The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-04-08
CHAPTER IL.

CHAPTER X.
Continued.
my aweethearta. Miss. I had lots OF
'em-long time ago. You needn't think
10 coax me, Miss. with nice Names"
said Fan, shaking her head briskly.
-All the days I ha' been In this house.
and that's nigh on a year. you've nev
% much - looked at me. Oh. no! my
name In Fan, and Mr.. Hammond is my
master"
.But how cruel In you and him to
keep me here. and my poor father.
to-" said Kate.
"That's none Of my business. Miss.
Mr.. Hammond pays me-" said Fan.
"Have you no pity. 10 heart. no
soul?" cried Kate.
Not q bit-not q mite. They robbed
me Of all the heart I ever had. /
haven't got anything now but q yearn-
ing for such stun rs this" said Fan.
placing the gold coin that Luke had
given her upon the floor.
who robbed you. FannieT asked
Kate.
Say. Miss. Do You want to talk to
me?" asked Fan. quickly. when /
Hrst came into this room you wouldn't
look at me, even. Now. MI at once.
you want to talk. Oh, no! my master
pays me to keep his secrets-when ]
can get hold Of them-and I pay myself
for keeping my own"
"The old wretch" thought Kate.
sloves nothing but gold, and I have
very little to give her. But I must
make q beginning. Here. Fannie" she
said aloud, and showing q gold dollar.
Of which she had several in her purse.
you see thisY'
Old Fans eyes slittered as she fixed
her greedy gaze upon the little coin.
Tell me who robbed you Of your
heart. and you shall have this" said
Kate.
EVEN Luke Hammond pays me IN
advance. Old Fan trusts nobody"
said Fan.
take H." said Kate. and the coin
spun In the air. Old Fan caught It as d
starving dog catches q mcrsel Of meat
in her mouth.
"I learned the trick" said Fan,
weighing the coin on her finger nail.
"to please q Snowman I travelled with
once Some people used to toss pen.
: MES to me. but I didn't spit 'em out
because they were coppery-pennies
grow into dollars. Now. I'll tell you
who stole my heart out Of me, and
made me hate everybody. 1t was my
children"
Your children. Fannie! I never
knew you had any children! Where
are they:" said Kate.
The old woman looked keenly at the
lovely girl. Hates tone Of genuine
sympathy had astonished her.
"Yes." said Fan. II had a son and
daughter once The son robbed me
and ran away when he was twenty
years old - thirty years ago. The
daughter went with him. too-she was
sixteen then. That didn't make me
bad. Miss"
what did. Fannie?" asked Kate.
1.-THE desertion Of the children killed
their father-kIlled him when he heard
II al sudden rs II q bayonet had split
his heart wide open. Miss Elgin. he
was my husband. After he died the
world got black as ink to me; ! went
crazy; I amt quite straight In my head
now. Straight enough. though. not to
let you get away from Mr.. Hammond
% long 40 he pays me-" said she. with
. sharp glance. II love to talk-no-
body talks to me-. though. After my
husband died. and I went crazy. what
do you think my children die?
IL hope they returned, were very
sorry, and took good care Of you. Fan
ME-" said Kate. who did not despair
Of gaining the good viii OF the half
idiotic creature.
Would you have done that. MissT'
asked Fan.
II would v desert my parents"
said Kate.
You would! You are an alike
sons and daughters-aI Of ye"
screamed old Fan. flying into q tenn.
Pest Of rage and springing up. You
would have done what mine did-put
NO In q madhouse-sell all I had and
run or again! Fiends! II ! could find
those children I'D eat EN- up-eat EN-
up raw! I wonder II you amt one"
She hobbled nearer to Kate and peered
closely into her face.
Horrors" thought Kate. This Is
q mad woman. and ! am alone with
her. what shall I do"
II think you are one-I think you are
the girl" said Fan, still drawing near.
with her distorted, rat-like eyes blazing
from a horrid visage. scanned and
Scared with the ravages OF the small
poz. My girl was as pretty as you"
Her lean. bony fingers touched poor
Hates trembling hand.
And her hands were soft. like this"
said Fan. II wish I had teeth now
ycu must be my girl. Nellie Dunn"
Kate tossed her purse from her, and
Il clinked as II fell upon the floor.
"Pick that up and you may have it."
said Kate. though white as snow.
Gold" cried old Fan. darting upon
The purse and emptying its contents
INTO her palm. "Oh. NO! You are not
my girl. My girl never gave me gold
she helped to rob me-" and as II the
gold had proved the plain impossible
tty Of the idea. from that time she
never raved Of 1t again.