The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-07-21

A twitch Of surprise. not even Ran.
som could call II alarm, drew his
mouth still further towards his ear:
but his manner hardly altered and Il
was In the same affable tone that he
replied: n
You must pardon my short. t.sighteS
ness. I did not recognize you. Mr..
Ransom"
did not want TO-" muttered Ger.
ridge. satisfied In his own mind that
this man was only deferred by his
marked and unmistakable physiogno-
my from denying the acquaintance
ship Just advanced.
"Your congratulations did not pro.
duce the desired effect" continued
Mr.. Ransom. my happiness was
short lived. Perhaps you knew its
uncertain tenure when you wished me
Joy. ! remember that your tone lack.
Cd sincerity"
IL was q direct attack. Whether q
Wise one or not remained to be seen.
Gerrtdse watched the unfolding drama
with interest. 4
i have reason to think" proceeded
MI. Ransom. "that the unhappy termi.
nation OF that days felicities were IN
Q measure due to you. You seem to
know my bride very we'll; much too
Wen for her happiness or mine"
We viii argue that question In my
room." was the unmoved reply. "The
open hall 10 quite unsuited to q con.
versation Of this nature. Now" st d
hs. turning upon them when they were
In the privacy Of his small but not
uncomfortable apartment. you will be
kind enough to repeat what you Just
said. ] wish to thoroughly understand
you"
"You have the right" returned Mr..
Ransom. controlling himself under the
detectives eye. II said that your
presence at this wedding seemed to
disturb my wife. which fact, consider
ing the after occurrences Of the day.
strikes me a. important enough for
discussion. Are you willing to discuss
II afRably and fairly?"
MAY ask who your companion
isf" inquired the other. with Q slight
inclination towards Gerridge.
"A friend: one who Is In my conf
dence."
Then will answer you without
any further hesitation. My presence
may have disturbed your wife, It very
likely did, but was not to blame for
that. No man 10 to blame for the bad
effects Of an unfortunate accident"
"Oh. don't mean that" Mr.. RAN
som hastened to protest. "The cause
Of her very evident agitation was not
personal. It had deeper root than that.
1t led, or so believe, to her flight
from a love she cherished. at a mo-
ment when our mutual life seemed
about to begin"
The impassive. might almost say
set features OF this man of violent pas.
sions but remarkable selfrestraint
failed to relax or give any token OF
the feelings with which he listened to
this attack.
Then the news given of your wife
In the papers tonight is false" was
his quiet retort. 1t processes to give
. distinct. II somewhat fantastic. rea.
son for her flight. A reason totally
different from the one you suggest"
"A reason you don't believe in?"
Certainly not. II Is too bizarre"
II share your incredulity. That IL
why ! seek the truth from you rather
than from the columns of a news.
paper. And you owe me this truth.
You have broken up my. life."
II! That's strange accusation you
make. Mr.. Ransom"
"Possibly. But it's one which
strikes hard on your conscience, for
all that. This Is evident enough even
to stranger like myself. am con.
vinced that II you had not come into
her life she would have been at my
side to-day. Now, who are you? She
told me you were a relative"
"She told you the truth; am. Her
nearest relative. The story in the
paper has a certain amount of truth
In 1t. Her brother. not her sister, has
come back from the grave. am that
brother. She was once devoted to
me-"
you are"
Yes. Oh. there1l be no difficulty
In my proving this relationship.
have evidence upon evidence of the
fact right In this room with me; evil
dence much more convincing and far
less disputable than this surprising
twin can bring forward IL her identi.
ty is questioned. Georgian had a
twin sister. but she was buried years
ago. was never buried. / simply
did not return from a well-known and
dangerous voyage. The struggle
had for life-you cannot want the de-
tails now-has left its indelible i'm.
press In the scar which has turned me
g.