Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1903-12-03
By Prot. VIM. Henry Peck,
Author of the "1ss Stone. Cutter
Of Lisbon" Etc.

Nancy.
"Ham laughed Hammond. Under
your guidance he is still able to blush.
Now. | intend to rectify that mistake,
Mrs. Nancy. am of the opinion that
my son will never be anything but a
BOBBY so long as he is able to blush, ~
you call ii. l intend that Charles and
shall be firm allies hereafter"
"You wish to make your son as bad
Us yourself, Luke" said Nancy.
II wish to be able to speak upon any
subject in my sons presence, and not
Gear his absurd ideas of right and
wrong. Nancy" said Luke, with Il
flourish of his pen.
"You must not do"' said Nancy.
"You will dare to oppose me" eE-
claimed Hammond.
IL will dare!n said Nancy.
woman! be careful. You are grow.
Ing dangerous again." said Luke, knit.
ting his heavy brows. What right
have you to come between me and my
son? Mind your own business, Mrs.
Harker. You will have enough to 10
to settle your own affairs with .ToAn
Marks when he claims his son. He is
a terrible fellow to trihc with What
| will you tell him when he comes and
says, and proves it. Harriet Foss is
dead, and John Marks wants his re-
ward-Marks wants his SON. Eh?
WHAT"
Nancy Harkcr was very pale rs she
replied
Never fear, Luke. | shall be able
to make my words good"
"Yes, but how" sneercd Luke. "Nuu
will lead John Marks to England. yuu
Will lead him to Highgato in London;
! you will then enter Park House. tho
Asylum for Idiots; you will lead hm
! through swarms of idiots until yuu
! pause before thin horribly distorted
| face--the face of Il man of eighty Oh
the body of youth of twenty-six or
seven years: you will point at the grin.
ming, brainless. chattering idiot ana
say, John Marks, behold Your SOM
Ia VIII Suu uuIe no lHdl, NdntN
Harker? BY ny blood, l would like 10
be there, in some safe place, to see ana
hear you do it,
Hammond snarled this terrible pic.
turc from his teeth and began to write
again. Nancy gazed upon him half
Sorrowfully. half IN triumph.
"Or have you lied to me. Nancy
Harker:' he cried, bristling his hair
again. Does the son of John MarEs
really live:'
II have not lied, Luke" replied
Nancy. Tie son Of John Marks and
Nancy Dunn that was, OF Nancy Har,
ker that is, does live. Two years ago
when in London. where you dare not
60"
Yes, | lave an enemy there, called
the Law interrupted Luke, sneer-
ingly.
When was there" resumed Nancy.
81 went to the Asylum for Idiots at
Highgate. | saw the youth and had
his portrait taken
i'"'I SOu 'iiit IOl II at uu utN u
told me of this" said Luke. Il would
like to see it,"
Il have it, Luke" said Nancy. Il
had no particular cause to speak OF il,
or perhaps l forgot it, | will 20 to my
room and get it.
DO. | would like TO see what tho
son Of my dear friend John Marks
looks like"
Nancy left the library and soon To
turned with a large miniature painted
ON ivory which she gave to Hammond.
saying;
This is the exact image of the
youth"
Luke stzed at the hideous. distorted
and soulless face for long time, and
then laughed aloud.
by my soul, Nancy, | don't envy
you and John Marks such Il son and
heir, The face Of human monkey
what eyts-what terrible "yes it has!
And the mouth, Augh take ii away.
Or | shall dream of il! And that Is
John Marks son-my nephew. my
nephew. PAIN
He laughed glecfnlr. 1t really did
hlm so much good to think that the
son Of John Marks was a miserable,
1rivcling idiotic wretch; while his was
I magnificent glorious, handsome man
tall strong and intellectual, but
much too virtuous to please Ham.
mOnd.
Suddenly lie exclaimed, as if wild
with delight:
"But, Nancy, l tell you what John
Marks can do. He can make fortune
by showing the thing around. lie
might make a splendid speculation by
exhibiting the boy"
Again he laughed loud and long, and
Rugged himself to think Marks had
such a SON
Then checking himself ms he noticed
the corpse-white and appalled, face OF
his sister, he said:
But am wrong. l forget you Were
the mother of it,"
OF it! The it was Il better thing
with all its awful ugliness and idiotiC
horror-than vile, demon hearted Rol-
and Dunn, or, as he wrote himself in
great, broad, black letters-Lulle Ham
mond, Esq.
Nancy Harker placed the miniature
In her BOSOM and her eyes cleaned