The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1891-09-03

In vain the man-we viii call bin
Sflas Beaverton he IL said TO have been
an industrious hard working man,
though unfortunate-promised the doc
tor 10 pay at least part Of the accoun
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
ionatsly, In the presence Of othera
The doctor was known 10 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 q 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
. very small-sum on account
So Beaver went his way up the hill 70
the coy homestead that overlooked the
gorge Just a the setting sun cast its
ruby and golden rays over the spot 20
beautified 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 words2 No one
knew. Perhaps the great eagle Whose
nest was perched far over the topinost
rocks on the opposite side Of the gUrge
could have told, or the crows as they
winged their dusky fight past the lone
ly homestead. No man but those two
was near 10 hear what passed between
debtor and creditor that summers day
% long passed by.
Inquiries ensued a. q 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.. Hof accounted for these sus
picious facts with complete coolness A
! long drive, an amputation after q 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 q mys-
terry.
Il may be that the iron tracks Of the
great railway rested on their sleepers
above the murdered mans hidden re-
mains, for what SO easy as TO hide the
likely victim Of passion under the great
banks Of appraised sOill Il 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, harms and all their contents
were one great Ptiful bonfire. Oh, for
the toll Of weeks, Of months, the slow
gathering Of harvest, the pinching and
saving to obtain stockl Only black
eued ruin. . hopeless prospect
The victim had been at enmity with
Dr.. Hoff. Il was he who had been fore
most In the search for the missing man
Beaver. The doctor had been heard to
threaten him repeatedly. 30 DR.. Hod
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 fame shot mp from its lonely timbers
and We'd with the flashes Of Its kinder,
the electric bolt When morning came
the sun rose over . heApof 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; &c ending TO his dwelling TO
perish by the fury and the passion Of ths
storm
Over the gorge now. By the hand Of
the AMMAN shoFn 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
brayely in the gArish sunlight Alesl
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 shallow rippleS The beautiful
gorge, the cool, deep brook are things Of
the past Like the homestead which
once overlooked them and its passionate
tempered dweIler, like the great eagle
which built tn nest on the crags near by,
like the deer and the myriad forest
birds, Il remains but . memory, q rem
iniscsnce q long ago, told in an hour Of
retruspection By the ''oldest inhabitant"
Docs any one ask what befel the poor
young wife Of Dr.. Hon This n what the
'oldest inhabitant" told 10 satisfy the
visitors curiosity On that point: 10 Wa
supposed By many people that Il was
escape from jail; however that may BE-
abe disappeared ct the same time be did
The lonely little grave In The corner Of
the clearing no Longer had . mournef;
never again did pcsiss Of fen and flower
deckits tiny appraised mound Then there
came . day when sorrOw and indignation
mingled In the hearts Of those Who had
known and loved the gentle Engiish lady
who had led such q I'D life In the home
stead By the gorge A csrtain Dr.. R0f.
who had lived f0R some yean IN CanadA
but who had latsly returned 10 England.
va On trial for HE life for The murder /