The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-09-20

altered manner. That was more COM
pletely than ever in her power was evi'
dent to me in spite of my agony Of
bewilderment. Thief, murderer, adul-
terer-I was thus to be proclaimed 10
the world and to 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 tendern ess and
pity, but out of hate and scorn. What
course was to be dictated by taese
sentiments?
"You understand me" she asked.
'It is necessary that you should tel
me that you understand me-"
$50 far" said, Il understand you"
II am about to dictate terms. Ny
silence, my mercy. must be purchased
I have set a 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" %,..r+e'
II have not got it."
Nonsense! I must have it." ~
IT have not got it,
Swear by the living God.'
Il swear by the living God!"
She laughed mockingly. "But, my
dear sir. NV innocent. yirtuous gentle.
man, money I must have. You drew
from the bank to-day f1000. I 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
I am an honest woman, they must be
the keys of TIE safe! ] wonder, now,
if l could unlock it!'
/ allowed her to do as she would.
| She unlocked the safe, and drew there
from two bags. of gold, 500 soVereigns
| in each.
" sell you your life for the gold in
these bags" she said. rs it agreed?'
] nodded vacantly. My senses were
numhed. 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, We're these bags OF
gold?
at 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 condl'
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 go to do not
care; disappear, drown yourself, hang
yourself; it will not matter to me. II
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
alb, sweeter-than money. You would
have driven me forth. 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"
s'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 a tone so low that it could
not travel to any other part of the
house. II shall watch that you keep
your word. I hate you and yours!
Violate the conditions I have imposed,
and will bring your lady wife and
daughter to the cutters. l 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 I was alone.
Well did I know that she would put
her threats into execution if l did not
kea0 faith with her. And was it not
better, apart from this, that l should
disappear from the sight Of those /
loved and never see them again? Was
it possible, knowing what l knew
knowing that 1 was murderer-that
II could ever allow them to place their
innocent lips to my guilty ones, that l
could ever gaze into their dear, inno-
cent eyes without shuddering? True,
| felt that had sinned unconsciously,
but the guilt was no less mine than IL
had done the deed in the broad light
Of day, with all my senses about me.
Yes, l must go; from this home to
which I had brought my young wife,
in which my dear child had been born,
in which we had enjoyed a heaven of
happiness. 1 must so, and live hence
forth & dead life. "i%''
.,- To be continued.