Catoctin clarion., 1903-12-10
By Prof. VIM. Henry Peck,



her distorted brain began to burn a
suspicion that Luke Hammond had
lied when he told her that Roland
Dunn, her son, was hanged, and that
Luke Hammond knew where that son
was. But that Luke Hammond was
that son, old Fan as yet never
dreamed.
Nancy" continued Luke, "often be-
fore now, during my life Of plot and
Eheme, I have felt as now feel, and
a1Vays have acted"
-"Act then, Luke" said Nancy, who
b much impressed by his earnest
bearing and pa1lfd face. -.
"You consent?"
"Not to her death, Luke" said Nancy,
"but to her Imprisonment"
"Folly! feel as If my unseen agent
of success tells me to remove forever
this woman, whose remorse begins to
threaten my death-death on the gal.
lows-to your death. Nancy Harker.'
II will not consent to her DEATH" said
Nancy. "Imprison her. She may not
suspect. Imprison her until you have
got full possession Of Elgin's estate,
then we will share the wealth. ana you
may fly to whatever place you like"
"And you. Nancy Harker?"
This affair finished, We must sep.
aratc," said Nancy. Il shall fly to
Italy"
"And where shall we imprison old
Fan" asked Luke.
Until he uttered those words old Fan
had no idea of whom he was speak.
ing. She began to creep farther up the
steps; the conversation was growing
very interesting to her.
Anywhere. There are places enough
in this large house to keep the old
creature safe" said Nancy.
There is but one safe place for her."
said Hammond, shutting the library
door.
But old Fans ear was at the key hole
in n second
And where is that" said Nancy.
"In the old store-room."
Old Fan nearly screamed at the bare
thought of the place.
You mean to murder her, Luke"
said Nancy. II will not consent to It,"
Take care, woman. You are grow
ing dangerous. You arc opposing me-"
II care not whether l am growing
dangerous or not" said Nancy, vche-
mently. bad as l am. Luke Ham
mond, there is n crime l cannot COM
nit. Our conduct caused the death of
our father, the madness of our mother
and were you to place your pistol at
my head and say, DO it or die" l will
die before l consent to the death Of
our mother"
"Foolw cried Luke. in n rage. II
did not say wished her death. l say
she must be imprisoned in the old
store-room, not beneath II. She can
not know why"
"The mere fact of being there would
kill her-her remorse would kill her."
said Nancy. "No; imprison her in any
other ROOM"
"She shall be imprisoned in the old
store-room, and nowhere else. have
said It," said Luke, fiercely. "And now
to do it. We shall need Daniels help.
He opened the library door, and old
Fan sprang into the room bare blade
In hand.
II know you now! l know you
both" screamed Fan, slamming the
door and placing her back against it,
while Hammond and Nancy recoiled
TO the other side of the room.
"You are crazy! you are a lunatic"
said Luke while Nancy grasped his
arm.
81 know it, know it"' shreked Fan.
And who made me SO? Ny children.
Who slew their noble father-brOke
his heart-killed him dead? My chill
dren! You, Roland Dunn, and you,
Nellie Dunn! Oh Nicholas, my dead
md murdered husband! could you have
lived to see this day! Not content with
crushing of the noble heart-not con.
tent with driving their mother mad
bee! hear! the parricides plot to finish
by assassinating that half mad
mother"
She sank down upon the floor and
moaned bitterly. Her knife fell from
her hand, and her sobs almost suffo.
Gated her.
Hammond's quick eye saw the knife.
Ind he began to creep towards her to
secure It.
Back! unnatural son" cried Fan,
tnatching up the knife and springins
to her feet. Back! Roland Dunn!
For years in my feverish, fitful mad!
ness have vowed to avenge the death
bf my husband But my brain-my
brain reels--and cannot kill my chill
dren! No! / cannot l thought l could
Il thought it would be pleasure; but
l was insane--I am insane now-it
cracks my brain to try to think. How
came I here in New York? I know
not. Where have | been? Here and
there - wandering. wandering, ever
wandering; scorned, jeered, laughed at
made q show, scoff-by whom
BY my children. Ah me! am going
mad again--I feel the fire rushing back
upon my brain-ah! wait! wait, let me
think; oh, my son, twas you made your
old crazed mother an accompllce in o
murder--what murder me think
r-.yes. of James Greene. Oh. my hus'
haudt Iat nat fha haaH ntand no inet