laid at rest in
the fanlily burying-ground; and ii was
feared that Mrs. Trevor would go raw
ing mad.
1t was not until noon that the news
of the tragedy reached William Harvey.
Nearly mad with grief. he seized his
rifle and rushed from the house. Half
an hour later he had reached the Trevor
homestead, where he found Caleb Ire
vor seated upon the doorstep, with his
face buried in his hands.
"Wretch!" said the young man,
with clinched teeth and eyes that shone
like Goals of fire. "You have killed
my wife, and now l am going to kill
you"
Caleb Trevor looked up at the young
man in a dazed, pitiful way.
"1our wife," he said. We're you
and my daughter married?"
YES; we were married last night; and
when she returned home, you turned
her out of doors. Had you taken her
life with your own hands, you would
not have been more guilty OF her muir
der" said William Harvey, as he gazed
pitilessly down upon the old man, who
was now quivering with agony.
We'll, why don't you shoot me?"
asked Caleb Trevor, in a trembling
voice. 81 desere it."
William Harvey raised the rifle to his
shoulder, but before his finger could
press the trigger, a slender, girlish
inquire iusueu 10 MS size alQ giaSDcQ
his arm.
Wilt" she cried, "wlat has hap
pened? What are you about to do?"
William Harvey threw aside his rife
and clasped her in his arms.
"Alice!!" he cried, in astonishment
and JOY. MY darling, they told me
You We're deadthat you had fallen
into a coal-pit and was burned to
death.
Il have not been near the coal-pits, -
she said. when L came home last
night, father ordered me out of the
house. 1t was very cold, and so l went
to the barn and crept into the hay. !
soon fell asleep, and did not awake I'M
til about two hours ago. knowing that
you would come here to-day
to claim me, L remained
in my hiding-place until, few moments
ago, 1 heard your voice, and"
But before she could finish the SEN
tence, Caleb Trevor rose trembling tc
his feet.