Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1891-11-05

try.
Only one child had come to cheer the
lonely lot Of the doctors wife; only one.
and it had not come to stay The dear.
est spot or earth in the great wide new
country to the lonely little English wife
of DR.. Hoff was the quiet corner in the
clearing where her darling slept TLef-
she took her loneliness, her griefs, her
troubles TO the grave of her baby, whose
tiny face had rested on her breast, whose
helplessness had appealed to her love
and care. Many a night, driven from
the house by the furious, Jealous temper
of one who should have been kindest.
the poor girl, for she was but a girl,
passed long, lonely hours by her child's
grave exposed to the dew of the starry
nights. the rain of the stormy ones, an in
nocent victim of passions unrestrained
Now a certain hardworking farmer,
in whose family sickness had seemed to
run riot for a long period, lay heavily
under the ban of debt and the doctors
displeasure.
In vain the man-we will call him
Silas Beaver he is said to have been
an industrious hard working man,
though unfortunRte-promised the doc.
tor to pay at least part of the account
owing. Time went on, but no money
was forthcoming In vain the doctor
fumed and fused, ragged and demanded
his dues; then he threatened, wildly, pas
sionately, in the presence of others.
The doctor was known to require
money badly. Every one knew every
ones business in the neighborhood; il
was common talk that payments on GER
tain mortgages were due on a certain
date, the doctor being one of the persons
chiefly concerned.
There came day-a peaceful, cloud
less summer day-at the close of which
Silas Beaver announced his intention Of
visiting the doctor and paying small
q very small-sum on account.
So Beaver went his way up the hill to
the cozy homestead that overlooked the
gorge just as the setting sun cast its
ruby and golden rays over the spot so
beautitied and idealized by nature glori-
flying that already exquisite corner of
creation as only drowsy sunbeams can
glorify natures own handiwork
UP the hill went Silas Beaver, but
never again to the knowledge of man
did he retrace his steps.
Were there high words? No one
knew, Perhaps the great eagle whose
nest was perched far over the topmost
rocks on the opposite side of the gorge
could have told. or the crows as they
winged their dusky flight past the lone
ly homestead No man but those two
was near to hear what passed between
debtor and creditor that summers day
80 long passed by.
Inquiries ensued as matter of course.
Search parties were organized, Inspec-
ton of the doctors premises brought to
light that his gig was stained with blood,
his horse bearing the appearance of hav-
ing been hardly driven the night before,
but DR.. Hoff accounted for these sus-
picious facts with complete coolness A
long drive, an amputation after severe
accident. Further inquiry elected that
there had been an accident at distance,
that the doctor had been there, that he
had performed just the operation that he
claimed to have performed.
No evidence. So Silas Beavers dis
appearance remains to this day mys-
terry
1t may be that the iron tracks of the
C,yaof ro NOV rao+a1 on tlair o1aanara
above the murdered mans hidden re-
mains, for what so easy as to hide the
likely victim of passion under the great
banks of upraised soil2 1t may be that
amid some tangle of wood and vine,
rock and fern, the missing man was laid
away. hidden forever from earthly eyes.
Time went on; suspicion slept, watch
fulness abated, but never again did the
feet of Silas Beaver cross the threshold
Of his own door.
Then one night there was lurid glare
lighting the tree tops of the gorge A
farmhouse, barns and all their contents
were one great pitiful bonfire. Oh, for
the toll of weeks, of months, the slow
gathering of harvest, the pinching and
saving to obtain stock! Only a black
ened ruin, hopeless prospect!
The victim had been at enmity with
DR.. Hoff. 1t was he who had been fore
most in the search for the missing man
Beaver. The doctor had been heard to
threaten him repeatedly So DR.. Hotf
was arrested and lodged in Jail, but be-
fore the day of trial came he escaped,
and the neighborhood knew him no
more.
Silent and deserted stood the house on
the edge of the gorge, until one night,
when the storm ragged and the lightning
flashed and glistened in the leaden skies,
the flame shot up from its lonely timbers
and We'd with the flashes of it's kinder,
the electric bolt When morning came
the sun rose over a heap of charred ruins,
and forest birds piped requiem over the
scorched trees and flowers.
He who lived in the homestead on the
verge of the gorge had been stormy and
passionate; fit ending to his dwelling to
perish by the fury and the passion of the
storm.
Over the gorge now, By the hand Of
the axman shorn of its pristine beauty,
on its tracks of steel, supported by their
mighty trestles, hour by hour pass the
trains with slackened speed and painting
breath of steam in curb.
Down below, deprived of the grateful
shade of its verdant friends, the forest
trees, the little brook ripples and gurgles
bravely in the garish sunlight. Alasl
no wary trout sport in its once cool, dark
depths. No timid deer bend their grace
full heads to drink of Its waters, but few
birds quench their thirst in its now luke
warm ShallnM rinnlas The haantif fin [