The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1891-04-18
THE BRIARFIELD TRAGEDY.
BY EUGENIA DUNLAP.

Pretty, rosy little tiOssle pOuted CO.
quettishly, and drew away her hand
from her black browed suitor
No, Wiliam-for the last time,
won't So therel"
A sudden pallor overspread the swar-
thy face, and dangerous CLEAN shot
from the small black eyes as he rudsly
seized the tender round arm of the un-
suspicious girl, and Missed in voice she
had never heard before:
"By the Eternal, you shalt You shall,
OF I'll murder you'll"
With a shrek the terrified girl sprnng
past him and fled into the cosy sitting
room where the other members Of the
family pursued their homely avocati MS
before a wide, old fashioned wood fire.
"Oh, auntiel' she exclaimed, "Ido be-
lieve William is crazy!"
All were startled at the sudden and
violent interruption, but not even the
genuine alarm on the girls face pre-
vented an annoyed rebuke from the
elder lady.
"Crazyl What do you mean, Florence?
Get up from my side, and do leave off
these tragedy airsl
With eyes wide open in wonder at
such tone from her usually kind pro-
tectress tile girl slowly arose, and in
tears left the room.
"NIother, you were very harsh, re-
monstrated Margaret the eldest daugh-
ter of the house
Il wonder what William could have
said to her, spitefully added Eliza, the
younger sister; "its always Williaml2
tut, tut" said the father. resuming
his paper. "The boy is too rough He's
put her out somehow, Wife, you've no
call to be vexed.
Perhaps 1 was harsh, said the old
lady, "but you don't know how that
word crazy horrihes me. My only
brother went crazy and took his own
life. We never got over the shock. Will
lam sometimes has a look of him, and
1 am in continual fear. He's always
been strange. Pm sorry hurt tho poor
child's feelings.
"Ohl her feelings are too easily hurt,
said Eliza.
II shouldn't wonder if Lynn Graves
could comfort her." said Margaret,
meaningly, and the deep flush of an
noyance on Eliza's face indicated the
cause of her evident spleen toward her
fathers orphan niece.
$50 hol" said the old gentleman,
again diverted from the daily news.
"The winds in that quarter, is it? ]
thought William was sweet on her.
Nonsense, Dauiell" said Mrs Bed
ford.
"Well now, wife, don't know about
that and /, for one, shouldn't care if he
was The lass is comely and well man
nered, and besides, she will have right
snug little fortune of her own. Oul
boy couldn't be doing better.
"Well, well, we've no call to NEEDLE,
Daniel, " cautiously replied the old lady
"and the Lord is sure to take care of hi.
own, she piously added, as she picked
up dropped stitch in her knitting
Before retiring for the night kind
hearted Aunt Bedford sought her dis.
ressed charge, and in words which ihC
affectionate girl never forgot told LEI
Of the grim skeleton so long hidden il
the closet of the peaceful farmhouse.
Don't cross him, dear. if you car
help it, " she said as she left her; IS.
don't want him to annoy you, but be a,
| patient as you can.
The summer passed, and William Bed
ford had ceased to persecute his cousin
save by n jealous watchfulness whicl
gave her constant dread. The warn
days had been spent by the youni
people of the adjacent village anl
vicinity in pleasure parties to th,
woods aud numerous excursions to In,
blackberry thioket which gave the nam,
of Bnariield to Uncle Bedford's neigh
borhood
Flossie Denton was ever the leading
spirit, ever the center Of attraction. He
childlile nature, whether in dimpes O.
frowns, in sunshine or shower, asserte,
itself, and many gallant heart fell vic
tim to her charms,
II Lynn Graves did not care to concea
his allegiance. but Flossie could not tel
him of her cousins stormy wooing an,
terrible threats The only shadow he
young life had known since the hon
which made her am orphan was the eve
darkening presence Of this morose an
unhappy man. To the world he was
moody i'll conditioned fellow, and he
innocent spirit could not fathom him.
Thus were matters shaped on th
night Of a grand political harangue am
torchlight procession. In the enthusi
asm of triumph a gIee club had bee
formed by 40 young vocalisis, and thei