Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1903-09-24
CHAPTER XIII.
WARNING FROM THE DEAD.
Author Of the "1hs Stone. Cutter
Of Lisbon" Etc.

You will listen patlently, now, JONI
Marks" said Nancy Harker, with a
grim smile at his position.
"As Luke Hammond will have my
life at his command as much when be-
fore me as there where he is," said
Marks with CHASTITY smile, brave as
he certainly was, II think l can under
stand what you say much better with
cold iron further from my ears. n pis-
tol is liable to so off of its own accord,
you know"
Hammond came around to the front,
and sat down with the table between
them. yet retaining the pistols ready
for service.
John Marks heayed long sigh Of
Infinite relief, and nodded to Nancy
Harker to continue.
"Our child still lives. John Marks-a
grown-up man; your image, too, when
l last saw him. We-Luke Hammond
and I--alone can restore him to you;
but to regain your son, you must act
with us, and do as we shall dictate"
II agree" said Marks. "You have
been deceiving me; but for the mere
hope of ever greeting IA son, I will act
with you. Last night you told me you
would need me in three days. Is this
the need you have of mc?"
mot all-partly. l am glad you have
come, however," said Hammond. "And
now tell us how Harriet Foss traced
us to New York"
"Give me some confidence, also
said Marks, warmly. "Tcll me why
this woman, Harriet Foss, so hates
YOU both. She came to New York on
the same steamer with me; l lNcog.
nized her, and so she did me. She in
quired very cunnlngly after you, by
the name you bore when you were her
sisters husband; but l could give heI
no information, for had been so long
q convict that | had lost all trace OF
you. She told me that, after l was
transported for that unfortunate bur
glary affair, some twenty-four years
ago, you murdered her sister then youI
wife, and that she had sworn yom
destruction. That at the time of heI
sisters death she was in Paris. Or
hearing of her sisters death, she hast
ened to London, but was taken sud
denly ill on the way; and when she
reached the city. some weeks after,
you had fled, having first converted al
her sisters estate and your own into
ready money. as we'll as having tleeceC
her, Harriet, of much of her own patri
mony. She told me sh" and her sister
were twins, and orphans ut the time
of your marriage to her sister: that SHE
had trusted you with the guardianship
Of hdr estate.
You will remember that Harriet
was Of n totally different temperament
from her sister Harriet was quick
passionate, mpulsive even to tierceness
You remember she shot and severely
wounded an officer who tritled with he]
Affections
what is her appearance now? Has
she never married" asked Luke.
she has never married, so she stated
TO me-" replied John Marks; land J
know of no reason to doubt her word
Harriet Foss, impulsive and passionate
as she was, was and is one of those
women who can love but once, in the!l
youth. and when they once love, they
pour forth their whole soul and being
at the feet of the beloved one. Harriet
F0ss devotedly loved the officer whor
she shot but when he trifled with her
her anger famed to very fury. She
told me. on the voyage to New York
that she had now but one object i'll lift
revenge for her sisters death. Yor
ask Of her appearance. She is still q
fine and stately looking woman, je'
black hair and eyes, in her fortieth
perhaps forty-ffth year"
"She is forty-slx. my age" said
Nancy Harker, decisively.
"Shc does not look so near to forty
madame, as you do 10 sixty" SAID
Marks, with grin OF malice.
Nancy took no notice of the sneer
she had long since ceased to care fol
her looks good or bad.
But how came she to think her sis
| ter had died other than a natura
DEATH" asked Hammond; "and why
lay it to me?
"Shc says replied Marks, that hel
sister died at But let me ask :
question, Luke uammond-merely Il
! satisfy my own mind. On what day
/ did her sistor die"
J "On Tuesday, the 18th Of August,
said Hammond.
! But the notice of her death in th
| London papers stated Monday, TN
10th. Harriet Foss showed me tw'
old gazettes with 1t SO printed" salt
Marks un2asily
This mistake arose said Luke. I'll
| the incorrcctness of the tillepiecc &c
which referred when Harriets sister
| brcathad her last. Immediately wrote
4 notice Of it, and sent it to the papers
that it should appear in the Eext issue
The tinepieCc at which | looked indi
Gated five minutes of tw@lve-fiye min
uteS OF midnight; but | afterwards 10
tceG that the watch was not running
md on comparing my own watch will
that of my sister, who was present, W.
concluded that my wife died at fifteel
minutes after twelve, On Tuesday The
l1th Of August
' "Craat heaypnsp' cried Mayka staru