The Carlisle independent., 1909-07-15


 (9@ Der was in his accustomed SS9NI place with Judge Grower
 in the chair. When the
 routine business vas fin 1shed the chairman rose and said:
 We now will hear from Judge .Stoakes who we trust has a story. rela- tive to circumstantial evidence. Judge Stoakes.
 Judge Stoakes, large man of dig nited presence, whose silver hair alone bespoke his TO years, rose and began:
 My story is of the troubled days in Missouri following upon the civil war, when faetional rancor stil ran nigh and the conqueror and the cop. quered lived together in outward am1ty but with secret suspicion. had just hung up my shingle in q little town in the southern part of the state which had been the hot-bed or facuonal warfare, now captured by Lyon, now held by Price. and re peatedly preyed upon by the rowing bands of irregulars of either side Among the most noted leaders of these latter was Col. Jim Farrar. Among the northern sympathizers he was classed with Quartrell and the Youn. gers, but when the struggle was over ne settled down quietly in the little town of Chester, and his tall form. his flowing moustaches, his campaign hat and long coat became him as the costume did many another warrior of the lost cause.
 Col Farrar's household consisted of but one daughter, IT years of age, and of that rare type of beauty which so often crops out in an adventurous and warlike stock Her name was Lucille and she soon set the heart of every young man in a flame. l my self fell at the first glance, and as I look back down the long stretch of years 1 can see the black hair, the rosy lips and the flashing eyes of In cile Farrar as I watched her in silent adoration in the meeting house, upon the street or flying along on her pony rrvnich seemed as full of life and spirits as it's fair rider.
 @Tt was silent adoration upon the part of us all, for never a glance did the fair Lucille have for any of us Bat when Melvin Lessure came to Chester it was different. Something ID her woman's heart must have <xrawn her toward him, for all the in- difference and all the scorn were gone and they gave themselves ul willingly to love that quickly ran the gamut from passing interest to pas. sionate devotion
 The very mention of suftor for his daughters hand was sufficient tc send Col. Farrar into a rage terrible to witness. He noted the growing intimacy of Lucille and Lessure with jealous anger. But he could not watch her always, and many time when hs was away looking after the interests of his extensive plantation near ths town we less fortunate youths saw Lessure starting on long walks witt the fair Lucille.
 Melvin Lessure inherited all the frey impulsiyeness of long line 0. French ancestry and was not tht youth to brook long this uncertain entente of his lovemaking. He had s big plantation several miles from Chester and had moved into town fol the social advantages that looked large to us then. He was amply able to support matrimony in 8 style eqRa to the best In the community. Hs was handsome, studious and courti1 in his manners and seemed to bt eligible from any point of view. The local Madame Grundy could find ns reason why Melvin Lessure and LacilC Farrar were not perfectly matched couple.
 But the rock on which their happI ness seemed destined to break wa: hat of factonal rancor. Col Farral was of the south unreconstrBcted anc unreconstructable. GaspaTd Lessure Melvin's father, had cast his lot witl inc north and had died at his o1r doorway defending his propert, against the enemies of his adopted flag.
 Melvin Lessure was no match fol Col Jim in brawn or bluster. but ht hesitated not to go to him with his suit, and the storm he provoked giys you as it was later reconstructed through the searchings of the Jaw.
 Never, by the Almighty, never, roared the colcnel Before I would see my daughter married te one of ths accursed assassins of my country would sEay her with my czn haRas Get out of my sight and never dare 10 raise your eyes to daughter ot the Farrara'