The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-05-06
Copyright 1896,
BY ROBERT BoNNER's SoSs.
(Au rights reserred.)

was in Paris, France, dancing at a
ball, on the night Of the 10th Of Au-
gust, 1s-, and. while dancing, a sud-
! den weakness seized her limbs, and
feeling as if about to faint, she retired
to the dressing-room, and lay down on
sofa. A moment after she saw
standing by her the form Of her sister,
clad in white. Look at your watch!
said the image. Harriet, half dead
with fear, looked at her timeplece
which she said she had set by yours,
a week before, in London. The hour
was fifteen minutes past twelve. on
Tuesday, 18th of August. I am no
more of earth said the apparition.
My husband and his sister have suffo-
Gated me!"
There was a groan and crash as
John Marks uttered these words.
Nancy Observation-Disclosures Nancy
Harker-had swooned and fallen upon
the floor!
"Great heavensw said Marks; "this
is terrible!'
"And true" said Luke, with white
lips, as he raised his sister and placed
her upon q settee. 1T IS needless to
attempt concealment from you. The
sister of Harriet Foss died as the ap-
partition stated"
"Why did you and that wretched
woman commit the deed!" demanded
Marks.
my wife had discovered that we
counterfeited the notes Of the Bank Of
England" said Hammond. "She up
braided us, and threatened to denounce
US to the law. Though mild woman,
she was firm; and being absurdly pious,
deemed it her duty to inform Oh US. l
think I might have changed her in.
tention, had not my sister urged me
to the deed, saying that my wife would
not fail to tell Harriet; and as Harriet
hated my sister terribly, there was
reason to believe that the dangerous
secret would leak out and the punish
ment would have been death"
| Nancy Harker here opened her eyes
and sat up.
"Tell me-" said she, staring around,
"have I been dreaming"
. John Marks, wicked as he was, was
no murderer, and he shrank from her
as from leprosy.
"No dream" said Hammond, in a
hollow tone. Harriet Foss-"
81 remember now," cried Nancy, as
if the speaking of that name was an
electric shock. go on with your story,
John Marks"
AFTER her sisters spirit-for such it
must have been," said Marks, had
said, Ny husband and his sister have
suffocated me- Harriet Foss instantly
left the ball and FASTENED on her jour.
ney to London. AS she told me she
fell very i'll on the way. and when she
arrived in London you were gone. All
the rest Of her life has been devoted to
a search for you"
"But how was she directed to New
York;" asked Luke.
"You son." said Marks, "is your fac
simile when you were Of his age"
"Ah! she has seen my son, Charles"
exclaimed Luke, clenching his hands.
"She saw him one month ago in Liv'
erpool," said Marks, $50 she told me.
But did not know he was your son. Yet
the resemblance to you, whom she
sought, was so striking that her suspi.
cions were aroused, and she managed
to learn his name, his business, and, in
fact, all about him."
"Ungrateful wretch! Why did you
not tell me this last night?" cried Luke.
Because she did not tell me Of the
trace she had found till this night-not
two hours ago." said Marks. Il was
trying to persuade her to embark for
Cuba by telling her that had good
cause to believe you were there. when
she checked me by saying: I have
clue Of my own. I am waiting for the
bark Cleaner and then told me, as /
have told you, Of Charles Hammond.
You had paid me we'll, and told her
that once knew the father Of Charles
in Australia and that, though the re-
semblance was great it was a decep-
tion."
"Then what said she?" asked Nancy.
"That she had learned the name of
the young mans father. That it was
Luke Hammond, and that she only
waited for the bark Cleaner to have
Charles Hammond redeem his promise
made to her in Liverpool to introduce
her to his father"
Cunning, terrible woman" cried
Luke 1.-THE bark Cleaner has been re-
ported in the bay; my son is undoubt.
edly aboard. She will accompany him,
that there may be no deceit practiced
upon her. We are lost! She must die,
| Marksw
II fear my alarmed visage excited
her suspicious" said Marks. For ]
noticed that as left the Astor House
we stop there-some person dogged me
rather closely, and, fearing trap, l
walked and rode at least ten miles out
of my way in getting here"
John Marks" said Hammond, sit.
ting down and writing rapidly. Il have
d plan to battle her. Its success de-
pends upon speed. l have written:
"Charles-Place entire confidence in
the bearer, John Marks. Your father,
Luke Hammond"
Haste with this. The storm has fortr-
nately delayed the bark Cleaner. Use
any means to board her. If Charles is