Wichita eagle., 1889-12-04
but i: WORT make any difference TO you, win

OF course Cousin Mark answered "No,"
promptly, as innocent as dove about the
trap being laid for him.
''This Is my cousin, Mr.. Lansing, Miss
Kent" And Mr.. Lansing bowed politely
and Miss Kent rose, dropped her scissors,
blushed and sat down again. Cousin Mark
picked up the refractory implements, and
then Mrs Jennie proceeded with rare eau
ton and tact to her labor of love. Cousin
Mark at her request read aloud an article from
The Popular Science Monthly, drawing Miss
Kent into the discussion as deity as was
ever fy drawn into the web Of q spider.
who was that lady, Jennief' Cousin Mark
inquired in the evening.
"You mean Miss Kentr' said Jennie, look
ing up from her paper. ''Oh, she is a lady
have known for long time. She is max
ing some dresses for me now. Whyp
"She seemed uncommonly we'll posted for
q woman"
Under any other circumstances Mrs. Car
lisl. would have resented this but now she
York, as well as after he left, was @ mystery
to all who knew him.
I had given up all hope of ever learning
the secret when it was revealed to me.
One morning in July, 1876, was walking
In one of the many beautiful public parks Of
London, England, where 1 was spending my
vacation, when sudden turn in the road
brought me face to face with gentleman
whose appearance seemed strangely familiar.
AS was trying to recouect where had seen
him before, he stepped forward quickly and
asked:
"Do you not know me, DR.. Graham"
recognized the voice instantly.
Tv. or1% Cd
81 am"
A short conversation followed, during
which Charlton informed me that London
had been his home ever since his departure
from New York, on the day following the
duel
After a few minutes Charlton pleaded 6
pressing engagement as excuse for leaving
me, but invited me to visit him on the follow
ing day at his house in Kensington, when be
voluntarily promised to narrate to me the
whole history Of bis connection with Percy
Durham, the man whom be had killed.
Of course I was at bis house at the ap
pointed hour, and seated in the cosy parlor Of
his little vine clad cottage be told me the fol
lowing story:
Il was born and brought up in the town Of
R, in Michigan, and from the time of my
earliest recollection until my twentieth veal
my dearest friend was Percy Durham, thu
son of neighbor. We were almost insepa
rable and our friendship was likened to thai
of Damon and Pythias. But the time came
as you know, when we were the bitteres
foes, and the primary cause of this estrange
ment was"-
"A woman, III be bound" interrupted.
"You are right, doctor; it was a woman
and one of the best and most beautiful wo
men ever met. Mabel Danes parents moved
into R when Percy Durham and wer,
just 20 years of age. We each loved her, bu
] was the chosen recipient of her affections
Mabel and became engaged in time, and ap
parently Percy had trained himself to sub
mission to his lot
"'Theres no one living to whom / would
Is willingly resign her as yourself, Edward,
he said.
"Ahl / little imagined the demon tha
ragged in his heart when he spoke these words
l never dreamed Of questioning his sincerity
The greatest obstacle to my immediate
marriage was my poverty, for my parent:
had left me very little on their death. Per
cy, on the contrary, was a wealthy man, anc
for this reason would have been preferred Il
myself as a husband for his daughter by MIR
Dane, who however, did not undertake Il
influence Mabel in her choice
Thine passed on, and one day heard o.
chance Of investing few hundred dollar
very advantageously. The money would b.
sure to double in a few weeks Happening
to be in Dunham's house ! mentioned th,
opportunity to him, regretting my inability
to avail myself Of it.
My dear fellow said he, III lend yor
the money with pleasure Here, pushing
checkbook toward me, fiji out q check fol
any amount you desire and I'll sign it.
But | began, but be would not hear me
Fill it out, or III do it for you. Will &
thousand dollars be enoughf II not
GA thousand dollarsi My dear Percy
SO IT'S yours If you will accept the loan
81 filled out the check for the amount men
toned and Percy Durham signed it.
The next day drew the money. A weel
later was arrested for forgery. When thu
bank had returned the Cancelled check to Dun
ham he had denied the genuineness of th'
signature sent for him Immediately, no
doubling that there had been some mistake
which could be easily and quickly rectiied
But what was my horror when that infamou
villain coolly denied to my face that he has
ever given me the check. | had fallen a VIC
tim to one of the most fiendish plots ever con
ceived in the brain of man.
well, l was tried, convicted and sentenced
TO a term OF years in the state prison
ION the day when | was sentenced / re
ceived letter from Mabel Dane, the onl,
message she had sent me since my arrest;
letter written in reply to one had sent bel
releasing her from her engagement. In
few cold, scornful words she accepted the re
4 k,a 90