Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1903-07-23
F1URMONT FREDERICK MD, THURSDAY, %, 1908
demanded Hammond. pausins at the

door.
ut was in the room when l rolled
the bed in" said Mrs. Harker, whose
sharp ard sallow face was as livid
with fear as that of corpse.
"How came It here? Who brought
1t here" cried Hammond.
"Must have been left here a long
time" replied Mrs. Harker, confusedly.
~ had not time to sweep the room
before 1 moved the bed and he on it."
"Fool! Careless fool" said Ham
mond.
"Now fool to you, Luke Hammond"
retorted Nancy Harker. "Who would
have thought that he would he able
to rise from the bed, where he has
been groaning a whole year?'
II know you, Luke Hammond" said
the invalid in deep and hollow voice.
HAS he spoken to you, Nancy?" de-
manded Hammond.
"Those are the first words l have
heard him speak for six months!' eX'
claimed Mrs. Harker. with strength
he has regained his speech"
"This is sudden and strange" said
Hammond.
Have six months elapsed since my
tongue uttered speech?" asked the In
| valid, and lowering his hatchet. Have
l been a mere mass Of living matter
| six months"
HE is now in full possession Of his
reason" said Hammond, without reply
ing to the invalld's question. Had you
much trouble in moving him here, Mrs
Harker?'
The glare of rage had faded from
the attenuated face of the invalid. and
though he still grasped his hatchet
firmly, his whole being seemed cen.
tered In the conversation going Cd
around him.
Mrs. Harker replied to Hammond.
"NO. He made no resistance when
began to roll his bed from the white
and gold chamber. He seemed half
asleep. But soon after I had placed
him in this room he opened his eyes
wide, began to fash them around him.
]
! he has not done these six months"
"Six months!' echoed the invalid, as
his attentive ear followed the cOlloquy
six months. Then l have been tor
tured n year; for during the first six
months ! was conscious of your vii
! lainy, Luke Hammond"
"Go on, Mrs. Harkpr," said Ham.
pond whose eyes seemed to shun the
| invalid's.
II forced him down upon the pill
lows" resumed Mrs. Harker. He lay
quiet for while and then again tried
! to get up. After hard tussle l tired
him out, and he sank back exhausted
Then I rang the library bell"
ITO do that interrupted Hammond.
"you had to leave him and run to the
white and gold chamber
"Of course. We've no bell nor speak
ing tube in this ROOM said Mrs,
| Harker. "When came back to bind
him, as you ordered he was OH the
floor, staring about as If he recognized
the room. | had a dreadful time in
getting him into bed again-he fought
like a tiger
And you like tigress-as you are.'
said the invalid. 81 remember now-I
had begun to regain my reason"
Then | ran to the bell and tube
again" pursued Mrs. Harker. You
sent Daniel to help me. When Daniel
came we tried to bind him; but he
fought so hard that unless we stunned
him We couldn't
Did you stun him?" asked Ham.
mond, a shudder creeping over his
frame.
Not looked too cruel to knock a
sick man ON the head said Mrs.
Harker.
You lie, tigress hag." exclaimed
the invalid. You ran aud got this
very hatchet, and raised it to smite me
dead or senseless. You did strike me
once, and that instant l think my
power of speech began to return. That
man there, Daniel, cried out for no vio
lencc; and in bis trying to wrest the
hatchet from you. 1t fell upon the bed,
and clutched it,
as this true, Daniel?' asked Ham.
mond.
True, sir" said Da,iel. II believe
Mrs. Harker would have killed him,
though not on purpose"
"uc struck me, Luke Hammond"
cried ;Irs. Harker. pointing to lGr
bruised visage. IT only meant to stun
him bit"
Had you slain him. Nancy Harker. v
said Hammond, with sudden tierceness,
"by my blood, would have slain you"'
Not because of any humanity In
your heart" sneered Nancy Harker;
but because the blow that slew him
would have slain the goose that lays
your golden eggs"
Your very instruments despise you,
Luke Hammond" said the invalid.
Learn to govern both temper and
tongue, Nancy Harkcr," said Ham
mond over whom this ferocious and
evil woman seemed to hold some pow.
erful restraint
Nancy sneered recognition of the
advice, and went on with her story:
when he got the hatchet he sprans
from the bed and ran for the doot
there. Daniel and ] threw chairs In
the way and lie fell. Then he kept
US off with the hatchet. and ran to that
corner, where he is now. I ran to the
bell then-and that's ALL"
"Murderers"' cried the invalid
"When will this tyranny cease:"
Daniel" said Hammond, placing his
lamp upon the table, "do you. from
that side, advance on him with the