Iuka reporter. (Iuka, Miss.) 1888-1894, 1888-06-14
AUNT AND Niece,
The Mistress Of
Hardwood.
ny GERALD CARLTON.
o r
CHAPTER IX-CoNrrNuEp.

Bentieys wine has been too strong for
you"
"Bosh.' exclaimed Jack, as they walked
on; "the contents of her cellar would not
upset me. You know we'll how much can
stand"
did you ever have the delirium tremens,
Jack?"
mol"
do you know that you are as nervous as
a girl Tonight"
YES. What wonder?"
Much his friend answered. Il have
heard you declare over and over again that
you had seen more horrid sights than any
living man-that nothing had terror for you
yet here you are tonight conducting your
self like mailman, and trembling from
head to foot, because little girl happens
to breathe lightly and turn pale when she
sleeps"
mo- it isn't that, said Jack, with shiv-
er, lit is not that, upon my honor.
Again he stopped Will suddenly.
Hush" he exclaimed.
Well what is the matter2"
Some one is following us.
swell, is not the road wide enough for
three?' said Will. Il will tell you what we
will DO. Jack; should you ever honor us
with another visit we will hire a baby car
riage for you.
At this Graham laughed unnaturally, and
finally they walked on and spoke of other
things, 1t was evident to Will, however,
that Jacks mind was not on what he was
saying. During the conversation he was
continually looking over his shoulder.
After short time he again stopped.
Let him get in front of u.s." he said. 81
hate walking with any one at my back"
Willis sense of hearing was not so acute
that night as his friends, for he just heard
the footsteps approaching when Jack stop
ped and said: Let him get in front us,
whereas Graham had detected them when
he had said: Some one is following u.s. ;"
They stood still, filed and lit their pipes,
so as to give the owner of the approaching
footsteps time to get ahead of them.
The person coming up proved to be man
He passed them at quick but unsteady
pace, and the night was 80 dark that thew
could only see that he was tall and slim,
md that he was Enthusiastically clothed in
rags.
A strange customer, that" said Jack,
when they were walking on again. with TIE
man in front of him. DO you know him. "
Not personally" replied WILL laughing,
but certainly by sight and hearsay. He is
celebrated character in these parts He is
beggar, and pretends to be an idiot"
"Pretends?"
F. "Yes-so Mrs. Harcourt and Miss Bentley
ohN. pCiicNC AC 10 Iulto kcuIuS HI I'LL
posture. Two years ago, am told he was
at Northampton was then both deaf
and dumb. Here he is neither-he is only
M idiot hear that every Friday he pays
q professional visit to Dinglewood-a place
about ten miles from Edinburgh
After this the tall, thin beggar was dis
missed from the conversation. Emily was
spoken of, and Mrs. Graham and DR.. Brins-
ley
JooL,s ,,a,uo,c,aes al ,,ot 5x.
however, Although the beggar was in front,
re looked over his shoulder many times be-
fore they reached the railway station
Il should have medical advice, Jack, il
were you. Kiss Emily for mel" were Willis
last words.
When the train carried Jack Graham
from Perthard station, VIII said, with a Sigh
of relief, what Miss Bentley had previously
said:
Thank goodness
Some young men starting out in life think
they can mold the circumstances which
surround them to suit their own desires
and ambitions. A little while teaches them
that circumstances mold them. Jack Gra-
ham was no exception to the rule.
In the first place he had inherited an alb
normal nervous system.
Secondly he had perverted still further
his natural endowments by reckless and
excessive drinking.
Third circumstance was an insur-
ance agent.
Fourth circumstancc-he accidentally saw
Miss Wentworth in a death like trance.
Circumstances were fast molding Jack
Graham's destiny.
Though naturally of an INSCRIPTIONS
larn. mp to this he had committed no crime.
In fact, he never had an opportunity of
committing one that would be of advantage
to him; that's to say, that would give him
money and the possession of money BY
some quick. grand stroke was his only
thought by day and his dream by night
When his eyes first fell on ADDS death
like form. he reflected, "She is deadp
The reflection had surprised and stagger-
ed him; but WIS not the direct cause of
his strange silence in the drawing room,
nor OF his nervousness in the road.
The cause was, indeed. her resemblance
to death, and the train of suble thoughts
which that resemblance sent through his
brain.
In an instant ha had conceived great
sin. When Miss Wentworth slept, she was
TO all appearances dead!
Upon that fundamental thought thou
sand followed,
1t was the reflection
With what ease could l commit this
great sin--with what little fear of failure
could produce from this grim phenome-
no thousand of glitterng pounds" This
4 il was that made him so Suddenly silent
and nervous.
During his walk to the railway station he
had been, so to speak, frightened of him
self frightened Of the evil his sudden re-
Elections had brought before him.
Hitherto he deemed himself as good rs
most men,. His nerves were actually shaken
BY the discovery that lack of opportunity
nlone had kept him from being great
criminal.
Yet Jack Graham was not wholly : de.
raayAd man. On his night journey to Lon.
don be prayed that his powerful 1--we for
money might not tempt him-and he ours
I'd Mrs. Harcourt's annuity with all his |
III II for taking him to Hazewood House.
s, I, ms do him the poor justice to say |
- sliggled against the temptation
pe OF tho 70 convince himself that his
pieces about maticsbls. and should, for
creighton eplors9 Is sndoss ~ ,s s,a' T.
s been engaged ho, &c. his xa Ss TRAINS sssins
dIegsng ~ollss< zach 6sasaated, aSd
atg FIVE hor pairs 70 s Tss VOL
--M