The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1903-05-29

check
Il suppose" said. chat you've left |
some Clew 70 the ladys identityY
"Oh, yes" said Dolan. you'll find |
It an down there, indicating the papers
which were slowed away I'm an inner
pocket Of my Norfolk jacket. "She
called herself Mrs. Hatteras when /
knew her first. and l came across her
IN boarding house at Denmark Hlll."
"Hatteras" said Nolan, who was
busy In loading up his pipe and lean
ing forward on the upturned biscuit
box on which he sat, so that neither OF
Us could see his face.
"Hatterasw echoed Dolan. "That
was the name She was sort Of grass
widow She seems to have been mar
rled to a brute Of q fellow who didn't
care for her. She left him after years
Of suffering, and took her mothers
maiden name Who she really was
never knew but when we began to ey-
change condolences she told me just
that much about herself" Dolan
sighed heavily and adjusted the travel
ing rug which lay upon his knees
''There was never any real harm be-
tween us" he went on, though that
wasn't my fault, for went quite mad
about her, and l would have run away
with her to the ends of the earth If
she'd been willing. l tell you what it
is, you fellows. There are things in
this world that / can't understand.
Such pretty, confidlng, helpless little
woman-and that hulklng brute Of
husband Of hers used to beat her"
Nolan cleared his throat and slipped
his pannlkin. The ineffective, smoky
little lamp we had afforded a very poor
light, but something gave me the i'm
preston that he was rather strangely
moved.
Il wonder" he said, in casual tone,
''if we are thinking Of the same person.
knew little woman who called her
self Mrs. Hatteras, who told pretty
much that sort of story. Did she ever
give you any clew to her husbands
profession"
NO." said Dolan, mot that I remem-
ber.' He paused and relit his pipe
"Pve never so much as named her to
soul till now" he went on rather
haltingly. 81 mean I've never limited
at my infatuation for her. But it's a
sort OF deathbed confession, 1 suppose.
I've never been much of a believer in
presentiments, but l don't think l shall
come out Of the scrap tomorrow. l
don't want to, for one thing"
you'll die when your time comes,
my lad, like the rest Of US, said Nolan.
"That Mrs. Hatteras now. Little
brown-eyed woman, wasn't she? Brown
hair, with a tinge of auburn in it. AIDE
laide Mary was her Christian name"
"By lover cried Dolan. "When did
you know her? What did you know
about herr"
"Oh," said Nolan, Il knew her pretty
well. 1 knew her husband. I never
had any particular liking or respect
for the fellow, but that's all rot about
his beating her. He was a harum-sca
rum, worthless sort of a fiend, bur
woman beating was never his line OF
country"
"She said So" answered Dolan hotly
ooh, yes" said Nolan. 81 know she
said so. We all make excuses for our
selves Of one sort or another. Tha
wasn't true"
I'D believe her against the world,
cried Dolan.
Naturally" the other answered
"Have you got any presentiment
( about tomorrow, Give"
Except that know that we're in
, most particularly ugly corner" 1 re
sponded, "and that it's something like
ten to one chance against all of us"
, well" said Nolan, the customaril,
! silent reticent man, 81 have mine. YoI
! two will come out Of the scrimmag
Q and l shan't. I know it"
"Why, my dear Nolan" I began
you've been in as tight a corner
MANY q time" he interrupted can
\ never had q scratch. And Away
o knew I shouldn't I'm a Celt, 70
/ know, and my family always dealt +
: second sight I'm going to turn il
n boys"
e He bestowed himself to sleep an
It Dolan and I gradually fell to whisper
Y ing He pulled a iocket from hi
breast and showed me a miniature.
J. IF they lay me out tomorrow" L
e said, you may find this useful as
:. means of Identification"
1 1 looked at the locket for awhile, III
e til he gently withdrew it from m
e hand, and buttoned it underneath h
i pocket near his heart. 1t was just
.ri1l nnd nc AIrs Rrn1,-ni1nc. nnr.s aaori,.