The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-09-27
no words, so couTounled was I by her

no WOTuS, So COu1UuuQeu WdS l. NY ueA
altered manner. That was more COM
pletely than ever N her power was evil
dent to me in spite Of my agony OF
bewilderment Thief, murderer, adul-
| terer-I was thus 10 be proclaimed to
| the world and 10 my wife and child.
But the woman who held me in her
tolls had said she would save me! In
what way! Not out of tenderness and
pity, but out Of hate and seorn. What
course was to be dictated by these
sentiments?
"You understand fne:' she asked.
''It is necessary that you should tell
me that you understand me-"
$50 far said, Il understand you"
II am about to dictate terms. My
silence, my mercy. must be purchased.
have set price and terms upon
them"
She forced me to reply, keeping
silence till ! spoke.
LET me know what they are?"
"That is sensibly spoken. In the
| murdered mans dispatch box there
were five thousand pounds. I must
have that money" .,.<
II have"nOt got it."
Nonsense! I must have it." -.
! II have not got it,"
Swear by the living God"
II swear by the living God"
She laughed mockingly. But. my
dear sir, my innocent, Virtuous gentle
man, money I must have. You drew
from the bank to-day $1,000. must
have that. 1t is in this room. All,
there is a safe in the corner! You keep
your precious things in it. Your eyes
are wandering toward it now. And
these two keys upon the table-why, as
l am an honest woman, they must be
the keys of the safe! / wonder, now,
if 1 could unlock it"
I allowed her to do as she would.
She unlocked the safe, and drew there
from two bags Of gold, 500 sovereigns
! in each.
Il sell you your life for the gold in
these bags" she said. us it agreed"'
nodded vacantly. Ny senses were
numbed. If I could have poured out
my life's blood to save from sorrow
and shame my darling wife and daugh.
| ter, gladly would have shed it. What.
then, in comparison, were these bags Of
gold?
1T is Fortunate" she said, that you
were paid in gold. I should have re-
fused bank notes, and then you would
have been on the straight road to the
gallows. But there is another condi.
ton: Your life is not worth a mo-
ment's purchase if you decline it. You
will 90 from this house tonight within
the hour, and you will never set foot
| in it again. Where you 50 to do not
care; disappear, drown yourself, hang
yourself; it will not matter to me. If
you refuse to obey me, if ever you seek
again the society Of your wife and
daughter, they and all the world shall
be made acquainted with your crimes.
That is my revenge; as sweet to me
ah, sweeter-than money. You would
I.have driven me forth. I drive you
forth. So long as you are in hiding
in any part of the world you like you
are safe. Do you agree?
II must agree"
"Then there is nothing more to be
said" She moved toward the door,
opened it, and spoke to me from that
spot. Every word Of her Kissing voice
fell clear upon my senses, although she
spoke in tone so low that it could
not travel to any other part of the
house. II shall watch that you keep
your word. 1 hate you and yours!
Violate the conditions have imposed,
and I will bring your lady wife and
daughter to the cutters. will hunt
and pursue and expose them, so that
they shall never know a moments
peace. You know what you have to
expect. Goodnight"
She was gone, and was alone.
Well did I know that she would put
her threats into execution if / did not
keao faith with her. And was it not
better, apart from this, that l should
disappear from the sight of those 1
loved and never see them again? Was
it possible, knowing what 1 knew
knowing that was murderer-that
I could ever allow them to place their
innocent lips to my guilty ones, that 1
could ever gaze into their dear, lnno-
cent eyes without shuddering? True,
I felt that had sinned unconsciously,
but the guilt was no less mine than if
l had done the deed in the broad light
of day, with all my senses about me.
Yes, I must go; from this home to
which 1 had brought my young wife,
in which my dear child had been born,
in which we had enjoyed heaven OF
happiness. 1 must so, and live hence
forth q dead life.
To be continued.