Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1903-11-26
By Prof. WIN. Henry Peck,


the little village, and settled in Viz
ginia."
"And your wife? The unfortunate
victim of your stupendous dcceit?'
asked Elgn.
"Clara began to suspect something
wrong after we had been married four
months" said Luke. Il continued to
deceive her until in my sleep, during Il
slight illness, she overheard me bab-
bling of my first and dead wife,
"Ah" sighed Elgin. "Unfortunatc
Clara, l knew her well-she was Il
noble lady, and her fate most cruel
Kate was sobbing bitterly, and her
race was hidden by her manacIed
hands.
You see, both of you. what manner
Of man l am" said Luke, seeming to
swell with villainous pride of his cum
ming. 80 do not think to battle me-
go on, fiend! Go on with this cata.
loguc of crime, that we may hear the
end of it, and be rid of your detesraOlc
presence" said Elgin, sternly.
Clara heard enough from my trcach-
crous sleep talk" said Luke, ito more
than arouse her suspicious. We were
then in Virginia. near Richmond, far
from the home and friends OF hcI
youth. She was in my power. l con
fessed all to her, and begged her for.
givcness. | told her her lover was
dead. | was able to prove to her that
he was no more. | showed her his last
WILL and made the fact of his death
clear and beyond all doubt to her mind.
| appealed to her as my wife, rs Ter
husband, to forgive the deceit, for, by
my life, Henry Elgin, | had learned
to love her"
wretch who could not have loved
the gentle and beautiful, noble and
faithful Clara Sandford" cried El2in.
Did she forgive you, monster"
"She did forgive me; not for my
sake but for the sake of our then un.
born child" said Hammond, very pale
end much agitated, hard hearted vii.
lain as he was.
Henry Elgin groancd. Gnl Poor
Rates grief was ptiabIc to see.
Little did Luke Hammond know
that third listener was hearing this
confession, and hearing it with
clcnched hands, fiery heart and hard
set teeth-!onging to be able to burst
from his confinement, and stranglo
him there on the spot-kil him. crush
him as vcnomous thing unfit to live.
Hammond continued:
But after Clara heard that | was
not her lover, but a spurious Luke
Hammond. triumphant in my plots,
she never spoke to me, or came near
me, when it was possible for her to
shun me without creating suspicion. or
attracting the attention of those who
knew us. All my efforts to win her
love were useless. She remained faith
full to the love OF her youth, though
in his English grave
Noble, true-hcarted woman" said
Elgin.
And !, Luke Hammond, or whoever
you are cried Kate with sudden We.
hcmence Twill be as true to him
James Greene, whom you have assassi-
mated"
May heaven help thee, my noble
girl,' said Elgin, and longing to tell
her that her lover was listening so
near.
Hammond-for so we shall continue
TO call him, for the sake Of clearncss--
smiled his hard, incredulous snecr, and
continued:
AT length a few weeks before our
child was born, Clara lost her reason"
Il do not doubt it," sighed Elgin
"But she was not wild in her in.
sanity" said Luke. "Shc became as if
leaf and dumb-blind TO all around
her. She became Il mere living ma
'hInc, without thought, desires or more
than mere life. She died two days
after the birth of my son"
"She was most happy in dying" said
Elgin.
After her DEATH" continued Ham
mond. II gave the child to The care OF
my sister, who was living near at the
time, though none suspected her to be
my sister. Then | came to New
York.
May that day be accursedw cx-
claimed the fiery hearted Elgin.
Il easily deceived your WIFE" said
Luke. ''She had no reason to suspect
deceit. She had not seen her brother
for more than eight years. was very
i'll, and !, rs the husband of Clara.
and Clara, too, had often exchanged
letters with her and with you. You
was IN imposter."
Never If | had would have slai2
YOU, or seen YOU dragged to prison for
Iife"' cried Elgin. and now, mon.
strous villain! what is your true name,
and who are you"
"Ihat is of no Importance to you.2
said Hammond. at should be enough
for you to know that | am of no kin
to your daughter, and the bar of
kindred blood cannot prevent me from
becoming her husband. Let it suffice
to say, that my mother was the daugh,
ter Of an English nobleman, my father
the son of an English squire"
Enough | care nothing for your
descent! What is descent to us OF
America" cried Elgin, scornfully. Il
wish to know your true name"
"Apd wAy2" asked Luke. --.->---