The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-07-08
By Prof. VIM. Henry Peck,

Author Of the Tie Stone Cutter
Of Lisbon" Etc.
C6ApTER XIII.
Continued.

dates back nearly twenty-five years
Ny true name is not Luke Hammond
About twenty-five years ago I made
the acquaintance Of an American
gentleman, to whom my facial and per.
sonal resemblance was so remarkable
that my own sister twice addressed
him, supposing that he was I. This
gentleman was Of my age, and even
tn. tones of our voices were similar.
he had been travelling over Europe
and Asia, and even Africa, for seven
years before he met me in London.
Soon after we became acquainted he
sickened and died, and before his death
he gave me all his papers, letters and
effects, to be delivered to young lady
In New Hampshire, to whom he was
betrothed. He told me that he and
she had pledged their VOWS when he
was eighteen, but that her parents had
consented to the match only upon the
condition that he should wait seven
years-that is, until he should be
twenty-five years. He was an orphan,
rich, and with but one near relative
on earth, sister, who afterwards be-
came your wife, the mother Of Cathar-
Inc Elgin. Being by nature Of rowing
disposition, and by the will Of his
father in full possession Of his inherit
ance, he determined to travel, especial
ly as the parents Of his betothed for
bade any further communication be-
tween the lovers for at least five years.
Bidding his betrothed adieu, and ex.
changing vows Of eternal fidelity, he
set forth upon his travels.
"He was returning when he died IN
London, after confiding to me his story
and effects, with a will which be-
queathed the greater part of his prop
erty to his betothed, and the remain
der to his sister. Among his effects I
found a miniature Of his beuothed,
which she had sent to him few
months before, for after a silence Of
five years, correspondence had been
renewed. The name of his betrothed
was Clara Sandford, and the beauty Of
her picture determined me to attempt
an impoSture which should make me
the husband Of the original. Besides,
would by success become master Of
q handsome fortune, and bury my own
identity in that Of Clara's lover. In
fact, my own liberty, and perhaps my
life, demanded that I should fly from
England and conceal myself in
America.
! 'In pursuance IF this design made
myself master OF all the information
contained in this young Americans
letters. as regarded himself and his
friends. He had no acquaintances in
England, and fortunately for my sue
cess, was travelling under an assumed
name. as is often the practice with
travellers who delight in little mys-
terry. He died and was buried under
his assumed name, and took his true
name and came to America.
Seven years Of travel will always
make great change in ones appear
ance, and as he was only eighteen
when he left New Hampshire, it was
not thought strange by those who once
knew him that they found much diff
Guilty in recognizing former youthful
townsman in the tall, dark and bearded
stranger Of twenty-five years of age.
II had learned that Clara Sandford's
parents had died, from her letters to
her lover, and that his sister had mar
ried you, Henry Elgin, and settled in
this city Of New York, before 1 left
England.
'At first glance Clara Sandford rec
ognized me as her long absent lover.
This was not strange. as I had
learned from her letters to MIN that she
had no likeness Of MIN, and eagerly
desired one, request with which her
lover had not complied, as be desired
to see if she would recognize him after
years of separation.
knowing this, easily forged his
writing, and sent her my own likeness
In miniature as his, few days before
! left England"
what scoundrel! what wretch
cried Elgin, unable to control his in.
dignation.
you fatter me-" sneered Hammond,
and continued:
CLARA Sandford was the first to rec.
ognize me, and afterwards others did
the same. We We're welded within
one week after I met her"
Poor, unfortunate, miserable won.
an"' exclaimed Kate, bursting into
tears, and forgetting her own bitter
wrongs and fears in her sympathy for
the unhappy mistake Of fond, noble,
and faithful heart.
Hammond compressed his lips with
silent rage, and after glaring at Kate
fiercely, continued:
Fearing ultimate detection from her
friends, who often conversed with me
Of the dead mans young days, think
ing me him, gave out the report that
i had occe been smitten by q sun
stroke during my travels, and since
then that my memory of my life prior
to that misfortune was very defective.
Still feared detection, as l often
saw several of the old playmates Of the
dead lover eyeing me suspiciously, and
heard them say that it was very
strange I had forgotten so much
Therefore sold out all my interest in
the little village, and settled in Vir'
ginia."
"And your Wifep Tho unfortunate