The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-02-26
RACHEL" c. H. STEVENSON e
Author of Kind Hearts and coronets." Etc.
Continued From Yesterday.)

Continued From Yesterday
eco away he cried. we thought
you were dead--your tombstoues
there In the churchyard. She has been
my wife this four year, has Rachel.
It's twenty now since you deserted
her. Get away and leave US in peace.
at the word deserted father said.
Bolds eyes seemed to flame.
"I'll go away he said, with my
wife, Rachel.
ooh. my Cod cries poor Rachel.
Oh, my Cod,
"'Rachel,' said her husband you're
my lawful wife. I've been faithful 20
you and worked for you all these years,
you'll come with me-?
~ tell you. go away broke in old
John, you shall not rein our happiness
get away, get away. She's my wife.
not yours
Bold put him aside.
"'She shall choose between u.s. no
said.
,.'oh. the waters, the waters. they
have gone over my soul said Rachel.
Choose cries poor old John.
Choose said Bold quite calmly.
Rachel made a step towards him
and stopped.
~ cannot do it, cannot oh. this
great joy.Sthis great affliction. John.
forgive me: Joe. let me go away and
I'll trouble neither of you.'
.You'll go with me- says Bold. still
quite calm. and he took her hand; and
she let herself be led quite quietly out
of the house.
BOLD came back and popped his head
In round the door.
"Ill send some one Tomorrow to
settle with you, old man. he called to
John who stood shaking and speech
less in the middle of the room.
The next minute he slammed the
door, and my father heard the wheels
OF a carriage, and Rachel was gone.
odd John made rush forward.
"'Give her back to me, give her
back. l say. Rachel. Rachel, Rachel"
Father caught hold Of him.
'Whisht man, whisht--Lord! what
ever in the world am to dog
1.-THE old man began to cry like 4
child.
Father seized his cap.
"'Stay here. John, WANT be long.
I'll gang for Jonathan.
But when they got back together
the old man had gone after the car
rlagc, running along like one dement,
ed, and calm all the time, Rachel,
Rachel Rachel!'
"rhey brought him home, but all
that night he either raved like a mad
thing at God and my uncle, or called
for Rachel.
THE next morning a lawyer came,
sent by Bold.
"I will have her back said old
John, the villain abducted her. I'll
have him up for t.
1.-THE lawyer talked to him quietly.
Rachel was legally Bolds wife. he
said. She had never had any proof
of his death, and therefore, in the eyes
of the law had done bigamy-I think
that's the word, strand as she had
gone away with him now of her own
free will, wouldn't 1t be better to let
the matter rest?
81 don't believe it, said John. i
don't believe it. My Rachel 'ud never
leave me like that. It's all the work
o. that villain. that devil. I'll never be-
lieve 1t, till see it down in black and
white, in her own hand
cat that the lawyer pulled out q
letter. That Is from her. he said
you'd better read it,
1T was but few lines (some said
Rachel had never written them, or If
she had. 1t had been at Bolds telllng),
to say her mind was fixed to bide WI
| her lawful husband and she hoped he'd
make no trouble about It, lest things
should turn disagreeable for her. Just
at the end, father, who saw the letter
told us, there was great blotch, as II
a tear had dropped and run into the
ink, and the words. Forgive me- John
read the letter twice.
"Tell them he said to the lawyer
they may do as they like. / shall do
no more, .and-tell her / forgive her
and curse Cod
"Then he showed him out and none
of us saw John Bell again till the day
uncle found him. stretched on the floor
unconscious.
"Uncle Jonathan sent for the doctor
land for me. And never, sir. have /
been with a sadder case. 1t was a
kind of stroke, and for two days he
lay on his bed like corpse, neither
| speaking, nor moving.
"The morning OF the third day /
was coming to his bedside with cup
OF broth, when saw him looking ut
mo, with his lips twtching. I bent
lower. and he managed just to whisper,
| Rachel
1.-THE look on his face as he said it
haunted mo. l tellt uncle and lie tried
to talk to him, but tho old man took
no notice, he lust looked at him In
the same strange, pleading way he
had looked at me, an whlspered
'Raclt-cl.' -
".Jane,' said my uncle. I'VE must