The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-07-03
! The MISSING NAN n .!..:!:!:! IA

Yes, 1 will see him and do what I
can"
And then Mrs. Hamilton left the
study, and the minister thrust his SER
mon one side and bent his head in
deep thought.
How could he touch this man, if he
were the impostor Mrs. Hamilton con-
ceived him to be? Could he do it?
Could any one? He doubted it. Still,
he would try. 1t was not late; barely
O'Clock. He would go that very
night.
Changing his dressing gown for
coat, and making some other trif1ing
alterations in his dress, he set out on
his errand, and soon reached the Ham
ilton residence. He rang the bell and
was admitted into the hall, which held
few boxes and a trunk. Mr.. Carter
and Mr.. Hamilton came to greet him,
and the former said, as he stepped
over a box:
''Vane is going to the hotel, for he
Will not keep Constance from her home
any longer. He is a noble fellow, Mr..
Hammerly'
The minister felt a chill creep over
his resolution. but only for a moment.
Whether she was right or not he would
keep his promise to Mrs. Hamilton,
and as soon as Mr.. Carter left the
room, eXcusing himself on account of
some duty, Mr.. Hammerly preached his
errand.
Il do not say, Mr.. Hamilton, that
you are not what you seem, but came
simply at the request of Mrs Ham
llton, who really believes that you are
not her husband. 1t is her solemn
conviction, and it is cruelty unjust to
rank her with the many unfaithful
wives, some of whom might make pre-
fences such as have been ascrbed to
her Won In ipIx
capable of such baseness?'
No. 1 think she is sincere in her
belief She is a noble woman, in
capable of such an act. 1t was not
my wish to have her name dragged
before the public as it was, but one
cannot do as he would at such times"
Mrs. Hamilton is convinced that
you are her husbands brother; that
you have been led almost without Volt
ton of your own to wicked courses
which are at variance with your real
nature. She thinks, with different en-
vlronmen.e, you would have been
different lnH:i
'Wha! Csc does she say?" asked
Mr.. Hamilton, as the minister paused.
She wished me to appeal to you
to give her back her happiness. She
is very miserable; very much changed
from the happy woman 1 first knew
when came to Grovedale. She is
rare woman; one among a thousand"
You are right She is one among
thousand. Would you give up such
woman?"
'I?" The minister's hot face flushed
with emotion.
Your question is a strange one,
from you to me. If she were my wife,
nothing should drag her from me. But
if she were not my wife, no hope, nor
her beauty should allure me.
Your question has made me doubt
and l will open my heart to you, as
never have to mortal before. l loved
that woman profoundly once 1t was
after she donned black for her hus-
band. 1 had always derived inspiration
from her presence at church; but when
he failed to return, l allowed my heart
to lead my hopes along. You think,
perhaps, that l am incapable of such
love as you feel, but l tell you no one
can understand what 1 suffered in
wrenchng this love from my heart
when you came here. But 1 did it. You
can do it, if it is a sin to cherish it,"
The minister was walking the floor,
his face convulsed by strong feeling,
but he stopped before Mr.. Hamilton
and repeated, You can do it,"
His eager words were coldly met.
"You mistook my meaning, Mr.. Ham
merly 1 meant to show you how flu
tile were your words. There is a great
mistake; Constance is a good woman,
a noble creature. There is no question
of giving her up. l respect your mo-
tives, Mr.. Hammerly, and forgive your
suspicious, so evidently the result of
hers. AS for your confidence, wrung
from you by a misapplicatiOn of my
words, it shall be sacred. l thought
you were a good man. I know it now"
Mr.. Hammerly arose to depart, and
the two stood a moment, face to face.
Then each reached forth his hand.
Good night" Good night" they said,
and parted.
mo use. no use" said the minister.
ct laid bare my heart for nothing. She
must be mistaken"
Mr.. Carter came into the library and
found MIR. Hamilton in deep thought,
evidently, for he did not look up
81 think 1 will go to bed, Vane," he
said.
'All right, 1 will close the house."
was the reply, and soon Mr.. Carter
was asleep and dreaming.
One of his dreams he recollected in
the morning as a little curious. 1t
was of Vane going by his door. light in
hand. all dressed in fine black and
cleaning linen, tall, fair, and grand,
handsome as a prince. And so he went
on down the stairs, and Mr.. Carter
went on OTedInlISS DuI HOlHlHS quite
so realistic as that.
But it was not dream. Mr.. Hamil-
ton did pass down the stairs and out
the door, dressed with care to look his
best. and he was exceedingly hand
some.
He saw a light at Mrs. Fry's and he
went there and asked to see Mrs. Ham
ilton.
please say want to see her alone,
and on important business" he said,
eff she is still up"
Eyes, she's up. She don't sleep no
great nowadays" said Mrs. Fry,
throwing an accusing look at him be
fore she left to deliver her errand.
walk this way" she said, return
ing in few minutes. "She says she
will see you," and Mrs. Fry conducted
him to the sitting-room, which had
been given up to Mrs. Hamilton's oc-
cupancy. The night was chilly and a
light cleaned from the open crate Of
the little stove upon the lap and white
hands of Constance as she sat before
il. But her face was in the shadow,
out of the range of the lamp, feebly
burning. She did not look up when he
entered, and he STROBE to her side and
gazed down at her before speaking.
Then he said, almost with fierceness;
Look at me, Constance"