The sun. (Jacksonville, Fla.) 1905-1908, 1906-05-19
The Avenging Brother
Continued from Third Page)

CONTINUED from Third Page)
hos taken the place of dear Henry in my affections.
He was the one who nursed me to life He was the
one who, suspecting the fraudulent designs OF Van
Aston had traced his movements up to the present
time He il the one whom l accidentally met IN
Tampa-who informed me of these foul proceedings.
But Mary look to your laures, child-where Is your
groomf"
Van Aston had disappeared.
81 must find him, Mary and without another
word he darted from the room.
Near the present site OF Ellenton can be seen the
ruins of the old sugar works-destroyed by the enemy
during the war. large body OF land was planted
in cane and there can yet be seen the sunken fur
rows and elevated ridges, upon which gigantic oaks
and tall palmetto cabbage now grow. IL Is now
called the plantation Hammock" What Is now
called the "Patten mansion" where lived the man
ayers or of the sugar works. Is tenanted ut
this time. Not far from this mansion" was dock,
where the company's boats landed, bringing supplies
and carrying off the produce OF the plantation To
this dock Van Aston was gong-was running Close
behind, but not by him, were the pursuing feet
of John Hudson. II the intention Of the former
to secure boat, which he knew was there and make
his way the Manatee to Braden Castle, the
remains whereof are yet to be seen. John OWNED
his intention. Van Aston increased his speed as
he heard pursuing steps. CHANGING around, by the
light of the moon, he saw his enemy Van Aston
was a coward, but coward will fight when hemmed,
and hemmed the Van was-the foe on one side and
the waters of the Manatee on the other. Should he
Ieap into the water, face the avenging brother'
He chose the latter.
"What doSyou want, John Hudsoni"
81 want your hearts blood Colonel Van Aston"
was the calm reply.
"You will lose your own, fool. l passed my
sword through you once, and I'll do so again"
81 have no time to parley with you, Van Aston.
wish on to return to ny family whom but for me
"I'l send you to your brother II you attack me-"
was the Vans answer.
$50 be it, Villain, defend yourself" and he gave
his enemy slight blow with the fiat of his sword.
"Tl give you the edge Of mine, young man. Why
did you not bring your sister along to beg for your
Perhaps would have listened to her."
1t was the Vans intention, by his singing words
to get John exasperated and attack him with such
violence that he would be thrown of his guard.
when kill you, John, am going to return to
Miss Mary and prove that you was crazy on Ship
Island and all you have told her Is the fruit Of your
demented brain"
"When you have killed me you can do 80. I fol.
lowed you to,kill YOU and shall carry out my pur.
pose."
"Take that, fool" and he drove with vengeance
ut Johns heart.
"You failed to give it," cooly replied John, as he
adroitly warded of the blow. 81 told you that
was in hurry, and now I'll tell you that in less
than two minutes your vile body will be in the waters
OF the Manatee, and your soul in perdition"
The Van stood between the wharfs edge and his
antagonist and as John pronounced the word water,
he adroitly changed his position, and placed John
in the position he had previously occupied.
=, That change will avail you nothing, Colonel
Van; water first and fire afterwards, il yOur doom
Rather chilly night, colonel, to be baptized I am
not preacher, but intend to be the administrator"
Van Alst2n made a furious thrust at him, but
John nimbly sPrang aside and gave the colonel a
wound in the shoulder.
"Oh! colonel, I have soiled vour wedd;r, ,or.
ments, but don't fret-the waters of the Menetee
will soon remove the stain"
Hyontinrnd ~, T~voltIL d.