The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-10-16
DEED OF JEALOUSY.
Love Tale Of Young
Hal Alexis IIol-
lingsworth.
A PASSION UNREQUITED.
Murderer Appears Here
Before Grand Jury
Today.

Today young Hal Alexis Hollings-
worth Of Douglas will be brought be-
fore the grand jury in this city to ans
wer to the charge Of murder.
On Sunday he attended divine service
in Worcester county Jail.
The story is an interesting one.
Fourteen years ago there was born
in the quiet village of Douglas baby
girl. She was a winsome little thing,
and at her christening was given the
pretty name of Myrtice. Not long af-
ter her birth her young mother began
to show signs of. insanity, and by the
time Myrtice was two years old these
symptoms had become so serious that
physicians declared the mother should
be placed IN a retreat for the insane.
With stricken heart the father Of little
Myrtlce carried his wife to a celebrated
institution where she could receive the
best Of care. Then he began looking
about for some motherly woman who
would take his motherless baby girl
into her heart and home and lavish up
on her the tenderness and affection
her own mother could no longer give.
He did not have to look long for a
home for his treasure, nor plead long
for mother love of her. Her fresh,
healthy, happy babyhood was in itself
an irresistible plea to every womanly
heart. The sight Of her baby smile
made women envious for her favor, and
the sound of her Esping prattle touch
ed the tender chords of motherhood
and made women's arms open eagerly
to grasp the little creature. She was
happy all the day long, laughing and
cooling, and making every moment gol-
den with the endearments of baby
hood. She became the sunshine of a
home that had been childless, and her
own life ran in happy measures, shut
IN on all sides by the tenderest affec-
ton and devotion.
To her foster mother, Mrs. GustaVus
Dudley of Douglas, little Myrtice be-
came as her own child Though a son
was born to the Dudleys when Myrtice
was about four years old, the child
of adoption had nestled herself so
closely into the hearts of her foster pa
rents that the advent of the little new
conner could not take from her the love
already given. Mrs. Dudley has said
that had Myrtice been her own child
she could not have loved her more.
As the little one grew older tn. baby
ways left her one after another, but the
sweetness Of disposition still renamed,
and it seemed that she grew, If possible,
more and more lovable each year.
When she became old enough to go to
school she quickly found favor. with
both her teachers and her schoolmates,
and no girl in Douglas was so popular
as Myrtice Leonard, or Myrtice Dudley.
as she was oftener called. She remained
as healthful and as happy looking as in
her babyhood, and grew to be SC pretty
that she attracted attention wherever
she went. Her silken, glossy hair was
as black as the ravens wing, her soft,
dark eyes were bright with the dream
light of youths illusions, and there was
always the blush of a rich red under
the clear olive of her cheeks.
THE DAWN OF woMANHOoD.
As she passed the period of her school
life and her girlhood slipped stealthlly
away from her, she looked forward into
the future with asking eyes, and the
dawn of womanhood sat graciously up
on her. She became modest, almost shy,
with quiet, reserved manner, which,
while as sweet and lovable as evei
had less Of the merry open-heartedness
of her earlier girlhood Her life was a
quiet one and uneventful Her foster =
father was away from home mucn Of
the time, leaving her with her mother
and Harry, whom she loved as her
4OSIeA. OCCdStOudlly nSF own IdIne1
came to see her, bringing some gilt fer
his little girl" as he loved to call. her.
Once the gilt was a gold watch, which
became one Of Myrtiels treasures.
Outside the house, her chief diver
sions were the Sunday evening meetings
Of the Junior Endeavorers, of which she
was member. and occasionally a
church sociable. She drove sometimes
to Uxbridge or East Douglas, and
1ef Inn q
her foster-father had given her.
But this happy, even life could not
go on forever. A girl as winsome as
Myrtice Dudley would have lovers.
That was to be looked for. 1t was the
natural tribute to be paid to her sweet
ness and her happy, dainty girlliood
The lover came without warning. he
dropped into Myrtie's daily life ABOUT
two months ago in the person of Hal
Alexis HolHngsworth, who was engaged
by Mr.. Dudley to look after the farm
during bis absence.
WHEN LOVE CAME.
Hollingsayorth was four years older
than Myrtice. He was born in the sunny
southland, where blood is quick and
vengeance prompt, where men love with
intense ardor or hate with deadly hat
red. Myrtice was not colorless, like the
She was more like the rich bloom of a
tropical garden, and Hollingsworth' s
boyish heart went out to her. Day by
DAY he saw her, and day by day his
passion for her increased. But nobody
knew II save Myrtice herself She, with
woman's instinct, OWNED the power
ehe had over HIM. The boy may have
tat that IL he showed her any attention
IN tho presence Of her father or mother
he would be sent away from the farm
ana from her. Whatever his reasons,
however. 1t is certain that his love maxi
Ing was carried on in so unobtrusive a
way that not even the watchful mother
eYeSsof Mrs. Dudley observed that there
was anything more than the merest
friendhness between the boy and the
girl
MyEzice, or Myrtle. as she was famil-
larry called at home, had a sweet voice
ana went about the house humming
merry snatches Of song. Sometimes che
sat down at the organ and accompanied
hereelf as she sang. At such times Hal
Hollingsworth would watch her with
his heart in his eyes. He had not been
long member of the household before
he felt that there was no one in the
world like Myrtice He gave her boyish
gifts or candy and sought in every way
to win her favor. Myrtice would have
been dull indeed had she not perceived
his steadily growing fondness for her
Sometimes II annoyed her, one may
fancy, but oftener II gratified her girl
ish love Of admiration to have this stall
wart youth 50 touched by her slightest
-.