The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1882-12-09

Cecil smiled sarcasticaily.
- did not say so; I said visited, Mr.
Clark visited, not broken open But per
hnpS you know something about it,"
More inuendo, Miss Cl,yton."
| - ana convinced that You are not only
thief, but also a-murderer- murtlere]
Of Ned Jasper"
The expression of this suspicion bort
richer fruit than she had anticipated.
Clark sprang to his feet
Nv ho-who Is the accuser?" he gasped.
That need not concern YOU. You
guilty conscience is sufficient to betrav YOU
Understand, Mr. Clark. that am not tht
couatry girl you evidently have taken me te
fe-my education was received in the CITY
Now. let lis to business"
her manner was cool IS at TIE !,a1-irnino
out hac now lar Gitfe zen, eject on MN
;, has tne lalier gone back on me?" re
thought. III he has, she can show f1ll
strengthen it. ~
With the usual bland s,ni however bo
| declared her suspicious unjust and an
nounced himself perfectly willing to answer
all questions '"eA
Il wish to know. first, how the trouble
nervously -'
| Il am panied to tell you that YOU have m
legally married mother" ANSWERED the vi.
lam. "ln other words, that you are an lie
| gltlmate childi"
! Cecil paied.
lief heart almost ceased pulsating.
CCulu IT be that that was the sin which
| rad Kept her father from revealing to her
| Tie truth: Was 1t because be had snned
against her mother. and not her mother
egainst him? She would not believe il
lhe vllialnous Clark should not find her as
credulous as himself.
Apparently unmoyed, SIZE babe him pro-
Your mother was never legally married
10 Mr; Clayton. She is q bigai0ist."
"A bisamist."
That Is the word. The ceremony which
vas supposed to have made her John CLAW
tons wife was useless: she was alreadv euti-
Ted to the name of Mrs. Jared Clark,''
.Oh, Heaven, thought the poor girl, '.if
this be.so!'
~ knew nothing Of Mrs ClarA's tr;cLery
I'll three months after Your birth, being ab-
Sent from New Haven, where John CLAYTON
at that time lived and transacted business.
50 soon as l became aware of it, made
your unhappy father aware of the delusion
nnder which he was laboring. The next
day she WAS driven from his roof Naturl!-
y he cast her OF, or, rather Returned her to
me- But would have nothing to do with
her thereafter. BY mutual agreement, the
trouble was hushed up. John CLAYTON re-
moved to V. taking with him nurse
Tor his motlerless child and a house,eeper,
TO whom he represented himself widower.
le: the affair came near being ventilated by
,Ae hot-headed conduct Of the false wonlan's
Lrother, who Immediately she told him cf
Ar, Claytons course, laid plan to thrash
Alh. IWo evenings ntter tie denouement,
John Clayton, while returning from his law
yers, was set upon by William Armstrong,
the brother. Ned Clayton. home from a
cruise, coming up, and being half drunk,
took hand in the fight. Armstrong was
struck over the head such forc,blc blow as
scattered some of his brains. On the trial it
was proven that the dead mans assailant
was tie tipsy Ned, who, when arrested, gave
another name than his own. John got
away before the police came mp. From
what the quarrel arose Ned wopld not state,
and, having confounded worthless lawyer,
Was sentenced for life
4 terrible fear that this revelation might
be true stunned Cecil. She had asked linn
TO tell her what she could have known but
from one person on earth save him, and she
must know where to find that perSon-her
she could prove its truth or
its falsity. It seemed too incredible 1or be-
lief
Recovering, she asked, compose(lly. de-
termined that the gloating rullian should
Lot see the effect his words produced:
''How is Il, Mr.. Clark, that you are ac-
quainted with the innerlnost facts Of the
street brawl, for which
one would suppose known only to the par
tlcirants?'
Il witnessed the skirmish-Ned and NY |
self were together when we came up with |
John Clayton. l kept that to myself, and |
did not go on the witness
stand. II has been worth money to ME"
''Whv did you neglect to use it to extort |
money from me?'
Il have been waiting your fathers return.
He Is not such q fool as to commit suicide, |
md I'm unprepared to swallow the toot-pad /
theory"
Can you exhibit unmistaka5le proof of
! former marriagc?"
Enough to satisfy even your sEepticism."
eIn what form?" I
''The contract
'.Where is it,
'Under lock and key"
'Ah." thought Cecil, ''if he has not falsi-
-ed. and l can get that, I am sater'
The thought nerved her TO a desperation
hitherto foreign-she would Sow hesitate at
lothing short Of actual crime. The stakes
we're high-the game waiting.
She pushed to the door suddenly. and
.sked. in thick voice:
''Wlll you get its"
s'When?"
sAt once."
Clark reflected moment.
s'No: cannot / Ihave important business
which will not admit of delay"
Send for it; / will bear your message"
There was a wild, strange light in her eye.
Never had he encountered, in all his
Taried career any woman to compare with