The gold leaf., 1901-02-14
FOND FATHERS "a % %
MISDIRECTED LOVE
o rop uTS SnN
The Change Wrought in Three Lives by o
Mans Wrong Doing-A North Caro-
lima Romance.

lima Romance

NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Especial Correspondence
Raleigh, N. C., February AT the I,
recent term of the United States
court held in this city during the trial
Of a white man by the name Of w. M.
Crowder, the commission Of crime
was brought to light which has
changed the entire course of life Of =
young man and young woman. and
we'll nigh wrought a tragedy.
Near the town OF Jackson, in the
county Of Northampton, in this State,
there lives family by the name Of
Barnes. It is an old and respectable
family and there is daughter by the
name Of Neely. who is beautiful |
specimen OF womanhood. She is
years old, weighs about
ono hundred and thirty pounds. is
light haired, fair complexion. and
blue eyes. She was graduated from
Female College with
highest honors. She is the only child
of her father, and has been taught by
him to ride horses and use q gun and
pistol. She is an expert with both.
She can snuff . candle at twenty
PAGES, ride to hounds in a fox chase,
equal to any man. Her father is not
n wealthy but well-to-do farmer.
Miss Neely is very popular and is
known as the belle Of the county.
She has worn these honors with be-
coming modesty, because she 10 \
young woman with a plenty Of sound
sense. 1t goes without saying that
she has had many admirers who
would have been delighted to have
married her, but she seemed to be
oblivious to all these attentions until
young man of about her age by the
name Of r. d. Hodges appeared on
the scene of action about the first of
January, 1899. Hodges lived in
Florida, his post-office was St. Peters
burg. He formerly lived near Jack
son and returned after being away
ten or fifteen years. to visit his rela-
ives. He bad been engaged in fruit
raising in Florida, and trading in
lumber and naval stores, and had
amassed a considerable estate for
man only twenty-eight years old. He
10 quite handsome man; is we'll ed
ucated; and is beliked by all who
have the pleasure Of his acquaintance.
In visiting his relatives he met
Miss Neely, and it seems to have been
love at first sight on the part OF both.
1t was soon observed that Hodges
had won the affections OF Miss Neely,
and there ware general congratula-
tions that both parties were going to
10 so well in their marriage relations.
The engagement was finally an
uounced and Hodges returned to
Florida and regular correspondence
between the young people was kept
up. 1t was understood that the mar
riage was to take place in the fall OF
1890.
Within three miles OF the Barnes
family resides the family OF W. M.
Crowder. who is the blood uncle Of
Miss Neely on her mothers side. This
man has q son, Harold, who has been
in love with his cousin, Miss Nicely.
nearly all his life. He is worthy
young man, but Miss, Neely has never
had more than ordinary cousiniy af-
lection for him; and would not think
Of marrying her first cousin. 1t ap-
pears that Harold has been near los
ing his mind since it became known
that Hodges and Miss Neeley were TO
be married.
The father OF Harold Crowder re-
ceives his mail at the post-office Of
Laska as does the Barnes family.
Frequently Mr.. w. M. Crowder in
getting his mail would ask for that
of the Barnes family and it would be
given to him. Among this mail were
the letters of Hodges to Miss Nicely.
About the fifteenth of June last,
Miss Nicely received letter from
Hodges and answered it promptly.
She expected an answer within a week
az was usual, but it did not come.
Having Immediately answered the
last letter received by her from Hod-
ge. she awaited his reply rs she
thought she was required to do.
Week after week passed and no letter
came from Hodges. Miss Neely did
not know what to make Of this silence
of her betrothed. She could hear OF
other persons in the neighborhood
getting letters from Hodges but he
made no mention of her nor OF not
having heard from her. In the mean
time Harold Crowder was persistent
in his attentions to Cousin Nicely"
and was often seen escorting her to
different places.
About the middle of October last
Miss Neely happened to 60 BY the
post-office at Laska, and seeing Mr..
S. C. Draper, who was the assistant
postmaster, she asked him il there
was any mail for her, and was told
that there was none. She then re-
marked that it had been nearly four
months since she had received letter
from Florida. Mr.. Draper quickly re-
piled that several letters had been
received for her since that time, and
that some Of them. il not all, had
been handed to Mr.. w. NJ. Crowder
to be delivered to her. Miss Nesly
replied that her uncle had not de-
Hvered her q single letter. Crowder
vas seen and he denied that the post
master had ever given him = letter
for Miss Neely. Immediately Miss
Neely wrote to Hodges relating these
facts.
After waiting for an answer to bis
third letter and receiving none. Hod.
| ges considered that Miss Neely had
decided to break the engagement and
| refused to answer his letters IS the
best means Of attaining this object
He made all preparations to marry
Miss Nicely As had been agreed and
believing that he had been discarded