The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-05-22
By MAPY RIP. HATCH. |
Author OF
"The Bank Tragedy"

blance to the family from which he
sprang, although when we We're in
fants it was almost impossible to tell
us apart. No one could do so but my
mother.
You will see, Constance, why hes
itated to take YOU into my confidence.
You would have considered it foolish
for me to leave my business each
| year and go seeking about the coun-
try for a brother who it was believed
had died in his infancy. l could not
bear to mention it even to you, though
L felt that l must not break my SOL
emn promise to the dead. For four
years l could learn nothing about the
matter; the fifth 1 fancied that l had
found a trace, but, if so, Constance,
my brother was not a good man; for
II was among desperate men that he
was classed-men who had violated the
law many times. The next year I saw
/ a description of this man in news
paper. He went usually by the name
OF Ashley, it was stated, and he had
wife, beautiful green-haired wom-
an; her name was Lenora. 1 learned
what l could about Them and l de-
cided that at last l was on the track
of my long-lost twin brother. Last
May l was much excited. 1 could
scarcely wait for the time to come.
l meant fully to find my brother, give
him my mothers ring and message,
and appeal to him in the name of her
love and our relationship to become
a different man. You opposed my go
ing, you recollect, but 1 persevered,
for l reasoned that very soon the quest
would be ended.
las l walked down the street a lady
came out of the Essex House and spoke
to me as if she knew me. In a moment
l became convinced that she was Lee
| nora, from the strange color of her
| hair, and that she mistook me for my
| brother. l could not talk with her
! there, and 1 asked her if I could not
speak with her in some place that she
would name. l was going on the train
that morning, l told her. She asked
me which way, and l replied to Port
! land. She said she could see me on
the train, then. 1t has occurred to me
| to-day that she must have mistaken
me throughout the interview for her
| husband; for she seemed bewildered.
Be that as it may, l saw her on the
| train, and that is as far as my recol-
| lection goes.
my mind became eclipsed soon after
left Grovedale, l think, for l
remember nothing that she said to me
| or that l said to her. l had been
working hard at my business and was
much excited about my brother No
| doubt, the work and trouble were too
! much for me. That, Constance, eX-
| plains the matter up to the time when
| my mind became a blank. But how, or
why, 1 came here, 1 know no more
| than you do. Doubtless, it was through
some dumb instinct that took the place
| of active intelligence. The name of
! Grovedale may have fingered in my
mind and when 1 got here my feet
would naturally tend toward the mill
where 1 had spent so much of my
| time. This may account also for my
| securing board with Mrs. Fry in pref
erence to going elsewhere. You say 1
seemd attracted toward you and the
| children, and l think that is no Won
der
Have you no idea how your hair
came to change from light to dark, as
you say it did,"
mo, none whatever. I did not know
it had changed until you showed me
my face yesterday
But, of course, you knew it as
| Primus Edes 1 myself saw you
standing before the little mirror in the
kitchen, combing it,"
Il know nothing about my existence
as Primus Edes. But, Constance, 1 rec
ollect Mrs. Fry saying yesterday that
| she knew of a similar case, and you,
| too. think. spoke of it,"
Yes and Constance bowed her
fair head in agitation for a moment.
But she raised it proudly a moment la
ter. Il have heard of a case which
seems to be much like yours"
Tell me about it. Who is it, and how
does the case compare with mine?"
You saw the person the other day
yesterday"
Mr.. Hammerly! Constance, that
man looks exactly as 1 used to look"
Yes; but his name is not Hammer
ly. Mrs. Fry told you so to quiet you.
He says his name is Hamilton"
Then, as sure as you live, he is my
twin brother. A minister, and
thought him a thief
If simulated, his tone of intense re-
lief was we'll done.
But he is not a minister. He claims