The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1902-05-30

Il blt more OIL tue NOElu llun you, ana
YOU have seen Il bit more of kcurrdy
of Glcnhaugh. Two heads are better
than one. and between us, with the
light We have, the mystery OF this
strange story may be solved from be-
ginning 10 end
''Sir Gilbert" said ], "if I-hac said Il
hasty word yc will pardon me, for
hae great love and pity for my mas
ter. Ge haze been fair WI me- .and |
will he rs fair WI we, but that awfu'
deed was the act O a madman."
We'll say no more of that, Gill
cuddy," said 10, "aTd far be it from
me to think different. / never said
nught againsc his madness, but there
was Il cause for the mad act and
plan for its fulfillmcnt, and behind
these things, my man, lies the mystery,
and IL the twain OF us just put our
heads together we'll get nearer the
truth Of the matter, I'm thinking
THE whole thing" said l, sis past
understanding. I'm just grown weak
In the mind wi thinking O. it, From
first to last it's but jumblc o mys-
terry, and Gamma find n straight road
into it or out O. it. It's a story WI
neither beginning nor end"
I'm much of your way of thinking
myself" answered Sir Gilbert. "Im
far from understanding ii, but have
great faith in the power of reason, and
L think il we begin fair and just put
our wits to work we lnny got ut the
truth in some measure and make the
crooked matter bit straight
'Thcn,' said 1, Eve maun begin wi
the accurscd packet that came frac
France, for that was the first o. tho
calamity"
Let us begin back of that" said Sir
Gilbert. Let us begin with the lady
and Courtray i'll France twelve years
back"
and what ken ye O. that time!"
said l.
ITS little ken, Gillicuddy, but
have Il mind 10 speculate Bit" he re-
piled. .'.
I'm no fond o. spcculations," said
to him. I'm fondcr o facts"
'lIcarkcn 10 1nc," said he, "and may
hap fact and speculation may help to
unfold the truth. Here's what | lave
TO offer for your consideration: \ lass
i'll her teens is bcguiIcd by devil in
the shape OF q man named Courtray.
a Wocful marriage follows. The lass
is betrayed and abused and deserted
by the villain More than that, she is
uiSoWn2l and. disgracCd by her father.
There's beginning in lNc for n young
girl in stEangc land. She is cast
alone on the world without friend
She is humiliatcd and deserted by these
VINO should protect her. Just think
DER that, Gillicuddy, and tell me what
Is THIS miserable Outcast TO do. One
or Two things would she do--Shc would
fall into the depths OF ruin and dis
grace, lost creature, or she would
fly from her present surroundings and
hiGe her identity of misery and shame
in new life and under Il new name.
That is Il rational speculation. ana !
submit ii TO you. Gillicuddy. Is il not
rcASOna Die? With abuse and desCrtion
and loneliness ana despair as her only
experience OF life and with Il great
terror upon her rs one huntui 10 the
last cNtNMitE. sG" would end her life
with her own hand or begin Il new life
III new place With Il new purpose and
a new naIuc. 1t is a reasonable thing
to think, You cannot dispute. Gllicud-
dy, and there YOU have the fact OF her
leaving France az Il matter fairly ac-
counted for"
interrupted him 10 say: AYE. jt's Il
likely enough concession and has rra-
son to bol&;c' ii, bUi there's Il little
matter tlHt troubles ne. ana that IL
the question q hcr history among the
new friends she would max i'm her
new existence. She coultlna begin life
without question as TO her past. She
would hae 10 account for her life. Her
friends would want to ken something
o her past. l fear they wouldna ac-
cept her as dropping frae the skies.
She would need to hae story u some
kind to tell, Pm thinking.";
"Ayc, Gillicuddy, she would that" he
replied. 'but her story would be but a.
story, fabrication. 1t could not be
else if she kept her secret. 4 story
made to fit the case she would plan, n
story, let us say at venture, of being
an orphan reared in home with Il
hundred other unknown and deserted
foundlings or some such matter Gun
ningly told. The laird could tell you
that story, Pm thinking, but whatever
it was it would be story planned TO
hide the truth, q story to fit her new
life and to blot out the past. Then we
will say she hears OF the death OF the
man Courtray, and she is q free wOm-
an at last, cut adrift from the past.
Think of the hope that this would
bring! Would il not lift her from the
slough OF dcspond, think ye? Then the