Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1885-07-23
From the Chicago Ledssr.l
WILD Nan 5;
l'lG OltCaSt'S Secret!
-o- o.
A GREAT CHICAGO STORY.
o-o
By WELDON y. COBB,
Author Of "At Her Mercy" THE Love d
Her Life The Manaclsd Hand, 2 "Ths
Telegraph Detective Y The stolen
bridegroom" Etc, Etc.
A GREAT CHICAGO STORY.
By WELDON y. COBB,
IcHAPTER yI-coNr1SuED.1

eyes SclQtllidtln8 llk6 OEDb VI uISs nAt
stood for moment regarding the silent fig.
ure On Tie Bed. T6en approaching gently
she leaned over and uttered the singh
word:
Edith
Something in the tender, sympathetic in.
tonation of the wanderers voice aroused
Edith from her misery and woe. She
turned white, questioning face on her Wis
itor, and her luminous eyes opened to theil
widest, as, repressing the moan Of pair
which contracted her pale lips, she spoke
her name:
@Nan.s
The face Of the wanderer frightened, ani
an eager, joyous smile illuminated her eyes
as she saw that she was recognized.
You know me, you remember me, she
cried, and you viii trust me.
Edith, aroused from her grief by the
strange words of the girl, started to sitting
posture.
My poor Nan, ]" she cried, ahov stange.
" you speak. Trust you-for what?o
The fixed, intent gaze grew less steady
You are in trouble, she replied, after 9
hesitating pause, know enough
enough.
Edith started, and wild terror lit the
starring eyes.
Nan. Nan, what have you seen-what dc
you know?"
But the lips of the other became com.
pressed. as she shook her head resolutely
Nothing, nothing, she replied, except
that you are in trouble, and / have watched
and waited to come to you. The ole
woman your father left to watch you
To watch me-oh, see it all now. They
So <717 al
"a prisoner Yes, cried Nan, eagerly
gone for time. See-I know where there
are a score Of hiding places around the old
She shuddsred as she spoke, and averted
her face.
Edith sank back with dreary moan i
cannot so with you" she said If my
father WI hes me 10 stay here I must obey
him
You must obey him, cried the wandersr
in wild accents. when he means that you
shall marry that man that
If Edith had allowed herto proceed, wild
Nan night have given her clue to myster-
les she should have learned then and there;
but she interrupted her.
How did you learn this. Nan?n
A cunning look came into the dark eyes.
Never mind never mind; know what
/ know: / am your friend, and | will help
you. But him, this man you call Elmer
Warren, hate him.
Her eyes flashed like electric sparks. As
she spoke her hands were clenched in a
wild fury.
You must not excite yourself, said
Edith, soothingly. and if you love me. Nan,
you must not tell what you have seen.
Tell, replied the girl. with wild laugh.
aOh, Mans wild and touched here" and
she placed her finger significantly to her
forehead; but she knows how to learn q
secret and how to keep it. Tell If was
like others, when I saw face last night,
when heard voice had not heard fol
years, would have dragged him to the
Jail, would"
She paused again. On the verge Of q
revelation some intuitive prompting Of eau
ton held her mute. The flashing eyes
grew calm, the working face was toned
down to quietness and sympathy, as she
said in low tone:
7 have come to help you. You must
leave here"
All Edith's misery returned as the fleet
ing excitement Of her unexpected meeting
with Nan subsidized So engrossed was heI
mind with her own woes that she did moi
sven attempt to explore the mystery of hel
VISITORS strange words.
You cannot help me, Nan, she said
brokenly.
But the Jearning heart, cropping for SYM
pathy and support, found expression Of its
despair in tears on the shoulder Of the
warderer as the latter came nearer to hel
and threw her arms impulsiyely about hei
neck.
Dear Edith, the wanderer sobbed, @you
viii dive me away from you I, who have
not one heart to love Or cherish. Do you
remember how. that stormy night a week
since, when sought shelter from the tenn
pest at your door, you kindly cared fol
me2 Nan never forgets friend; never
forgets that name that voice I heard
again last night
To Edith her occasional gloomy words
were but the wanderings Of distracted
mind. But she was amazed at the clear,
earnest reasoning of her companion as the
latter continued abruptly
When / see you in trouble I say, Let
me help you; let poor Nan be your friend
as you have been hers. Do not be like the
others and believe that am witless; that ]
cannot feel and know as you do. There
Are dark paths III earth, long winding
lanes. What if your life has led you into
the same gloomy path which my fathers
has made me treadln
There was startled mysticism in the
tone and manner as she spoke, vague
knowledge which thrilled Edith and awoke
her to rare interest ii the words Of the
other.
Your path mine, she murmured.