The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1902-02-20
tCopyrislt. by ROBERT BoNSEE's SoNsl
CHAPTER XVII.
CONTINUED.


ment, "there is secret connected
with your uncle's life of which you
know nothing. The only two who are
now living, perhaps, who do know it
are President Dole and myself. We
were boon companions of your uncle
in younger days, and understand the
full circumstances of the case. I say
perhaps we are the only ones living.
There were others, but have lost all
trace of hem. Now, that you may
fully understand what is before you,
you will please read this communica-
ton which your uncle placed in my
keeping the very day that you were
brought homo i'll, and. OF course, as
you have learned. the day upon which
he died. You had better read this be.
fore any of the others, as it stands
largely in the light OF will and e1acts
certain conditions coincident with
those existing in the will. The will,
however, was made out short time
after your sister disappeared. And
this document was written on the day
your uncle gave it to me. I need say
nothing further. The document makes
everything clear.
sT would request, Mr.. Berkton," ]
replied, "that if the document is 6
long one, you will be kind enough te
allow Gordon to read it aloud. As
my nearest friend, would naturally
turn to him for advice, if any were
needed, and there seems no necessity
for double reading. I am not equal
quite to reading at length aloud; SO.
if you and Mr.. Dole agree, Gordon
will read it."
.''It makes no difference" said Berk-
ton, handing the paper to Gordon.
Gordon cleared his throat, and,
spreading the paper on table before
him, read as follows:
CAT THE CoaALs, on THE ISLAND OF OAHU
(Date9
"To nv executor or my nephew, Thomas
Warringford, IL he should recover from
his alarming illness, and !, in the mean
time, should die:
"It is with the falling vision and tho
approaching that write this last letter, In
which make disclosure to my nephew,
should he survive, and in which leave d.
rections for the reparntion In some manner,
IL not too late, Of q wrong which has been
done child, first by direct abduction by
others aud since by neglect by myself.
Assuming that my dear nephew shall
recover, shall write this as direct COM
munication to him, as In case I survive him,
shall bs able to replace this with docu-
ments better fitting the needs OF the case.
"To begin, then, dear Tom, although /
have been known as bachelor to you and
your dear parents, I was married twenty
years ago.
"In the town OF Wailuku, on the island
OF Maui, there resided, twenty years ago,
q family OF French settlers, composed Of
Jean Chicot, his wife Marie and their
daughter Annette. Annette was about
twenty-five years Of age, very fascinating
and Of a wildly romantic nature. This was
which was fanciful and given to yagartes
OF o most striking nature.
"At this time held possessions In Maui
near Wailuku, and spent q considerable
portion OF my time on a plantation called,
Sugar Head Jean Chicot worked FOR me
and assisted me in the clerical work, act
Tag as an overseer and sort OF paymaster;
, Tor with oil his vagaries and whtms he was,
Rt'that time, a most trustworthy man.
did not like his wife. There was some-
thing ABOUT her that repelled me-some-
| thing OF a serpent-like element in her na-
ture. But met Annette and fell in love
! with her. or course, the Chicots were
more than willing that their daughter
should marry a wealthy planter, and An
nette became my wife. We lived at Sugar
Head and at first the promise Of happiness
, was very great. But after few months,
| Jean Chicot began to assert an evil influence
over his daughter (my wife), and the first
es.ranGement took place.
This sort OF thing kept up continually,
until my wife gave birth to a child-a
daughter. When the child was but one
month old, my wife left me under pressure
OF her fathers infuence-leit me. She dis.
| Appeared from Sugar Head one day while
| was out among my men and took the
| child with her. have not seen my wife
nor child since. I have reason to believe
that my wife died some three or four years
ago. -,
| out q shadow OF provocation, shut my
heart against her, and did not in any way
| attempt to find her, or win her back. For
wears smarted under the wrongs that old
Jean Chicot had done me. sold Sugar
Head and have never been on the island
OF Maui since. As for the child. do not
know what they did with her. They were
q mysterious lot, and were capable OF any.
! thing in the line OF oddity. I do not think
she was harmed, even though the parents
| OF my wife hated me most heartily. Ihave
since had cause to believe that this hatred
and their action was the result OF machin.
ations Of natives. Whatever was the cause,
| the effect was to break up my home and
cause me many heartburnings. I have
| never forgiven my wife. Were she to be
found to-day, wish 1t to be distinctly un-
| derstood that nothing in this document
| tends to undo the decree Of the court which