The Elbert County tribune., 1902-06-19
An American Nabob.
Remarkable Story of Love, Gold and
Adventure.
BY ST. GEORGE RATHBoRNE
CHAPTER xx.-1con,Iaued.1
eopsrisa, sy srn.sr ssIrn se - >$%$>%~*~%S

west BIofnpton, and into tnls ne nau
moved the wreck of his fortunes, in
Guiding his family
The marquis waited certain length
of time
Then one afternoon he appeared at
the new home of the Livermores.
To himself he declared many times
that he intended this visit as a posi-
tive means of increasing his hold upon
the captains wife. over whom he
seemed TO be exerting some peculiarly
hypnotic power. with the eventual aim
in view OF Inducing her to leave
home and seek some asylum on the
continent.
For years he had looked forward to
this same moment With the keenest
anticipation: for years he had in his
mind gone over every little detail, had
seen her surprise and alarm. with his
own great triumph. as he sent his
shafts home with the arm of ample
revenge; yet, strange to say. he did
not approach the subject with the
eagerness he had expected. the fever
ish thrill was only conspicuous by its
absence. and he even started guiltily
when from some distant part of the
rambling old structure a peal Of child
ish laughter was borne to his ears;
there was something so condemnatory
in the merry sound
BY degrees he brought the subject
around to where he wanted 1t. and the
manner in which he accomplished this
declared that his strategic powers had
not waned particle.
Have you had any American
friends?" he asked.
Yes, one" came the rather confus
ed reply. and the listener knew he had
caused her mind to revert to that un-
happy past about which she even
usually avoided thinking.
Pardon me; but once knew a poor
Fellow. an artist, out in Mexico, who
Captain Livermore's Wife he went on
deliberately.
AN artist" she echoed. looking
panied and yet showing an eagerness
in her voice.
Yes; by name Jack. ! chanced to
do him several favors. and he even
confided his history to me Poor fell
low he had suffered bitterly"
"Confided to you-then you know
in alarm.
That you and he were once be-
trothed--yes That while he labored
increasingly in the hope of gaining
fame and fortune, your love for him
began to grow cold. He had been the
means of reconciling you to your
proud old English grandfather. In the
whirl of society you met Captain Liv-
ermore. then the lion of the hour. You
forgot to write to the man who be-
lieved in you as he did in Heaven. He
came to London, unable to breathe
outside your presence. Then you
crushed him by declaring that while
you still loved him. you loved position
still more, and that you had agreed to
marry the, captain"
Fedoras head had fallen on her
wildly heaving bosom. but she neither
looked up nor uttered word as yet,
being too stunned as the tremendous
revelation was forcing itself upon her
mind.
He went on pitilessly!
Jack sought a quarrel with the
man who had robbed him of all he
had on earth-perhaps you never knew
OF 1t. but they met at dawn in the
deadly duello, each determined to kill
the other. The captain. as they ad-
vanced toward each other, fired first
and only inflicted a wound He was
then at Jacks complete mercy since
he was allowed the privilege of walk
ing up as close as he pleased and send
inc "a hall through the hearf of his
adversary"
Fedora groaned. but never moved,
1.-The captain was no coward; believ-
ing his hour had come. he deliberate
iy opened his coat and awaited the
fatal shot. his eyes looking into those
of the man he had wronged without
knowing 1t. Twice Jack took aim, but
each time he failed to pull the trigger
Finally he raised his pistol. fired in
the air and fed from the scene
For the first time she raised her head
and looked at him, her troubled face
marked by conflicting emotions.
Then came the wedding. which poor
Jack saw from the organ loft, enduring
the tortures of the damned while the
woman whom heaven had given to him
was united by law to man she did not
love.
Then he fed from London as from
a place accursed and sought fortunes
smiles upon a new field. hating women
because one had been false to her VOWS.
and always hugging to his heart the
resolution to some day return and take
full satisfaction for that treachery.