The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1876-05-25


yet cover with more than a woman:
cowardice beneath the hand stretched
out to inAict blow upon your loved
ones. Your noble decision of character
and Harty's own womanish purity and
boyish frankness have thwarted my plans
Richard Egan has been foiled, and by
grill But I bide my time; for what
shall save the old homestead2 What
shall avert from the feeble, ailing mother
so devotedly loved, SO tenderay watched
the knowledge of a hopeless and a home
less povertys The hand Of Marion Ma
ham alone! In the language of the sub
tie Gloster, since I may not play the
lover I am determined to prove the vii.
lain.' Berkley Hall shall be the dover
of Richard Egan's bride, or no foot OF 8
Maham shall evermore tread its ancestral
hallsw
This bitter soliloquy was interrupted
by a loud rap at the door, and MAJ. Egan,
transformed as if by magic, was again
the bland, self-contained man of the
world as he welcomed his visitor; and
when he exclaimed, "Capt. Bennett, good
evening; glad to see you,," no traces re-
mained upon his face Of the wrathful
tempest which had rocked his soul.
With the air and manner of an old,
familiar friend, Capt. Bennett entered the
room and seated himself by the table.
Then, drawing the bottle to him, he
poured out very large drink, which he
quickly swallowed, and almost as quickly
repeated. Then, addressing his enter
tainer, he said: t'Reslly, Major, for a
teetotaller you are man of decided taste.
1t is not often a fellow gets such fine
cognac, unless the cellar of some old
Carolina 'or-istocrat' is robbed"
Politely, Maj. Egan urged his visitor
again and again to repeat the bumper,
and an Indifferent observer would not
have noticed his slight shrinking of dis
gust from the rude and familiar slap on
the shoulder with which the boisterous
and ill-bred Capt. accompanied his COM
mendation of the liquor.
After several bumpers, which had the
effect of mellowing both heart and brain,
the Federal officer abruptly addressed
the ex-Confederate:
"Well, old chum, I see you are impa-
tient to get to business, and I have no
mind to keep you on the rack. of GUS
pense."
For answer, Maj. Egan helped himself
to cigar, and handed one to the Cap
tain. Then, throwing himself back into
a luxurious armchair, after having just
arranged the lamp so as to give him the
full benefit of the play of Capt. Bennet's
face, and at the same time shading his
own, he expressed himself ready to lis
ten.
But the formidable Captain had no
mind to give his companion the whole
advantage of position, and he dexterous-
ly and, to all appearances, carelessly
moved the lamp, so as to throw the full
blaze of light on Maj. Egan's face
Then, folding his arms upon the table,
and watching intently the Majors coun-
tenance, lie abruptly said:
"The old lady died yesterday"
Thrown completely off of his guard by
the unexpected intelligence, Richard
Egan started to his feet, exclaiming:
'tMrs. Maham dead, And will tickle
fortune play her favorite false at lastp'
Then, with oaths SO terrible that the life
current was checked a moment with
horror even in the veins of the profane
Federal officer, he exclaimed: "But
death himself shall not cheat me of my
bride, my victim, my revenge! And
you, Captain, how is it with you? How
fares your work? Is the happy day
fixed? and where are the gay nuptials to
take place? Ha, ha, hal proud girl,
your pride shall yet bow before my stub
born will! You found the work easy,
did you not, Captain? The girl is fear
less /; she walks much alone, and the ne
groes are easily bribed; you did not spare
the money; spend, spend it freely. I
am rich, and wealth is powerl But you
do not speak. Why are you silent?"
'tBy Jove, because I'll do no more of
your dirty workl Let me tell you, Maj.
Egan, Jonathan Bennett is no mans tool,
unless it does Jonathan Bennet's work |"
cha, man, is it more money you
want?" said the Major, interrupting and
pushing to the Federal officer roll of
greenbacks. "Count it, and if not
enough, name your price; let it be dou-
BILE, treble, four times as much, only do
the work, and let it be well done. Re
venge, revenge, how sweet thou artl
Hear, Bennett, the girl must, she shall be
mine! Look at the fair picture I have
drawn of welded bliss; then say if Rich
ard Egan will brook to be robbed 6f his
prizer
ga beautiful and stately woman is the
wife of Maj. Egan, the cynosure of fair
maidens' eyes; gorgeously furnished
palace is their home, horses and carriag-
es, men servants and maidens wait her
call; her graceful form is ever robed in
costly garments; everything that gold,
almighty gold, can purchase ministers to
her wants. But this cold and beautiful
woman, the envy of the world, has a
heart, warm, warm, woman's heart,