The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1888-12-20

arrival. w Htu tuG 1dtCer dppcdTcu
at the parlor door Gas yet, in igno-
rance of whom she was to meet), Paul
| introduced the two ladies.
Mamie, this is my sister Hattie ;
my wife, sister," explained the young
husband, and, observing the rather
pleasant expression of surprise on his
wife's face, he turned to his brother
in law, who had been standing in a
somewhat shadowed part of the room.
Hickman was as pale as death and
trembled like one afflicted with an
ague, but Paul was unmindful of this.
"And here" he continued is my
brother -in-law, Mr.. Hickman, who
"My God - exclaimed Hickman,
overcome with excitement, "can this
be real p
The words had hardly passed his
lips when Mamie Parton, looking into
his face for the frat time, uttered a
piercing scream and fell senseless to
the floor.
The crisis, which Mamie had per-
suaded herself was altogether improb
able, and which Harry believed to be
as impossible as it would be for the
grave to give up its derd, had come
come as an avenging nemesis upon the
head of the one, and as curse wholly
undeserved upon the other.
Paul acted as one beside himself,
and after Mamie bad been removed
to her chamber, restoratives applied
by Hatty, and physician summoned,
he approached Harry, who had Gu
tered an unoccupied room and was
giving vent to his anguish in a way
that made his brother shudder. 1t is
always and under all circumstances a
painful sight to see a strong man
weep, and the grief Of Harry Hick-
man was indeed distressing thing to
witness.
Paul endeavored to console him,
and spoke to him in very endearing
terms. for he loved this man as dearly
as he should if he had been his own
elder brother.
"Man alive p' exclaimed Hickman,
springing from his chair, "don't speak
to me like that | curse me, spit upon
me but don't euer speak civilly to
me again! You don't know what has
happened. o, my God! what have l
done to deserve such an accursed visi-
tation as this !"
The man looked and acted like a
madman.
"That woman is not your wife p he
continued, and Paul staggered as
though from a physical blow "she
has no right to your name her name
never was Sinclair, either, and her le,
gal husband is still living!'
Harry Hickman" cried Paul with
suppressed rage, "you shall prove what
you say or answer to me personally
for those words p
sProof? Proofl Great heavens, I
am the living embodiment of proof !!
Would to God that 'twere not so. Lis
ten to me Not only is she not your
wife, but in the eyes OF the law your
sister is nothing more than my mis-
tress, and my children have no right
of Inheritance by statute. By the
laws of man; that woman's name is
Hickman and she is my wife and not
yours Think of that, God in Heaven!
think of that p
Paul was stricken dumb by this in
tellIgence and he listened as one in a
dream to what his brother subsequent
ly told him, which was in effect what
the reader already partially knows.
For twelve years he had believed his
first wife to be dead, only to meet her
again as the temporarily legalized
mistress of his last wife's brother and
mother of his child--an unholy off.
spring, from lee loci standpoint, as
were his own.
Tomorrow" said Harry in conclu-
sion, "when she is stronger, we will all
Jointly consider what shall be done in
the future"
Next morning the servant upon op-
ening her mistress door was unable to
wake the apparently sleeping woman,
and rushing down stairs, informed
Paul of the situation. He hurried to
the room, for he still had a tender
place in his heart for the woman who
had so shamefully duped him. AS
soon as he saw her yet warm body, he
knew that all was was over with her
he did not need either the half-emp-
tied vial of poison nor the short little
note addressed to him, to inform him
of the manner of her death. The note
contained simply these words:
DEAREST PAUL.-What Henry
Hickman will tell you will be the
truth. Forgive me if you can, and
may God have mercy on my wicked
soul. Tell Harry had the death
notice published. MAMIE"
Mrs. Hickman was very much af-
fected when the story was told to her,
but she bore the aff1iction more brave.
ly than did her husband. When the
latter suggested that the marriage GER
emony be performed over again by a
magistrate, she would not hear to it.
mo, Harry" she argued "for ten
years have, by the laws of God, been
your wife and no further legal pro
ceedings will make me the more so
We will go through life as we are and
trust to Him who overseeth and or
ders all things for the BEST
Il think Hattie is right" added
Paul. Now that Mamie is dead, We
three are the only persons on earth
who know our secret. It is our skel
eton. We will lock it up in its close
and throw the key away"
Let us hope that the door will new.
er be opened by stranger hands.
LLEwxAM.