Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1894-10-07
lwow FIRST PUsLIsHEo.l
7HES7ORYOFALOST SOUL
BY
HUGH coleman DAVIDSON,
Author Of THE Green Hills by the
Sea, ""Not Momentto Spare"
"The Old Adam" sc.
Irnow FIRST pvsLlssED.l
CODyiqs,, 1894 Jy Hugh Coleman DlUidson.
[Coa'inve6l
CHAPTER NNVIII.
r~,,t-Nr y
HUGH COLEMAN DAVIDSON,
TOWN TALK.

In the minus OF the pOlCei anu alsO
of the general public, there was not the
smallest doubt that Henry Willmott
had been murdered by George Vsne,
and certainly when the facts as yet dis
covered were piecsd together, they
formed very strong chain OF cir
Cumstantial evidence.
There was the motive 10 commence
with.-GeOrge's great irritation against
WillmOtt, his passionate determination
10 do him some injury, his threatening
gestures with the Formidable STICK
which hs had in his hand. Then, on
the night OF the murder, which must
have taken place within a few hours OF
the quarrel, there was his presence n
the very field ia which the body was
afterwards found; a fact brought TO
light Uy Joe Klley, who had heard
10 admitted In the conversation between
George and Hattie, while he was lylng
hid among the trees and shrubs 10 'front.'
Of the house. Then there was the o's'
covery (by Kiliey again OF part OF the
blood stained stick, which MI Nahe
was forced To confess he had found near
the scene OF the murder Asked way
he had tried 10 destroy IL, he repleu
that be feared lest appearance snouIu
conspire against his son, whereupoh
those who heard him glanced SlgnIu-
cantly at one another. Finally, there
was Georges resistance 10 the police
Hattie's share in the matter being
ignored, this was regarded as conclusive
proof Of his guilty.
Under these circumstances the Nanes
were left entirely alone In their misery
There was no yindictive feeling against
them, otherwise the old man might
have been charged with being en- acces-
Sorv after the act, aud even Tom VIII
mott had no wish TO carry the matter TO
that extreme. But oil their old friends
held aleof from the unfortunate family
who had 20 bear the chief burden OF my
crime. To have associated with them
10 any way would have been regarded
as terrible degradation, and their resi-
dence in the neighborho0d was Ieit TO
be a faint upon the purity OF the town.
A wish was generally expressed that
thew would uaway and hide themselves
elsewhere, as indeed the poor things
would glzdly have done if only they had
had the money.
Hattie, placed in such position,
would have managed in some way TO
have removed her parents 10 pleaSanter
quarters. where they were unknown,
and would have grapDed boldly with
the problem OF supporting them. But
Rachael was of more delicate texture,
she had not Hattie's courage or indie
pendence Of mind;she DAD been kept out
OF sight OF the battle OF life, and now
that she had 70 fight with the rest she
Sk back frightened, distressing
IN powers, not knowing where 10
ecauSe of the fearful odds which
against her.
r own Quiet way she did her best,
il bravely. She devoted weeks
ent labor TO fancy work, but
he took iJ 10 the two or three
Scadden that sold such things,
i'm fishing tackle, waIki E
rockery, aud so forth, no one
iy il. With the same result,
wood carving, and also paint
(which she had real talent.
Il from the prejudice against any
II coming from the NaneS, the shop
eUers said that there was no longer
bvbody 10 the town with money TO
bend; most OF the best people were
lead, or were leaving, IL they had not
eft already; IL was therefore useless TO
law in a fresh stock, except OF such
Ihipps As wera absolutely nee
ssary for food or clothing. This
~ las in the main true. A little
ttwn like Scaddeu, without any indus
tiles OF il own, often depends almost
entirely upon the support Of a Few i2H!-
Iihs. II anything happens 10 them, the
difference is felt at once, and, unless
some chance circumstance intervenes,
the town falls gradually 20 decay, the
workers going elsewhere In search or
better market for their goods. This Is
what was taking place Ia Scadden. The
Inhabitants dated its commencement
from the murder of Henry NIumOtt,
and so far they were probably correct,
but when they went on % inveigh
against the Vaues rs the cause OF their
misfortune, knew they were wrong
My father, had ne only gone about
and seen things for himself, might have
been q tremendous help az this stage.
He would not, / am sure, have grudged
spending money freely for the benefit
of mis- native town, and he had already
announced his intention OF leaving his
prAperty, through ANStajr Grove, to
thcse who most needed it, the NaneS.
But few pounds now would have been
of greater services than the same num-
her OF hundreds later. Half the trouble
In the world m. ght be avoided If those
VINO mean 20 do good would do 10 at
once. rs those who mean 20 90 evil. /
had mesnt 20 strike, and in 81 moment
the blow hAd fallen. Ny father meant
10 hello those who had been most IN
iured By that blow, but ne held bis
So Rachel, though by my fathers will
she mfght inherit the finest property In
the nelghb0raood, knew not her good
fortune, sud was sorsly pinched for the
few sbillings ueeiful u support life
from weeks end 20 weeks end.
TTar father was too feeble to give her
any assistance. lie did Try, poor Old
nan. but NOBODY would have anything
10 sav 20 him. He sat for long hours
Wien hept head, t-o0diuC over the
tronblks of his family, aud only looking
nm with patisDt resignation when MS
vrife,s sharp tongue was tnrned against
him BE never uttered q word OF COM
nlaint In this reSpec. the change in
him was NOS 20 great as 10 was Ia her.
Kind aud pleasan. SIS Mrs. Nane used
N he in the happy days at CuSblabeg, 10
was hard 20 bear with her now, for her
temper had completely given way be-
meath the strain that had been put upon
&c.
As the struggle to keep up appear
apces grew weaker until at last it was
abandoned altogether, so did she lose
control over herself. Conscious OF no