The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-04-29

step to become united: that we loved
madly, and knew no other way to effect
q union. We begged Sorgfveness-we
hoped for It; for my father had no
daughter save me. and no son but my
brother. and we were much loved chill
dren. We thought the affair. In ouI
folly, a rare and pleasant way to bring
the old man to his senses"
Here Nancy paused. for her voice
grew 80 husky that she could hardly
speak. The image Of her dead and dis.
honored father was rising in her soul.
but by nature bad and cruel. she sooD
overcame the emotion and proceeded
"When my father read that letter he
gave one sharp cry. sprang from bis
chair. and fell dead"
"Why speak of that" demanded
Luke. hercely. MARKS knows 1t. Tel
him what he does not know"
LET her take her own way" said
Marks. "If you check woman's story
she win have to 60 back and begin
again. Go on. Mime. Harker"
The cruel tidings killed him on the
spot" said Nancy. "What happened
then. John Marksw
"Ho! you want me to tell?"
"Yes, I do. I wish to see how true
your memory is. that ! may know how
to tell me something that you do not
know"
GOOD. Well. your father died a.
you said. His death and your conduct
made your mother lunatic-made her
as mad as crazy can be. You and your
brother returned to your home. The
robbery had never been traced to you.
for your fathers dying act was to tear
your confession to atoms. You and
your brother placed your mother in o
madhouse-I must say 1t was the only
thing you could do. for she was savage.
raving, dangerously mad! No one found
fault with that. Doctors said she
would never recover that was oil
right. Then you and your brother sold
the property. turned 1t to gold and went
to London. I met you there. then,
though I was hiding from my father.
who was q vindictiye old gentleman.
ard had other sons besides me to love.
II he had caught me I think he would
have anticipated the punishment Of the
law and given me- more severe one
than Imprisonment. The knowledge Of
my guilt didn't kill him. He lived ten
years after that. Well. you and lived
very well together until our share Of
the money was gone. Then we quar-.
re,ed - you got jealous: think we
fought q few battles with something
harder than words. We separated and
your brother obtained divorce for US.
We had one child. and the law gave
him to you. because he was an infant"
"What became Of the child?" asked
Nancy, sternly.
"The child" said Marks. He died
less than one year old. went to his
funeral. Don't you remember: that
was the last time you and I met
till tonight. It's a pity the boy died.
When he should have grown Q few
years older the law would have given
him to me. and with him to rear-well.
perhaps John Marks were now better
man-that's all"
"Now." SAID Nancy. rising. II will tell
you what shall join you to Us. knew
that when our child should have
grown older the law would take hin,
from me. his mother. and give him to
you. his father. I swore to clay my
child ere you should have him to rear
to love you and to hate me. The child
did not die. John Marks. The funeral
to which you were summoned was that
of The child Of my servant. Our child
still livesr'
"Ha! traitressr' cried Marks. grasp
ing for his pistols.
But n quicker hand than his had Sc
cured them. for while he was talking
Hammond had stolen behind him. and
rs Nancy Harker said. Our child still
lives" snatched away the weapons,
and now stood behind him with the
cold muzzles touching the right and
left ear Of Marks.
''Stir limb and you dlew said Luke.
as the locks clicked loudly.
And so imprisoned Marks was forced
to quiet by the willy. daring man who
needed him rs an able tool.
you are no man-you are Satanr'
said Marks, not daring to turn his h"nd
q hairs breadth.
To be continued.