Catoctin clarion., 1903-12-10

me upon the dread records Of heavenl
I knew not what did! am dying"
She sank forward upon her face. az
weak as a child.
"She is dying" said Nancy. "Help
me to place her upon the settee."
"No. She must not die here" said
Luke "Come, we will take her to
Catharine Elgin's room up stairs"
He was fearfully agitated, and per-
haps at that moment even his soul
writhed with remorse. They raised the
unconscious form of their mother, and
bore it to the room formerly used by
Kate Elgin. i
They placed their mother upon The
bed, and she opened her eyes.
They started back from the calm.
reproachful expression of those GYM.
| orbs.
"My children" said Fan, IN feeble
voice. II am dying. I know I am d..
ing. but am glad to die. thank God
that die in my senses. 1t seems like
a fearful dream, but know it is true
a dread reality. You, who call your.
self Luke Hammond. are my son. And
you are my daughter My mind is
calm and clear; 1t was not utterly
cloudod as 1t has sometimes been. and
I remember all, or nearly all, I have
done In this house. At times during
rly madness have been entirely sane.
and so great was my misery in being
sane, that l have prayed to be mad
again. But never have l been in Ily
clear mind more than few moments
at time; and for many months have
never been utterly mad. l have al
ways believed that ] should see my
children again. May God forgive me
for all the evil l have done, as for
give you, my children. l have done
and thought much evil, but was mad,
or half mad. My daughter, place your
hand in my bosom, there is a weight
there"
Nancy Harker cbeyed, and drew cut
the little sack of golden coin.
''Sink It! bury it! cast it awayw said
the dying woman. How l loved it in
my madness! There's the price of a
human life in 1t! Oh, scatter it to the
winds! Roland, my SON."
But Hammond felt weak. sck ana
faint. and hurried away to his library.
His face wore an appalled, and ghast,y
look, as he departed, but there was no
tear in his eye, no repentance in his
soul. He egretted-nothing more.
"IIc has gone" moaned Fan, turning
her weeping eyes upon Nancy. who
knclt near her. "Ah. loved my hrs.
band too much to gain tt. love Of my
children. Have you children, Nellie?"
'Yes, my mother, one son." said
Nancy.
".And has he-has Roland chi,Crcn:'
"Ycs, my mother, one son." replied
Nancy.
Il would ask many questions" said
the dying woman. II would talk much
with you, my daughter. But death is
near me. But oh, my child, tell me,
have you known me to be your poor
mother very long,"
'No, my mother" said Nancy. 1--WE
have suspected it only short time. l
wrote my fathers name on the floor,
and you recognized it."
II remember now. l tainted. Look
at my Scared and distorted face. See
the ravages of that awful disease, the
smallpox. No wonder you did not sus-
pect sooner. But stay l remember
something more. That sick man in
the rcd room-that young maiden in
the other-who are they? You do not
answer. What deed Of crime are you
doing, my daughter?"
Nancy made no reply. Sorry for
what she had done she was, but sor-
row is not repentance. She had pur-
pose to accomplish, and what that pur-
pose was the reader shall soon learn.
Farewell, my daughter, and may
God forgive you. May you repent and
reform ere you die. And now to Thy
mercy, Father OF all mercy, commead
my soul"
Old Fan, rs We have called Ellen
Elizabeth Dunn, never spoke again.
She fell asleep and in that sleep h:r'
tortured spirit passed away from earth
forever.
Nancy covered the body With sheet
and stole away to the library. She
found Luke drinking brandy, and look.
ing very wild.
'Shc is dead" said Nancy, coldly.
at Is WELL" said Luke. "And now
you must perform the duties she per-
formed for time" =
"Arc you not sorry, Luke?'
"Of course l am. Nancy" said he.
81 am puzzled how to manage about
the burial. Trouble there-trouble
! ahead"
And that was his sorrow!
"Now, Nancy, go to Catharine Elgin.
Daniel must have his sleep. l must
think"
Nancy left him sitting at his desk
his eyes hard, keen and cruel, and
every feature growing stiff in iron re-
solve. His race was nearly run.
CHAPTER XXVI.
JOHN MARKS EFFORTS A CONFESSION.