The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1901-04-18
CHAPTER lN.
A DANGEROUS MEETING.

ed since James Melvin arrived on Pos
sum Ridge, the public had by no mean
lost interest In him, and neither had ii
curiosity regarding him been In any Il,
gree satisfied. lie was still an objrc
OF wonder, and speculation concerning
him--his past life and character an'
his purpose in coming to the Ridge
was ns rife as 1t had ever been.
or course his statement to OLD mai
Turner that he had come there to pros
pect for mineral had spread abrna,
among the people, but there wrr" very
few who believed for moment that
there was Il word OF truth in ii. Thrrc
were no mineral developments in that
section and. so far rs any one knew. no
indications or mineral deposits. In
view or these things. what likelihood
was there Of company or capitalists
sending man there on any such mis-,
sion?
Pap Sampson, 50 boaSttnl OF his am
ity to judge people at first sight. had
been compelled to admit though he DID
1t reluctantly enough. that for one" II"
had made a mistake when he So conf
dently asserted that Melvin was n
preacher and that his object in coming
to PosSum Ridge was to hold some
"meetin's" at the Coon Kun 'm""1in
house" Jason Roberts, still having an
excuse for holding to his first formed
opinion, continued to argue that ne was
there for the purpose OF buying some
thing. But Jason was alone, or very
nearly so. in his opinion, and both he
and Pap had the satisfaction of seeing
jim Thorn. n mere upStart, holding the
lead In public opinion for once.
Melvin soon observed that wherever
he went the people watched him curl.
ously and that the great ma juriIy Of
them showed an unmiStakahc diSpnSi.
tlon to avoid him. He could engage
but few of them in conversation. and il
he approached Il group Of them And TN
dcrtook to show them the social side oi
his nature they immediately began to
exchange furtivr gianrrS ami pr"Sr.t
ly, one 10y one. dropped away until he
was left alone.
or course this conduct OH the part of
the people was unpleasant To II >lran
ger, for II made him feet that hr WAS
not welcome and that Ills company
was less preferable than his absence
10 Melvin IT WAS more. 1t not only
annoyed bot It disturbed him. \
man who Is carrying in his bosom Il
dread secret Is always under IN apprr
h"nSiOn that he Is going to be fuun,.
out, and any little popularity in the
conduct Of those about him is sure to
excite his suspicious and awaken in
him feeling of uncaSinrSS.
Several times during the two week,
Melvin had made visits to Rrckrtl>
Mill, oStcnsibly to make triiIinE pur
chaScS ut the store, but in reality for n
far different purpose. Each time, how
ever, he had come back as hr had gone.
his purpose unnccompliShed. I.ut ut
last fortune favored him.
One evening he had left the village e.
return TO Turner's. where hr was still
stopping, when in passing through Il
thick wood he came suddenly face t,
face with Mrs Banks. Both Startr,
back in surprise, but Melvin rccovrlr,
himself quickly, and. graspns hcl
hands In his. he looked full into her
face and cried:
'Ihank God, Louisa, | have met yul
at last!'
Then he carcSseh her hands, his min,
in such tumult thnt ne could find II,
further words to speak, and when nftcl
moment She would have drawn hcI
hands away he held them fast.
"DoHt, please don't" she said i,
tones Of soft retnonstrance, lookin.
anxiously around. 81 Please let m,
go!
mo. no." he replied. Don't ask m,
10 10 that 1t would be cruel after
have hungercd and starved for a Sigh
or you all this long time Oh, Louisa
you don't know how love YOU nm,
how | have missed you and yrnrnr,
FOR you! Oh. my darllngr
lie made movement to put his arr
about her, but she tore herself from hi
grasp and, staggering back, stood lear
ing against tree. She was trrmblin
all over, her face red and white Is
turns and an uneasy, scared cxprcssio
in her eyes.
AFTER mOmentary pause he advnn,
ed toward her, but she held ND he
hand to stop him.
you forget" she said in low tones
"Forget whatT he asked, his eve
hxed eagerly on her.
"That-that l am married"
lie hesitated an instant then sal,
slowly:
mo; l don't forget that. l wish t,
heaven could and that you could for
get 1t too. But l love you, Louisa. ant
II you were married thousand times
ia love you. 1t may be wrong, but
cont believe it Is; but, right or wrong
love you, and III always love you. !
can't help It,"
A light Of heavenly bliss swept over
her FEATURES, then quickly died away.
Don't say that" she pleaded. You
have no right"
hut l have" he replied 81 have
more right than any one else, for l love
you more, and you love me. Isn't that
true Louisa? Don't you love mei"
she made no reply, but hid her face
III her hands. Presently he repeated:
Don't you love me. Louisa?"
She waited moment, then looked nm
appcalingly.
"YOu Gro crunl cruolp, Oh, ,.,, nv,