The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-10-27
A TRAGEDY OF THE WEST.
THE CRIME AND TIE PUNISHMENT OF
A DISSIPATED LOVER.
Jacks son Rhoaes's wooinE ofs Pretty School
Teaeher-His Jealousy ssd the Murder
that Game OF 1.-THE Laws Sentence.

| Jackson Rheaes's wooinE offs Pretty Sehee
| Teacher-His Jealousy ssd the hurAei
that Came OF 1.-THE Laws Sentence.
Ten years ago CufYey's Cove. on the Pacific
coast, a hundred miles or so above San Fran
cisco. was lumber camp. But rs 1t prosDered
women came and children. schoolhouse and
a church. And above the rough and bolster
Gus life which the lumbermen had led rose a
circle OF society with refinement and education
and strict notions Of what was right and what
was wrong.
To this circle belonged the widow Thurston.
who owned q small ranch. lived In cottage
with wide porches. and had daughter oil
twenty -one years. This daughter. May Thurs
ton. taught the village school until year ago.
and was the story-book schoolmarm in clever
ness and prettpess. In most ways Cufrey' 8
Cove swelldom approved Of her. In one way
they disapproved heartily.
The young school teacher was in love with a
worthless, dissipated young man named Jack
son Rhodes. When May was Just out OF short
gowns. Jackson drove the mail coach which
dashed into the village every evening. He was
handsome man and looked particularly well
on the box. But he soon gave that UP and de-
voted his whole time to drinking and gam.
bling. living of his father. who was a ranch
man. Jackson was always in scrapes. and
about his eyes were circles which gave his
good looks the doubtful charm Of dissipation.
Three years ago Jackson was engaged to
Annie johnson. He met May Thurston. fell in
love with her. and soon had her even more
violently in love with him. Her mother could
do nothing with her. and she refused to listen
to the warnings OF her friends. But although
Rhodes showed by the most devoted attentions
that he loved her he refused to work and got
randy n HON and n liyipv for n yyfo
Sometimes. at the urging OF the girl he
would go away and work for while. But he
soon came back. and said that his jealous
fears forbade his leaving her. This was the
way matters stood when tho now school
teacher came. Miss Thurston's successor was
young man from Illinois named David Sholl.
He was good looking enough. rather better
dressed than the other young men Of the
town. quiet. inclined to be religious. and
member of the Culrey's Cove church.
He boarded at Mrs. Thurston's and won that
lady's heart She besieged her daughter more
assiduously than ever about giving UP Rhodes.
This only had the effect OF making May cling
to him more closely and urge him to get work
that they might marry.
On April % last they talked matters over.
and she lent him 500 out OF her little savings
to go away and get start. They talked OF
kind could find employment and decided upon
a place to the North Jackson expressed some
fear about Sholl md warned May not to let
Sholl beguile her. Then he went away. But
instead OF going North he went South. and
began to drink and gamble and otherwise
degrade himself in the town Of Bakersfield.
He wrote to her and she answered him. Let
tiers passed between them frequently. and
their affection each for the other seemed as
strong as ever. But before jackson had been
gone month stories of his method OF life in
Bakersfield came to Miss Thurston. She gave
up hope OF ever reforming he- lover. She
wrote him that their engagement was broken
and that she had ceased to care for man who
was so unworthy. 1t became the gossip Of the
town that Mr.. Sholl and Miss Thurston were
engaged.
When Rhodes got this letter. he proceeded
to get drunken than he had been at any prcvi-
Gus time in his life. she's shook me. boys"
he said to his Bakersfield ac1uaintances.
She was the Only one that l cared anything
about. and now she's gone back on me-" When
he had sobered bit. he started for Cuffeys
Cove.
He got thers on Monday. May p. in moody
he inherited bad qualities from his ancestors.
balance. He found that she was calling on
With her Miss Si @ "aror 'f lie
pleaded with her for several hours. hut al
though she shed many tears. she told him she
had at last realized his nnworthiness. and
saw him 40 more until FridCy. But each day
she heard stories of how he was drinking and
gone mad. His handsome face became terribly
bl9ate%d and his Use eye;1 ny were awfl! to look at
class for Mr.. sholl in the village, school. She
looked out OF the window. saw him coming.
and went out to meet him. He came up to her
appeal. She listened to him With 4 a sad face.
The children. who were pesping at her. told
Then she stretched out her hand and said:
"Good-by. Jackson. 1t is your own fault. I
can't stay here any longer must so back to
He walked away with. his head, down. She
went in and dismissed the school, She went
had gone to visit her ranch. Mr. Sholl was
down in the village. She had been home but u
few minutes when she saw Jackson Rhodes
AS she did not want to meet him alone again.
she locked the front and rear doors and kept
burst II. in. He had seen her. and now the
bn1as Of her skfs she Ned through the
was cornered In a bedroom from which there
was but the one exit
and choked her; 49,.
You were lalSe 10 me- he said. Now, You
must die" and he cursed her and choked her
the more tightly. She tore at his hands and
loosed her throat enough to scream At the
scream his anger loft him. He burst out cry
ing and fell down at her feet.
What are You doing?" she said. do you
want to kill me?"
He pleaded with her to forgive him.
i. did not know what, was doing" sale, he.
am saoEs 2 YSu left You
stairs and out Of the house.
As he, went. David Sholl passed him and
entered. Rhodes wandered about, in the
Of -, Mr.. AnLerso!ni the nearest neighbor
said to Mrs. Mr. Anderson. Il want to borrow a
Mrs. Anderson noticed that he looked
strangely and seemed to he more excited than
the mere sight OF a deer would warrant. She
Let him haye her husbands Winchester rifle
At $50 o'clock May Thnrston was In tho
Kitchen acting supper for her mother. who
who was reading in the Garlor., David sholl
heard u knock at the front door, the upper part
OF which was Of glnss He looked tosee who
When Sholl told May who was there May said:
- don't ar linn N I nj IF i'm, I'M