Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-08-30

The old chap thrust q brown envelope in
Marks hand and on breaking il omen he found
the following cabegram from his grandsire:
To Mark Eliot, wsrringhan, Lancashire.
Wire received. Am coming.
Paul Il. L1swooD.
CHAPTER LvIII. VISITORS,
Nearly q fortnight had elapsed since the night
Dan Ashton had died after making that singular
confession; and the late landlord was now
sleeping peacefully IN WarrinKham cemetery
Dams murderer vas still lodged in the bor-
ough jail, and at the inquest held on Ashton $
decease 4 verdict Of ''wilfui murder had been
returned against Walter Mayhem.
The old holstelry st the bottom OF Mitigate was
closed at present, and Nancy Ashton and her
foster-daughter had left the town. having gone,
at the repeated urging of Mark Eliot, TO little
watering place on the banks OF the Mersey.
There they were beyond the clamor and conflict
that Dams tragic death had set afoot IN the
little lancashire town.
But our hero was still IN Warringham, for he
was expecting the arrival at anv hour of his rel
alive from America. Mark sitting one
sunny afternoon at his window. looking down
upon the busy thoronghfare below, along which
the mill people were plodding to and from their
dinners, when one OF the hotel maids entered
saying:
"a couple of gentlemen from America have
called to see you, sir.
'Show them an, - he replied, and few min
utes later Paul Linwood and Charlie HesHeth
burst into the room with a pleased look upon
their faces and Outstretched hands.
M. Iinwood-and you too, Charlie. How
glad l am to see you bOth!'
Then there was much hearty shaking of hands,
and as the three men stood facing one another
''How's this Mark? From your csblegram
expected to find YOU dying or dead.
when l wired to yon was under arrest on a
charge of murder-bad confessed the crime, -
Mark answered, and l certainly believed that
it all over with me. Sit down and have
something, and will tell you all about it.
Presently the trio were seated, We're sampling
q bottle of the best wine the hotel contained,
and were each smoking good cigar, Then
Marx told mis- compan ions all that had happened
sir MS ~Tr 1Tflp IN hn tow he had
hni shed his amazing recital ne asked:
How comes it, Charlie, that You are back
Again?''
''NIr. Linwood will tell you, Mark Charlie
replied with d smile.
Il found your old friend in New York. - Mr..
LinwoOd remarked, land as he seemed to have
nothing particular to engage him insisted upon
him accompanying me here. l knew you were
in trouble OF some KIM. and thought Mr.. Hes
keith would be OF great help
We've turned up too late it seems Charlie
said: and suppose may as well make tracks
Tor the states again.
Not vet ole fellow 8; Mark exclaimed. ~
do not think You will need 10 GO back at all. In
a short time i shall be factory master and you
are going to manage my mills. My dead fathers
brother. Richard HARDWOOD, has held possession
for over score OF years of what was rightfully
NINE and to avoid all exposure he is willing to
make full restitution now
Didn't | tell you, Mark, - Hesketh burst
forth, THAT you were going to be the hero of
some romantic story? And only TO think that
you would probably never have discovered any
happened, and if you nadE't saved Mr.. Linwood
there
You forget Charlie, that 1 should never
have gone to JOhnstown at ell but for your gem
erOus help. Well, it was fated to happen, i
suppose; and l shall have "a chance soon, OLD
man. OF showing how much think of your gem
II should like 10 see this Richard Harwood,' -
Mr.. Linwood remarked in the pause that fol-
lowed Marks last utteTance.
on shall, and at once. he knows you are
coming and promised TO Introduce HIM 10 you.
Ii you don't mind, we will walk to Il INK house,
where Mr.. HARDWOOD lives. We VIII have plenty
of time and can manage to get back tor tea.
Mr. Linwood readily agreed to this proposal,
and presently the ,hree friends passed out of the
hotel at the door OF which CAB was hailed to
convey them to Bank house. just as they
stepping into the vehicle the chief constable of
the town ran across the street and tapped Mark
upon the shoulder, saying in z low tone:
Have you heard the news?''
''What news?'' Mark asked rs he paused with
ore foot on the step of the cab, and wondered
what the chief constable was referring to.
About Walter Mayhem -
No. What is if2''
he is dead. We found him IN the cell half
an hour ago. It's strange you hare not heard
Ill about it,
What was the matter with him?''
'He committed suicide, IN order to cheat the
hAngmsn, l SUPPOSE
CHAPTER LIx.-THE CURTAIN FALLS.
1t was a splendid morning N early autumn,
and the green undulating slopes on the Cheshire
shore OF the Mersey, the pu!sing waters of the
the bare-legged children were playing lay
bathed in the mellow sunlight.
On one of the seats at the extremity uf the
pier al New Brighton the heroine OF this plain
narrative was seated. Her elbows were resting
on the rail which guarded the verge OF the ele-
waited structure; her face was hanked by her
open hands. and her gaze wandered seaward.
But she scarcely noted either the passing
river craft or the gistening lace OF the heaving
sea, for her thoughts were fixed upon other
things. Maid she was STILL wife she mac been
for a few brief weeks; and now her husbands
tragic end had left her = widow.
Very sweet and beautiful she looked as she sat
there with her soft brown cheeks framed in her
hands and her glorious brown eyes filed with
that dreamy look which speaks of deep thought.
On the previous evening she and her foster
mother had had two visitors-Mark Eliot. and
his American relative, Paul Linwood There
followed 4 long conversation in which they all
took part save Nellie. who was unusually grave
and chary of speech. Alter that they had sup
per together, and when they parted for the
night Mark had whispered that he would Ike
TO see her the following morning.
Presently the girl heard the fall of feet behind
her but when the footsteps ceased beside her
she did not look round. For few moments tbs
man-it was Marx EliOt-stood there regarding
the slender figure and half hidden face OF the
lassie with tender and loving eyes Then he
..NeIie!'
his yoicinC OF that one word. With a little start
and glad cry she turned and faced him, saying
very Iowly:
- Mark-lS II you!
he seated himself beside her and for some
moments neither spoke. She had ayerted her
face again and gazing upon the slowly
he2ving river; he was looking with . rapt gaze
upon her perfect profile.
Nellie you know why am here?'
She did not respond; but he could see her nos
tril dilate, her mouth compress itself; could
hear the deep inspiration she drew.
''YOu know! could not keep away
from you any longer! Darling, now
that all the clouds have gone, tell rue that have
not come to you IN vain.
His eyes were moist as he appealed to her, and
she fell that his hesEt in has voice. Her lips
trembled and misG OF Tears foaied before her
as she said falteringly:
''You know all, Narki . Dan was
my iather-my mother was not his wife. You
know am
Not another word, Nellie. The sins of our
fathers have been visited upon us both. We
have suffered more than enough already. Ought
Darling, l want you 10 say that you will be my
wife!''
''If you wish it, Mark
''If wish it?'' Since l have known you,
dear, have had 10 other wisu.'
He took the hsnd that lay in her lap and car
ned it reverently to his lips; had they been else
where he would have clasped her to him and
covered her sweet face with fierce kisses. And
she happier than ever she hud been, turned
her face to the sea and wept in silence.
II was mid autumn, and the bells in thu old
parish church at Warringham were ringing 8
church was lined with hundreds of factory
lasses and cotton operatives for the new pro-
prietor of Harwood's mills-Mark Blot Har-
WUod-was to be married to-day and he had