The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-06-17

he Is too honorable. You have made q
great mistake in having him reared
away from you"
II have-I have" said Hammond.
"'Tis the fault Of my sister-of Nancy
Harkcr. I will tell you that the mother
Of Charles, my second wife, died one
year after married her-died in giving
him birth. I cared little for the moth
er, but I loved my boy. At that time,
my sister, Nancy Harker, who had fed
to America with me, and aided me In
passing myself off as the genuine Luke
Hammond, took charge of Charles,
mere infant, and I did not see him for
three or four years. When saw him
again he was running about and play
ing with your SON.
MY son! Ah-go on" said Marks.
"Your son was some two or three
years older than mine, but being first
cousins, they resembled each other
very much. My sister persuaded me to
have the lads educated in Europe-1
think she desired to have them reared
as what squeamish people call honor
able. honest men,"
"Well, that was green in Nancy"
said Marks. "Still she was always
f1ighty and took queer notions. / am
very glad now that she persuaded you
to have the lads educated away from
you. But what became Of Harker,
whom she married?"
"Harker was killed in a duel, one
month after my sister married him."
said Luke.
And you have never seen Charles
since he was three OF four years old?"
asked Marks.
Never" replied Hammond Il be-
came immersed in speculation for
many years, and only heard from the
lads by letters from Nancy and
Charles. After time I conceived the
plan of marrying Charles to Catharine
Elgin, and since then have thought
more of my boy than ever"
And where is my sen now" de-
manded Marks, eagerly.
II do not know" said Hammond.
What! are you trifing with me,
Hammond?" said Marks.
mo. lam not. Nancy Harker knows
where he is" said Luke.
Marks closed his eyes in deep
thought for q few moments and then
said:
Where has Nancy Harker been
during these long years?
Sometimes in America, sometimes
in Europe. But never known as my
sister, and never known out Of this
house as Nancy Harker," said Ham
mond.
Harriet Foss must have learned all
this from Charles" said Marks.
mo. Ny letters have always forbid.
den him to answer any questions about
me or about himself" said Hammond.
"For the last four years he has been
travelling in Europe and Asia"
..And my son?" said Marks.
Nancy says your son was not with
him; nor have they been together for
years." replied Hammond. Charles
would not recognize Nancy Harker
now, for he has not seen her since he
was boy. Charles was reared by an
English clergyman, to whom I have
always sent funds and advice. Do
you know 1 was afraid that terrible
woman, Harriet Foss, might learn who
he was, and take vengeance on my son.
AS for myself, I can defend myself.
You shall learn more hereafter. And
now tell me who my son loves, and how
you found it out"
"Why, Charles is an impulsive fel-
low" said Marks; "as unsuspecting as
4 girl, and just as talkative. he looks
twenty-four or six years Of age at one
minute, and less than twenty the next.
But he has made tremendous mis-.
take"
"a tremendous mistaken said Ham.
mond
Eyes. He has fallen desperately in
love with a woman at least twenty
years older than himself"
"My lifew exclaimed Like. who
is she?'
"a very handsome and fascinating
lady" said Marks, putting furiously.
You know that when young men do
take q passion for women older than
themselves they go mad about it."
True! How unfortunate" said
Hammond. But who Is she? and
where did he meet herr"
"He met her in England said
Marks. ''She was known as Madame
Burr, rich widow. Charles told me
he adored her, and 1 think he does. I've
seen her."
"Ah-you have seen herr"
Eyes; and she is one Of the most
charming women in America" said
Marks.
I'm America! Is she in America? 2"
"Yes-Ghe is now in New York." said
Marks.
To be continued.
The Peach Crop.
Several years ago the failure of the