The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-09-30

: on the pillow, her labored breathing and
hectic cheeks seemed to Indicate hot,
burning fever.
A hot burning fever she had, but
produced BY artificial means. This
ruthless schemer had paused at nothing
to accomplish her ends. To further her
schemes an assumption Of mortal ILL
ness had been necessary, and her
worthy coadjutor, DR.. Simms, had not
prevar1cated when he told her Lnat the
contents Of the little phial he had given
her tn day previous would bring about
the result she desired.
These two had plotted well in unison,
and as he entered the outer room Of the
suite he assumed that grave, serious ex-
preston Of face that the average physi-
clan wears while attending patient in
the last extremity.
He opened the door with warning
noiselessness as there came tap final
ly. A servant stood there, two persons
at his side.
Gentleman to see Miss Leslie. sir,
he announced, withdrew, and Doctor
Simms ushered his two visitors into the
room and pointed to chairs, his serious
manner evidently surprising them.
Colonel Marshall was the one, his son
Raymond the other. The former was
all curiosity and excitement. AS to
Raymond, as he sat gazing vacantly at
the floor, his hollow cheeks, haunted
} eyes and detected bearing generally
told that the present visit had no inter-
est for him.
Doctor Simms!' calculated the Colo
mel. Why! I came to seq"
Miss Leslie2'
aYes."
Miss Leslie rs dying woman, Colo
mel Marshall.
What"
With an incredulous gasp the Colonel
started to his feet.
Yes, she has been i'll for some time.
Twas summoned yesterday afternoon.
l found her fevered, almost delirious.
She asked me to receive you,"
Doctor, you amaze me! This strange
lady"
Has an iron will even In death. She
has explained everything to me. She
| insists upon seeing yourself and your
son, even in her dangerous condition. I
told her that the sho:k might kill her,
but she insists"
Doctor! I am a. perfect loss to
understand this lady's remarkable gen.
erosity in my behslf-the mystery sur
rounding her"
Here are the notes she took yester-
day. She bade me destroy them in your
presence.
Wait! Don't! I really cannot ac-
cept all these favors from stranger.
The Colonel spoke too late. The
| documents were blazing on the hearth.
He was a free man! A stranger had
liberated him from all the financial en-
| tanglements Of the hour.
Doctor" he painted, this mystery is
maddening. Who is this lady?"
you will be surprised when you
know. Come; you, too, Mr.. Marshall,
to Raymond.
He advanced to the door Of the sleep
ing-room and tapped lightly. The
nurse opened it. Awed, startled, Col.
Marshall stood in the center of the
apartment, gazing obviously at the fig
ure lying on the couch, its face turned
| from him.
Quite as curious and interested for the
moment, Raymond Marshall looked up,
| too.
Miss Leslie has asked me to explain
| to you why she has interested herself in
your behalf" spoke the Doctor, in calm,
measured accents. Her act has been
one in measure Of atonement, Of com
pensation for a wrong done a member Of
your family"
Hal" exclaimed the Colonel with a
start, "she must be, then, some relative
OF the wretch who robbed me-who en-
compassed me in all this trouble, my
former partner!"
Not at all She simply deceived a
30, ha &c pop
with the troubles Of your son, as we'll as
| yourself, and she desires me to impart
some mournful information to him.
MIR. Marshall. will you kindly read that
| article?"
The Doctor had handed to Raymond
| Marshall the newspaper which had first
| Set Beatrice on the trail OF Edna Deane.
| It chronicled her death at the snow
laden bridge. So accurately did it de-
scribe Edna and her attire, that, as
| Raymond Marshall perused it, with dis
tended eyes and ashen face, he could
not mistake the truth. With wild cry
he sank to chair, the paper Tutoring
| to the floor.
Dead! dead!" he walled. AL hope,
| then, is lost"
What may all this have to do with
| Uu6 lduy uSlS. USSdu LlO ooGOoAANC0 dAO
mystitied Colonel Marshall.
Much. This ordeal is trying, fatal
to her, but she insists. Nurse, turn up
the lamp. Colonel-Mr. Marshall, your
benefactress, the lady who makes an
atonement for great wrong. is"
Beatrice Mercer!"
In surprised accents from the Colo
nel's lips, in gasp OF incredulity from
those Of Raymond Marshall, rang the
! name simultaneously, as the pretended
invalid turned her Wan features toward
them.
Dying features they were. to all SEM
blanca. The Doctors art and her own
deft acting carried out the intended
effect completely.
raymond" she fluttered, in a weak,
wai!ing voice. Say that you forgive
me. l did wrong in deluding you. I
even sought to find Edna snd restore
her to you after my cruel deception, but
she is dead. A distant relative left me
q fortune. The only restitution I could
make was to aid your father. l am dy-
ing. The only reward I ask is that you
take my hand and forgive me for 1t all. =
Raymond Marshall stood like one in
dream. All the past flashed over his
mind. This woman had, indeed,
wronged him, but still she was not ac-
count able for Ednas death. AS he
thought OF all she had done for his
father, as he fancied he read noble re-
morse in her words and deeds, a gener-
Gus impulse drove him forward.
uo har btlrninp hand twitcl IN