The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-12-05
THE MISSING MAN
By MAR1 R. P HATCH, 14ut5v Of Tragedy"
cpn Lee prap n


explain partially the altered notes
which L was to profess to know moth
ing about, but to make up if trouble /
seemed likely to grow out of the mat
ter.
In short, decided to do exactly as
the real Vane Hamilton would have
done had he returned after the hal
Inclination had left his brain and
memory. He would know 4 nothing
about the notes or what had oc-j
the doubt remained strong about his |
coming to Grovedale and presenting
the notes, he would doubtless, with his
sense of honor, offer to repay them. I
would do SO, but I would say nothing
about a twin brother, for he, it APP
peared, had never mentioned the mat
ter to any one, not even to his wife, or
SO newspapers stated; and it would
be far better for my plans not to
have it known that any such person,
existed. sy..T ats
1t is known how the plan sue
cceded, but it is not known how it
was regarded by myself.
When l stepped from the train and
walked up the street ] perceived looks
of recognition from the few persons
dressed me, so I concluded they were
| not personal friends of my brother
AS l neared the marble shop the door
was being opened, and I saw the
monument and the name Vane Hanil-
ton on it. A beautiful woman stood
looking at 1t, and I coniectured it was
his wife. Nay, I knew it to be, when
she cried out and tainted T went in
and bent over her and I marveled at
her beauty. AS Il looked, a mighty
love formed in my soul for her.
cannot understand 1t. I only know
forgot Lenora, forgot everything, even
the part l was to play, as I gazed at
the beautiful statuesque figure ex-
tended in all the pathos Of lost ANNA
ton before me.
But I recovered my composure suf-
| hc1ently to play my part of the re-
turned husband. I knelt at her side,
but felt 1t to be almost impossible to
so much as touch her hand, and I
was almost relieved to perceive that
she shrank from my half-hearted
caresses. For how could I approach
i l played my part as best I could in
the days that followed. 1t was not
unsuccessfully done. The children
chung to me from the first, Mr.. Carter
was like a father in his kindness, Con-
stance only was cold. But I did not
1 wish to remove the barrier between
us. I was not such a villain as that,
and from the first my calculations had
only extended to the position held by
my brother in the bank and mill, not
to that in his wife's affections. Twas
married, and Lenora loved me.
But my plans changed. I saw that
1t would not be polite to take the
position of cashier, even If it could
, be obtained, and decided to renounce
it and, for the present, all designs OF
appropriating its funds or those of
: the mill; for my overpowering love
for Constance increased day by day
! while I lived under the same roof.
And then the tempter came in the
person Of Marks. Marry her." he
l said, "for I see you love her. She Is
I rich, and you can help the rest OF
l us. Business does; not prosper as II
used; our operations are too well un.
3 derstood."E ~ .g~4.
8 Marry her!" I echoed; t''how can I
/ when Lenora Is alive r. NJ ~ 81
/ An evil smile lit up his face, bu
n he only said, "Lenora may die, she Il
Y far from strong',:;: but T thought moth.
!, ing of all this, for did not think hi
Y was bad enough to attempt her life
y Now know that he was. L know tina
i it was he who sent the poisoned rinE
a in my name to her. @-:1q +: !. /. 20
2 I saw a notice Of her death In s
d paper which, no doubt, he sent to me
q But there was nothing concerning the
d suspicious regarding the cause, and
q indeed, do not think they awoke un
t til Bruce began his Investigations IL
n the claimant case. s..fE
Marks came to me soon afterWard,
f and asked me about her, for he knew
: that I wrote to. her at long intervals
; and told him she was dead ant
: showed him the notice. He then tolt
= me he knew it, but thought I Nigh
not, and came to tell me Of it.
). I had long ceased to love Lenora
q tho I appreciated her single-heartet
q devotion to me. But now that sh'
: was dead, I said to myself exultantly
= I would press my pretended claim
y upon Constance as I never had done
- But said nothing about it to Marks
70 with whom and all my evil associate
e I determined to break; for, strange a,
~ y. it may appear,sI had fully decided t
begin a new upright life, to be il
" reality what Vane had been. I woult
% persuade Constance to marry me OF
W the plea of beginning a new life to
gether, and then I decided to be s.
1t kind, so good and true, that she woul
l. Hamilton Build my reformation Of
Is a lie! Now I see the futility of sucl
1T an effort. Then. did not. I actuall
= thought it could be done.
Is The good, pure, moral atnnospher
n Of Grovedale seemed to have uplifte
is my soul TO- better things than I ha'
1t ever known. I began to see tina
le honor really existed, that there wer
is true hearts in the world, people VIII
strove to do right, who were full Q
l. charity and gentleness; that; such j,
h thing as religion existed, not a shan
70 not a cheat, not a cloak, but true
"a earnest, undying religion, and-wi
~ you believe it Il fancied I could Zee
- it struggling to uplift meme, VIII
~, was basing my reformation on a lie
-, Little Glare would kneel beside IN
r. when she prayed, and sometimes
- prayed with her.; in my heart, an
~ ~ fancied I was sincere. I know Ifaw IN
,e soul was struggling to free itself Of tn
~ terrible tolls of sin; but how could
~, think that forgiveness was mine, Q
III that it could come to me in the ntds
of the wicked deceit of my daily life
al Constance was almost gracious e
ne times, and I thought the day woul
in come when she would receive me q
II. her husband, when weW would be mai
or ried ~.
OF About this time I began to feel cor
n scious of an uneasiness regardin
o. Primus Edes. Not that / mistruste
On Constance Of any wrong. Far frol
ch 1t. But I feared that she might hay
ly a romantic attachment for him, as h
of was said to resemble her husband
e. some degree. called him to til
n office and talked with him. The RI
he: semblance existed, but not to an III
T usual degree. I had not the slighte
~ idea he was Vane Hamiltot1-nots tt
o ! slightest, for Vane, I was convince
~ = WhnY, loft