The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-04-20

preached the woman whom I once
heard Mr.. Byrd characterize as the
least respectable of my name. I was
then hiding my heart in heart-breakins
dependency over my failure at the
opera house, knowing none of these
three cOnspirators, and only desirous
of preserving myself from the mockery
and jeers which l imagined would fol-
low my appearance in any crowd. l
was wretcbed, but l was not wicked.
Ny ambition was foiled. but l never
thought Of resorting to false methods
in order to insure the wealth and po-
sition / imagined myself 10 have lost,
upon the fatal day when these two
demons called upon me. and. with a
skill and suavity you would little e1-
pect from them, made me understand
that an immense fortune was going
begging, which !. if would lend my.
self to their guidance, might easily
acquire, owing to my name and what
they termed my beauty.
The other Jenny Rogers to whom
they had already spoken had been a
failure; she had tried her wiles unon
Mr.. Degraw. but with so little effect
that he would rot even look at her;
and they all saw that if success were
to be reaped by them it must be
through some innocent young girl who
would arouse not only the admiration
of this good man. but his pity. This
they explained to me. and also told
me how they had heard By chance that
nv real name was Jenny Rogers. and
that 1 had history which. if known,
could not but arouse ccmmiseratlon
Furthermore. they encouraged me ny
saving that all which was required or
me was 20 go through 4 certain little
farce easy enough for one WHO Lad
been trained for the stage, adding tIat
success would be sure to follow. as
had the requisite beauty and grace.
and only needed to attract his atsen-
ticn to my nlisfortunes to awaken an
interest which would be sure to even
tuate in my being made the lnheritor
of these tempting millions.
Il listened. 1t all seemed very SIM
pie. and not at all wicked. ] had
merely to swallow small powder,
which would throw me into n death.
like repose. and. when l awoke, as
they promised l should Go while Mr.
Degraw was in the room, feign sur.
prise and indignation at not having
been allowed to die, as my misfortunes
had made me desire. The rest would
come naturally, and when l was estaD.
lished in my new wealth. l was to give
them each hundred thousand dollars
as their share in the great undertak'
ing.
DO YOU wonder that motEerless.
friendless, disappointed child was
tempted by this glowing prospect, and
lent herself to a chance which seemed
without risk, and was calculated to
bring Ler everything?
:The other woman of my name did
not obtrude herself upon me. nor did
Montelli make himself disagreeabie
by visiting me again. Tie Portuguese.
on the contrary, came and took up her
abode with me- making herself, how.
ever, as little obnoxious as possible,
for she seemed to recognize from the
first that l was not like herself. and
must be held ard cherished apart, in
order that l might preserve the almost
childish ignorance which was, as they
openly acknowledged, the one chaTac-
teristic upon which they most relied
TO win the fastidious Mr.. Degraw. tbs
was in the last of April, and he mad
already seen and disdainfully passed
by several girls of my name. Inc
little school-teacher had been inter
viewed and the Detroit miss followed
and remarked; but I knew nothing or
this. Nor did I know until after l
had become irrecoverably involved in
the scheme, that Montelli, as l must
call him. had pledged himself to rid
the city of such Of my name as seemed
to attract Mr.. Degraw's attention. All
this was withheld from me, and being
young, doubted nothing. but went on
nv way. serenely waiting for the hour
when these two schemers should de-
eide that it was time for me to enter
upon our premeditated farce.
To be continued.