Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1885-09-03

| lifted to her own with tirmness of express
sion which fairly startled Mrs. Ward.
Il am rested, the parted lips uttered,
drearily. Il know the truth. / am satis-
] fed"
aThe truth2" repeated Mrs. Ward,
vaguely.
fering from some delusion of the senses. /!
you had told me what your companion has
revealed in this room within the past few
minutes my mind might have grasped tha
truth sooner"
@Merciful heaveni can it be that her mind
| is restored?" murmured Mrs. Ward, IN b
fever of wild anxiety.
YES" replied Beatrice, calmly answering
her question, the light has come at last A
dismal, cheering awakening, but in time to
aid you and your friends. the kind hearted
man who has sacrificed so much for me,
to outwit his cruel enemies, mine as well
| as his own"
A flush of joy on her face as she realized
the truth, Mrs. Ward hastened TO the
corridor, closing the parlor door after her.
Strange friend that you are, Z" she broke
out wildly, gratefully, to Nan, whatever
your motives for your interest in our be-
half. you seem to bring good fortune wher-
ever you come"
Nan looked up inquiringly.
Il do not understand you. she replied
"Then learn my answer IN the restoration
to reason of the poor unfortunate Beatrice
| Ayenal in yonder room. just in time to
influence her blighted mind, your revela-
tions have made her rational being and
led her to the truth rather than overwhelm-
/ ed her with its strangeness.
A quick excited light sprang in the dis
guised girls eyes.
"You believe this?" she asked, eagerly
YES"
"And that the effect will be permanent"
II believe that Beatrice Avenal realizes
all the past and the present.
"And if I should need also her co-opera-
ton"
The woman shrank back in apprehensiye
fear.
You mean that she should meet Elmer
Warranp"
YES"
1t cannot be"
Mrs. Ward spoke firmly and decidedly.
But if it is the only way OF saving others
and righting her own wrongs?"
Wait, then till she is strong enough for
the ordeal, repeated the matron, agitated
ly.
you will hear from me soon again, said
Nan, as she reached the door, and bidding
Mrs. Ward farewell left the house.
She directed her footsteps to the building
where she had left her bundle of wearing
apparel, and disappearing within its broad
doorway, was gone for some time.
When she returned to the street she was
Wild Nan again, in form and features, the
old worn dress enhancing the effect of her
wildness of manner, and careless, rapid
gait.
1t was dark when she arrived at the place
where she had first traced Leslie, after his
! removal from the humble quarters Edith
Leslie had known as home. She en-
tered the rooms without knocking. and to
her surprise found them vacant. Even the
sick woman, Mrs Leslie, was not within the
place, and the girl was startled for moment
or two at the sudden disappearance of the
mechanics household.
But as she realized that Warren and his
accomplice fancied they were near the
verge of success, and also that they had
probably believed this place too near the
business center of the city for their pur-
poses, she left the rooms, and proceeded to
make inquiry of the man who leased the
apartments concerning Leslie.
She was informed that he had removed
his wife in carriage that afternoon, after
selling the man the furniture of the rooms,
and then. confident that she would find the
persons she sought at the river house, she
fastened thither at once.
She determined not to make herself
manifest in case she succeeded in locating
Warren and Leslie. The gloomy old build
ing, occupied in part as low saloon, a
storage place for salt, and sail-loft, af-
forded only one habitable portion-the rear
of the second story, where Edith Leslie
was confined.
Traversing the hal Heading to the suite
of rooms of which the prison apartment
formed one, Nan paused as she heard the
sound of loud conversation within, and
then, deciding that she had better announce
her return, she boldly entered the place.
Leslie was there, and Warren, too. Seat
ed at q table, the two were playing at cards
and drinking from q bottle of some dark
liquor. On pallet in one corner of the
apartment lay Mrs. Leslie, her white, silent
face and closed eyes telling that she was
in dead stupor of exhaustion caused by
the rough removal that day.
"Hello! Back again, eh?" calculated
Warren, as his glance rested on Wild Nan.
Come here.
She shrank back at his coarse familiarity.
and CLEAN of latent defiance came into
her dark, expressive eyes. But she sub
dued all emotions, and obeyed his com
mand.
Leslie, his glance unsteady, shufied the
cards carelessly, his wavering hand and
confused manner telling Nan plainly that
he, like Warren, was fortifying his courage
with liquor to dispose of Edith Leslie for
good that night.
They suspended the game, as Warren,
with drunken gravity, pointed to chair,
and Nan, seating herself as far from him as
possible without exciting his suspicion as
to her true sentiments toward him, heard
him ask:
Have you bid your friends good-byP"
She nodded assentingly.
"The rocks, the waters, the flowers, the
birds?" he continued in half-scornful
monotone.
@All of them. she replied, simply.
That is we'll. Now then, girl, you have
done us favor in bringing back some pa
pers you found. We want to reward you.
We are going to leave the CITY,"
Leave the city?" repeated Nan, vaguely.
ayes"
Tonight" she inquired, in the same
simple tones.
"No, tomorrow night. Do you want to
go with us?"
sYes"
go with us" continued Warren, @to a
grand fortune, to silks and satins, and gold
and jewels.
Nan clasped her hands ecstatically in a
feigned rhapsody of delight.
We are gong on long journey, sald
Warren, "and Mr.. Leslie will be father to
you. Only if we should tell you story
and ask you to pretend to be some one
other than Wild Nan, you must not refuse.
You see, Nan, it is necessary that you
should do this to help Edith.
Il will obey you. for you are my friends, "
replied the wanderer.
Warren and Leslie exchanged glances Of
satisfaction at the apparently easy success
of their new scheme.
There is something else, Man," said the
latter grayely.
She looked up inquiringly.
aYou must be married, for that is neces-
sary."