Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1893-11-16
CHAPTER XIII.
SHALL THE IMPOSTER SUCCEED.

On the afternoon Of the second day
after leaving New York, Louis reached
, the junction where he was to change
cars for Sandy Lake. Much to his
disappointment, he found the train he
should take was four hours late, so he
seated himself in the depot to pass
| away the time as best he might. The
newsboys were crying the morning
! papers, published in nelghborlng
city, and he bought one.
| Running over it's columns to find
something of interest, his eye was at
tracted to the headlines, Romantic
MARRIAGE" A glance at the text of
the article and instantly his mind
| grasped the extraordinary intelligence
that at o'clock, near the village OF
Sandy Lake, Louis Patterson would
we'd Mary Nordrum.
For moment the building, the cars,
the people passed before his vision in
circle and like lightning. He may
| have swooned. 1t was but for moment.
| The bystanders opened the windows,
Embossed his garments and he immedi-
ately recovered his consciousness.
Upon reviving it took him but second
! to comprehend the entire situation. 1t
passed before him like a swift moving
panorama, and he recognized all the
, characters.
In the foreground was Charles Man
ming, a hideous imposter, who had
made use of the story of Henry's life
and Henrv's love, and with Mary's pic
ture and Mary's letters, which he had
stolen, encouraged by the terrible SIM
ilarity OF likeness of the two men. had
played game SO damnable as to make
i, nd hoI
| had won! Won his Mary!
He cared not to look again to see the
other parties of this terrible picture.
He knew the next to appear would be
Mary Nordrum. And he knew that
she was innocent. In his whole soul
there was not breath of censure
against that pure creature. Though
she might keep step in the shadow of
demon, she was spotless. But ring
down the curtain.
Moments may be ages If not turned
to the proper account.
His first impulse was to telegraph
telegraph to his mother, to Mary, to
his neighbors, to anybody, everybody
he ever knew, and tell all to stop the
| marriage ceremony. But he remem-
bered that not dispatch or letter he
| had sent to his home had been
answered. The william was intercept
ing letters and messages, and it were
folly to expect to accomplish any thing
| by the telegraph.
He asked for assistance,
Half dozen bystanders responded.
They see he is in deep trouble.
Zone of you go for the Superinten-
dent of this road and bring him here
go quick, quick, quick. [ have not
the strength at this moment to walk.
[ will be strong soon.
I'm few moments Col. Mason the
Superintendent, came in. Henry feels
that everything now depends upon his
ability to compose himself and explain
the situation Railroads don't listen to
mad men. With the newspaper in his
hand he cody commences to read the
| article to the astonished Superintend-
ent. It is full of the strangest romance.
for it relates in detail the kidnapping,
the voyage to India, the shipwreck,
| the return, the marriage to take place
on the lawn at the brides home, that
invitations had been given out to sew
| eral hundred people and that the after
nOon-that afternoon-wOuld be a gay
holiday for the farmers for miles
around.
The reading finished, the Superin-
tendent looked at Henry in bewildered
amazement and awaited an explana-
ton.
Mr.. Superintendent may God strike
me dead if | don't tell the ruth. I am
Louis Patterson and villain that
poisoned me, and thought he had muir
dered me, is the man that is marrying
my Mary at 6 o'clock! Merciful
heavns. it is now o'clock, and Louis
| r. : \
6 o'clock and Louis Patterson himself
is lis miles away. Mr.. Mason l must
Lake before O'Clock, and here is the
money to pay for it. Take from that
roll of bills, what ever amount you
think right.
| The spectators shouted approval of