The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-01-07
THE
HOLLOW OF HER HAND
BY GEORGE BARR M'cUTcHEoN.
SYNOPSIS OF PRECEDING CHAPTERS

SYNOPSIS OF PRECEDING CHAPTERS.
Chailis Wrahdail is found dead In ro'd
girl. Hetty .Castlcton. who had accompanied
aim to lne inn the night before. offers her a
Trip. and Leslie wr:indali. tho dead mans
brother. falls desperately In love with her
horror. Smith. detective. suspects Mrs.
wrandall OF having committed tho murder,
wfanda Il tho elder ane dlseone e tne aenh
by clever falsehood. but Mrs Wrandaii
- tried TO 10 give her a chance ae Brandon
Booth. friend OF Leslic's. also falls in lovo
uses to marry him. telling him that some
lay he win understand WIZ. She confesses
another artist She convinces Mrs wrandali
innocenee. Leslie again urges hts sui, and
Mrs Wrandall insists that the girl accept
r.Htt 'nm"hiat.y follows her She tells
20 lei, nim heI secret, and he departs for
tmerien TO learn IT, In Lucerne she meets
who tells her that II is rumored that booth
and Mrs: Wrandall are TO be married. Mean
suaded Mrs. wranda TO tell tho Eirrs
story.that Hetty Castleton went TO the hotel
be married there. and ;ha, she killed him ia ia
defense OF her honor. Mrs. wrandali also
l''h!fescf tuAt. Dc.ofo tnc became certain or
the girls moral Innocence. she had tried 10
,nnrry her to Leslie as a punishment to tho
TO her. Booth writes long, carefully word
ea letter TO the girl, sayins that he IS com
tectivc. informs Mrs. wrandalI that the po-
Siiee suspect showgirl named Ashley OF
save The girl. who Is dying, from annoyanco
Mrs Wrandall tells the whole story 10 her
by Booth. take steps to protect the unjustly
susne"ied woman. Nrs. WranGaii suffers u
Turns from abroad The sho oS '. de de-
clnring on her death bed that she knows
the name. 1t Is decided that the murdered
mans family should be told how no me, hts
death and all The wrandalls arc summoned
~ his widow to her house where che and
Aiiss Casteton tell them tho whoie story
I aS ss aeqai n. girl Of all moral wrong
Challis Wrandnlls death.
IT !s not in our hearts TO thank
sara for shielding you. for he,
hand Is still raised against us Wo
are fair and Just II you had come
TO us on that wretched night and told
the story OF my sons infany We the
Wrandalls. would have stood between
you and tho law. The law could not
have touched YOU then; 1t shall not
touch you now. Our verdict, II Won
choose 10 call 1t that Is sealed No
man shall ever hear from the lips OF
n Wrandall the smallest part OF what
has transpircd here tonight. Mr.. Car
roll, you were right. We thank you
for tho counsel that led this unhappy
girl to place herself in our hands
oh God, l thanl; Thee thank
Thee" burst from tho lips OF Sara
Wrandall. She strained Hetty TO her
breast.
1T is not for us 10 Judge you, Sara
said Redmond Wrandali, speaking with
difficulty. You are your own Judge.
land harsh one Won Will find VOurs.1F
AS FOR ourselves. we can only look
upon your unspcakable design as tho
working OF temporarily deranged
mind. You could never have carried
IL out. You are an honest woman. Al
tho last YOU would have revoltcd. even
with victory assured. Perhaps Leslia
is tire only one who has real griev-
ance against you in this matter l am
convinced that he loved Miss Castle
ton deeply. The worst hurt is his. and
he has been your most devoted ad :
) vocate during all the years OF bitter
ness that has existed between you and
us. You thought to play him n foul
trick. You could not have carried It
to the end. We leave you TO pass
Judgment Oh yourself"
II have already dono So Mr. Wran-
DALI" said Sara. Have | not accused
, myself before you? Have | not con
.. fessed to the only crime that has been
committed? l am not proud OF my
self, SIR
You have hated us we'll
And you have hated me. The crime
you hold me guilty of was committed
years ago. IT was when robbed you
OF your son. To this day 1 am the
lcper I'm your path. | may be for
. given for all else. but not for allow
ing Challis Wrandall TO become tho
husband of Sebastian Goochs daugh.
ter. That is the objectionable sin"
| WrDnhHll silent for J.
ment.
You still are Sebastian Gooch's
daughter" nc said distinctly. You
can never be anything else"
. She paicd. This last transaction
proves 1t, you would say"
This last transaction, yes"
She looked about her with troubled,
questioning eyes.
IL wonder If that can be true"
!! she murmured, rather piteously. Am
| so different from the rest Of you?
Is the blood to blame2'
,"Nonsenscw exclaimed Mr.. Carroll
; nervously. Don't be silly, sara, my
, child. That 10 not what MIR. Wrandall
means"
Wrandali turned his face away.
You loved as deeply as you hate,
Sara" he said with n curious witch
i ing OF his chin. MY son was your
god. We arc not insensible to that.
Perhaps we have never realized until
now the depth and breadth Of your
love for him. Love Is a bitter judge
OF Its enemies 1t knows no mercy. 1T
knows no reason. Hate may be con-
quercd by love. but love cannot bc
conquered by hate. You had reason
, to hate my son. Instead you persist
ed in your love for him. We've owe
you something for that, Sara. We owe
,, you a great deal more than find my
. self able to express in words"
}
slant. He had his overcoat on and
carried his gloves and hat in his hand
i I'VE arc ready, father" he said
thickly.
II After q moments hesitation. he
] crossed over to Hetty, who stood be-
side Sara.
Ell can now understand why you
refused to marry me, Miss Castleton.'
u ho said, in queer. jerly manner
: Wont you let me say that / wish you
all tho happiness still to be found In
c this rather uneven world OF ours?"
The browning testimonial to an alb