Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1903-11-26
CHAPTER NXIII.
Continual
Author Of the "Ihs Stone Cutter
Of Lisbon" Etc.

Continued.
"Nothing new. An imposturc that
dates back nearly twenty-five years.
MY true name is not Luke Hammond.
About twenty-five years ago l made
the acquaintance Of an American
gentleman, to whom my facial and per-
sonal resemblance was so remarkable.
that my own sister twice addressed
him, supposing that he was |. This
gentleman was OF my age, and even
the tones of our voices We're similar
He had been travelling over Europe
and Asia. and even Africa, for seven
years before he met me in London
Soon after we became acquainted he
sickencd and died. and before his death
he gave me all his papers, letters and
effects, to be delivered TO a young lady
in New Hampshire, TO whom he was
betrothcd. He told me that he and
she had pledged their vows when he
was eighteen, but that her parents had
consented to the match only upon the
condition that he should wait seven
years-that is, until he should be
twenty-five years. He was an orphan
rich, and with but one near relative
on earth, sister, who afterwards be
came your wife, the mother of Cathar-
inc Elgin. Being by nature Of a rowing
disposition. and by the will Of bis
father in full possession Of his inherit
hn lntpr,DinaI Ia tpnVp1 nSnnpinl l.
ly rs the parents of his hetrothed for
bade any further communication be-
tween the lovers for at least five years
Bidding his betrothed adicu. and cy.
changing vows of eternal fidelity he
set forth upon his travc.s.
"He was returning when he died in
London. after contidinS to me his story
and effects, with Il Will which be.
queathcd the greater part of his prep.
erty to his hCtrothed. and the remain.
der to his sister. Among his effects |
found 4 miniature of his betrothod,
which she had sent to him Il few
months before for after a silence Of
five years, correspondence had been
renewed. The name OF his bctrothed
was Clara Sandfortl, and the beauty o!
her picture determined me to attempt
an impOSture which should make me
the husband Of the original Besides,
/ would by success become master of
a handsome fortune, and bury my own
identity in that Of Clara's lover, II
fact, my own liberty. and perhaps my
life, demanded that | should fly from
England and conceal myself in
America.
in pursuance Of this design I made
myself master of all the information
contained in this young Americans
friends. He had no acQuaintanccs in
England. and fortunately for my sue.
cess, was travelling under an assumed
name. as is often the practice With
travellers who delight in a little mys.
terT. He died and WIS buried under
his assumed name. and | tool; his true
name and came 10 America.
Seven years OF travel will always
make great change in ones appear.
nncc, and as lie was only eighteen
when he left New Hampshire, it was
not thought strange by those who once
knew him that they found much diff.
Guilty in recognizing a former youthful
toWnSman in the tail, dark and bearded
stranger of twenty-five years OF age.
IL had learned that Clara Sandford's
parents had died, from her letters TO
her lover ana that his sister had mar
ried You, Henry Elsin, and settled in
this city Of New York, before | left
England.
AT first glance Clara Sandford rec
oSniZed NE as Eer long absent lover.
This was not strange, as / had
learned from her letters to nm that she
had no likeness o. nm, and eagerly
desired one, request with which her
lover had not complied, as he desired
to see if she would recognize him after
years of separation.
knowing this, | easily forged his
writing, and sent her my own likeness
in miniature rs his. few days before
left England"
What a scoundrel. what n wretch"
crieo Elgin, unable to control his in.
dignation.
'Iou hatter me- sncered Hammond,
and continued;
CLARA Sanford was the first to rec
oGnIze me, and afterwards others did
the same. We were welded within
one week after | met her.
"Ioor, unfortunate, miserable WON.
an. exclaimed Kate. bursting into
tears, and forgetting her own bitter
wrongs and fears in her sympathy for
the unhappy mistake of n fond, noble.
and faithful heart.
Hammond compressed his lips with
silent rage. aud after glaring at Kate
ner''ly, continued:
Fearing ultimate detection from he.
friends, who often conversed with ME
of the dead mans young days. think.
ing Inc him, gave out the report that
] had once been smitten by n sun.
stroke during my travels, and since
then that my memory Of my life prior
to that misfortune was very defective.
''Stlll l feared detection, as l often
saw several Of the old playmatQs of the
dead lover eyelng me suspiciously, and
heard them say that 1t was very
strange / had forgotten so much.
uAeyerors ! sold out all my interest lp