The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-02-27
cent burning OF the home

With the recent burning OF the home
OF Thomas and Minnie Posey, IN
Prince William county. Va. together
with the total loss of all their house
hold effects. and their own narrow
escape from death by cremation. one
more chapter has been added TO that
long series OF tragedies. wnicn. Ike
a Nemesis has SO long pursued the
family or Charles Fair. When the
chronicles of this family have been
written there will be recorded within
the life OF single generation eight
sudden deaths, Sax of them violent,
and ali of them attended by circum-
stances Of unusual sorrow or shame.
Black fratricide, attempted wife MUIR
der, wrecked homes. romance. family
schIsm, scandals rt-burnings.
jealousics. thwarted desires-ali these
and other disasters go 10 make UP
the history of this family. so pecu-
liarly singled out by an unkind fate
for the barbed shafts of misfortune.
1t is story SO weird. so filled with
sorrow and bloodshed, as 10 almost
challenge belief. such a story in tic
tton would be placed In the cheap
novel class because OF It's sensation
alism and improbabiity- But in the
telling, the naked, sordid facts are set
forth without coloring. because no
touch OF fiction can add to the horror
Of the reality. So repletc is 1t With
horror and disaster that one Is re-
minded OF the gloomy chronicles OF
the unhappy Russian Romanoffs. And
Yet Charles Far was man OF peace.
aud ne willed that his sons and daugh-
tiers should be useful and law
abiding citizens.
His Engagement Broken.
Forty or forty-years ago. Charles
Fair was a sturdy young farmer OF
Prince William county. Va. 1t was
mating time with him, and nc became
engaged to an estimab!e young woman
of his neighhorhood, who loved him,
as the sequel proved, with something
more than a mere passing affection
While young Fair was not regarded as
roisterer he felt It his right TO occa-
sionally indulge In little froiic ana
in these views he found support In
the conviviai sentiment and customs OF
his time. Ills sweetheart. however. en-
tertained stricLer Views on the sub
Sact and as a result of one of mis-
cscapades. which was lightly and
tolerantly regarded By his more
lIberal-minded neighbors, u lover $
Quarrel ensued. and the engagement
was broken. His erstwhiie sweetheart
shortly after left the State for Penn
sylvania without renewing her troth.
and seems not TO have kept In touch
with her old community.
Young Fair. with the trite, but
philosophical comparison of the merits
of fish caught and uncaught, solaced
himself with another love; and SO as
siduously and successfully did he pros
acute his newest suit, that ere long he
led home hlushing bride--the sister
OF Ashel Posey, who later became one
of the dramatis personae of this
gloomy tragedy.
In the meantime his former sweet
heart kne w;nothing OF her quondan
lovers transfer of his affections OF
of his marriage Doubtless soms
spark OF the old affection still smouid
cred in her breast. waiting some to.
ward gust to fan it again into
flame. At all events. subsequent event:
proved that she had not completely
effaced his image from her heart.
Some time after his marriage. young
Fair had occasion to go to Washing
ton, and while there, unexpected,
came face to face with his forme1
sweetheart. in the old Sixth Street O.
Union Depot (now removed Th
sight of her one-time lover sent
tide OF old memories surglng through
the heart of the girl. and with then
a rush OF the old affection. With
glad cry she impulsively turned t
the startled man with word an
gesture which clearly indicated sh
still thought him tree. Hastily, h
told her OF his marriage. Frozen VIII