The Savannah morning news., 1904-05-15
CONTINUED from last Sundays News.
CHAPTER Xxx.
A Strange Claim.

A Strange Claim.
Us he worse-is Mr. Edes worse ?"
asked Constance, trying TO speak with
ont nervousness.
mo, he amt no worse. but he's
dreadful queer"
"How?"
He wants to see you, for one thing"
Me? 1 can't go to see him, Mrs.
SO I told him, but he talks as if
he had a right to expect YOU"
"A right? how?"
We'll, he's got the notion, some
how, that he is Vane Hamilton, and
YOU are his wife. OF course, he's out
of his head, but what to do 1 don't
know"
Constance stared up with pale face
and shaking limbs.
What does DR.. Peck say?" she ask
ed.
He haint been there since yester-
day. l told him then how he talk
ed to your husband, an he said he
was wanderin'."
What did he say to MIR. Hamil-
TONI"
HE asked him If he was his ghost.
BE you my ghost?' he says an then
he said your husband looked enough
like himself to be his twin brother.
I see twas the name Hamilton that
Hammerly, the minister, instead of
Hamilton. an that sorter quoted him
down. But to-day he says his name
is Hamilton, and he talks about Con-
stance an the children jest for all the
world as if he had right to. You
won't mind If tell you what l think?'
NO"
We'll, 1 think he has jest set his
life by you ever since the first time
he see you, an mebbe he heard some
how that you thought he looked lit
tie mite like MIR. Hamilton, an now
that he is weak an low, it has got
into his head an sticks there"
You may be right, Mrs. Fry" said
Constance. II wish l knew what to
do"
Il wish you would go over, walk
in sort'er matter-of-fact an say, How
be you feelin' to-day, Mr.. Bdes?' or
somethin' like that, an mebbe it'll
settle his head a little
Very well, l will do as you say,
Mrs. Fry" said Constance, putting on
her hat and jacket as composedly as
she could. Then the two walked back
together to the little house; but Con-
stance was in a whirl of emotion.
Mrs. Arnold, the neighbor, seeing
them approach, went over to her own
home, and when they entered the sick
man was discovered to be fast asleep,
lying with his face on his hand.
Constance stood and looked at him,
at the thin cheeks, the thick dark
hair and the white hands, free row
from all marks of labor. He was
a handsome man, is could not be ne
MED, and but for the dark hair he
would have closely resembled her hus-
band.
Suddenly he opened his eyes and
stretched out his hands to her, while
joyful look CANA into his face.
Constance, you cid GOMEZ knew
you would and he opened his arms.
What, will you not kiss me, my
wife?'
Borne forward by strong force and
rush of sudden belief that he was in
deed her husband, Constance stoop-
ed and allowed him to draw her to-
ward him.
My darling" he said, kissing her
tenderly, while she sobbed in his arms.
side me and let us talk awhile.
You knew whether I am Vane
Hamilton or not. Mrs. Fry" and he
smiled at the good woman, who stood
as if petrified, pretended she did not
know me-
The good Lord deliver mel" was all
she could say. Then in a dumbfounded
manner she walked from the room.
rs she right in her mind. do you
think, Constance" he whispered.
"Oh, l don't know, 1 don't know"
said Constance, taking a chair at the
window in a distressed tone. II feel
as if we were all demented."
"Why?"
DO you know how you came here?"
Mrs. Fry said 1 was taken suddenly
i'll and brought here because it was the
most convenient place. l must have
been out of my head part of the time,
at least, for 1 don't seem to remember
anything distinctly since 1 left Grove
dale that morning. Was / taken sick
on the cars, or was there an accident
that gave me this hurt on my head?"
Constance, not knowing whether it
was best to enlighten him in his pres
ent condition, yet felt the imperative
need of an explanation. So she said:
You have been at work here for sew
eral months in the mill. You are known
by the name of PrimuS EdeS, and
about three weeks ago you were shot,
whether by accident or not is not
known, and as you were at the time a
boarder here you were naturally
brought here when you were wound
ed
He listened intently, with the look of
amazement growing on his face.
'Constancei Is it possible? How came
to do all that? Have been insane?
II don't know
But didn't you know me? Didn't
you ever see me?''
Yes, / saw you at church and here,
and occasionally in other places"
Did lever speak to you?"
Yes, several times.
Il spoke to you, but I did not know
you
Am I so changed, them"
For answer Constance went into the
adjoining room and brought a small
mirror to him. He took it and held it
before him.
A cry broke from his lips.
Bring me another" he said; this is
good for nothing"
Obediently she went into Mrs. Fry's
bedroom and brought him another,
larger and better.
What does it mean Constance?" he
asked lifting a wild, haggard face to
hers. rs my hair dark brown, or is
1t the fault of this damnable glass"
Your hair is a dark brown, certain
ly-almost black
Can such things come to pass?"
What things?''
Can mans hair turn from light
to dark"
II never knew that it could"
We'll, ii has, whether any such case
was ever known before or not; but
when did it happen?"
Il cannot say for l know nothing
about the matter in any way But you
say you are Vane Hamilton. How can
you prove it?"
ttna+ 49, T.