The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-03-18

to her. For months I would not be-
lieve 1t possible that q child could 90
treat q parent. But you, that woman
Nancy Harker. Daniel, Stephen, all You
allowed to approach me. said 1t was
true: and the thought. the horrible
doubt. preyed upon my mind until rea-
son fed from the torment. You and
your creatures lied. Luke Hammond"
Henry Elgin." said Hammond.
your rage Is useless. You know I de-
ceived you; your daughter now knows
that I deceived her. When you, two
wears ago, told me that you intended
to make q VIII leaving nearly every dol
lar Of the wealth you enjoyed to James
Greene"
AYE" interrupted Elgin, bitterly.
you know the name at last! I then
thought my MISUNDERSTANDING friend
thought him anything but a black
hearted scoundrel; and I wished to do
tardy justice to James Greene, whose
father I have wronged. and to whom
by right all the wealth in which !
moved belonged. That my daughter
should not suffer by the act ! had
pretended not to e her growing love
for James Greene, and used many
plans to encourage. while seeming l.
norant Of II. I withheld this scheme
from Jour knowledge because ! knew
You were DESTROYS to see Catharine Ell.
gin the wife Of your son; and esteem.
ing you. ! disliked to wound you by
rejecting the suit you urged in the
name Of your son Charles. I feared.
too. that you might attempt. even
succeed in checking the love ! saw
growing in my daughters heart for
James Greene. Therefore. was he
never invited to my house. and so
| you never dreamed Of the attachment"
81 would have crushed 1t II I had"
said Hammond. Il would have used
any means to create dislike or con-
tempt In Catharine's mind. As for
James Greepe-well. he should have
been provided for. But I have learned
the affair thoroughly now. Henry e.
gin. But to review the past, all unex-
planned to you. and that you may know
what q man ! am to deal with. let me
continue.
when / found that you intended
20 leave your property to James
Greene"
Henry Elgln again interrupted him
with:
IL never mentioned his name. ]
told you there lived a man whose IA.
Their I had wronged. and that when ]
died that man should be made rich
that nearly oil my property should 80
to him. And I told you this. hoping
you would give up the thought Of try
ing to bring about q match between my
daughter and your son. I feared to tell
you the name Of that young man. lest
you might learn all. I was q fool to
tell you anything. but I thought you
we've an honorable man. though I well
knew you were O most avaricious and
ambitious one. I cannot divine why
SO great q villain has not destroyed
the will In favor of James Greene. or
why Luke Hammond has not murdered
me and forged q will in my name"
II viii tell you" said Hammond.
After you told me Of your intention,
I resolved to discover the name Of the
young man you wished to make rich.
This I failed to do-you held the secret
well. During the whole Of your i'm
prisonment, You have never breathed
his name. Failing to discover him.
and being sure you had made q will. ]
resolved To-"
Here Hammond paused, as II even
his soul revolted from q confession
that must lower him still more, II that
were possible. in the opinion Of his vic
tim.
Poison me-" said Elgin. calmly. II
have suspected it."
True. 1 resolved to remove you;
that dying interstate. your only child
would be beyond all dispute. heiress.
atlaw."
Mr. Elgin groaned in great bitter
ness Of spirit. For he remembered
that during his first six months Of i'm
prisonment he had sometimes won.
dered II his child had not consented
or helped to the deed he had COM
mitted 9 great mistake In not having
made her his c%onfdant, when he saw
that she loved James Greene.
II did poison you" said Hammond.
in q low whisper. and as pale as the
sheetc Of the bed.
"Ha. scoundrel! you confess IL" ex-
claimed Elgin.
"what need to conceal It now2 !
tell You that you may know what q
man I am"
"a fend! A demon! Satan himself.
but no man" groaned Mr.. Elgin.
And in the white and gold room you
always limited that my child had done
1t! oh. God. hear my prayer. and
hurl Thy Just wrath upon the soul and
body Of this awful wretchr
Hammond smiled one Of his Icy
sneers. and continued:
1.-THE drug I gave you worked slow.
~. You were III. but never dreamed Of
dying. You were sitting in this room,
little more than a year ago. amusing
yourself with your paints and pictures.
when a CONFUSION seized you"
II remember II as II 1t happened
yesterday" said Elgin. This crimson
chamber was my ~favorite retreat. I
remember no more until I regained my
senses in the white and gold cham.
ber."