The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-08-26
CHAPTER XIV.
TIE ENDING OF 1T ALL,

CHAPTER XIV.
THE ENDING OF 1T ALL.
Our varied tale may be brought to
, fitting close with much brevity.
Both Gilbert Marlowe and Lawyer
Croak were speedily brought to trial on
the crimes charged to their account.
The incidents Of the trials were more
, than usually dramatic, and they occas-
ioned greit public sensation. but on
; their conviction, which resulted on all
| the counts of their indictment, no SYM
| pathv whatever was manifested in theiI
| behalf; nor did they deserve that it should
be otherwise.
They we're each sentenced to twenty
years imprisonment at hard labor. Gill
, bert Marlowe survived the passing of his
sentence but one year, at the end OF
which time he perished in his prison
cell by his own hand, dying very much az
he had lived-a cold-blooded, irrepent.
ant, and absolutely selfish man.
Croak was still serving out his sentence
when last heard from, at which time be
had not more than half completed it. II
may be hoped, but hardly expected witt
great confidence, that his imprisonment
will work real reform in his nature, and
that he will issue from it, if at all, bet.
ter and more useful man. Such thorough
~ gullt-tougnened natures as his are bui
seldom truly chastened by even the most
exemplary punishment; or, if any change
is effected at all, it is apt to be in the di.
rection of increased duplicity, cunning
and innate deprayity, in a manner to rem.
honest Society at large.
faJ rh
trial and conviction preceded those ol
the greater criminals alluded to, and
were hurried through with much lesi
ceremo ony and interest, resulted in sen.
fences in accordance with the crimet
brought home to them, and they may
we'll be dismissed as UNIV orthy of an.
other thought.
Miss Winford, who still continued ID
bear this name, had been very pains.
taking and saving of the fair wages thai
had been paid her for the long service
which she had chiefly devoted to sys.
tematized espionage upon her master, 81
that she found herself enabled to retire
to neighboring village upon small but
sufficient income. She had perhaps beer
originally q we'll meaning woman, and
her personal wrongs had not been incon-
siderable; tut the personiication OF
coldly pursued, long-hoarded and i'm.
placable revenge can never be portrayed
attractively, especially in the feminine
form, and she has therefore, even while
playing useful part, not appeared tc
particular advantage in our story.
Accompanying her in her retirement.
and with future equally assured,
through the remuperatiye acknoIledg-
ments of Jasper MarIowe, went one
whose Characterization, though not con-
spicuous, has been perhaps even more
unenviable. No degree of resentment,
no matter how justifable land even ade.
quate provocation was not clearly estab-
heinous, the detestable guilt Of child,
stealing by one person as means of re-
taliating Grro9 another; unless there can
be ur1e1 =: Ii e&tenuation, as charity will
impel US to do in the case OF Mrs. Beane,
the morbid workings Of a diseased or
disordered intelligence. She like Miss
Winford, continued to retain her fctitioua
name, and at last accounts they were liv-
ing together in one cst ,ge, peaceful and
inoffensive lives,
A settlement of the estates of both
Gilbert Marlowe and Lawyer Croak, by
court administration, resulted as mat
ter of course in q complete restitution
of such wealth, with interest, ns they
had wron2fully appropriated; it thus re-
suited in both Jasper Marlowe and old Mr.
Alworth once more coming into very easy
circumstances, while the residue of Gil.
bert Marlowe's property, which proved
to be very considerable, was found at
his death to have been wholly willed to
| his once adopted son-Cuthbert Mar
lowe.
Cuthbert and Gwendoline we're married
on the succeeding Michaelma7. 1t was
not an accomplished fact, however. nor
was their betrothal publicly made known
in time to prevent the callow but we'll
meaning Lord Squanderall from making
another offer of his heart and hand. IL
| need only he said in this connection that
| Miss Alworth refused his second otel
| Just as kindly and good naturedly as she
knew how, in view of her having heard
of the good faith in which lie had been
| striving after reformation in his life and
habits, aud that he accepted his fate with
manly and becoming resignation on being
informed that his old schoolfellow and
chum, Noel" Marlowe, was In the shoes
of the luckier man.
Mr.. and Mrs. Cuthbert Marlowe ore
still living. Their union has proved m
exceptionally nappy one, ana group Of
children are now growing up nroune
them. They live at jasmine Vi la with
old Mr.. Alworth, whose troubled days are
at last ending peacefully among the beau.
tiful flowers and plants for which he has
ever manifested snch n atouching fondness
and they are often visited 10y Cuthbert'
father and mother, who reside chiefly II
: London, and still more frequently by
good Amt Joan.
Though now somewhat decrepit, tht
latter is still the cheerful mistress of heI
cozy cottage by the sea, though the eide
ioint-owner of the GadHy, Peter, aston
ished her greatly some time ago by mar
rying Christie. the smiling maid o. all.
work, and, little later, 1t was so d tha
Paul, who had been long regarded as the
most confirmed old bachelor OF the two
no,,;,o ocoidnoOa :tfeptiOna To