The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1921-07-09
Lizzie Hexam. frightened by her

stone nor Eugene could trace her. But
Headstone fancied that Eugene would
find her and for weeks he trailed his
rival. Eugene was aware of this
morOse figure that was never far be-
hind him, and he took an impish de-
light in roaming after nightfall through
all the four quarters of London.
At the same time, matters were ap-
preaching a climax with the Boffins.
Silas Wegg was preparing his trap;
Mr.. Boffin was daily growing more
surly. At last he blazed forth and
discharged John Rokesmith for aspir-
ing to the hand of Bella to secure the
Harmon fortune. But Bella took the
part of the dismissed secretary and
cried bitterly as she recalled the lov-
able Mr.. Boffin now transformed into
this terrible monster of greed. she
sought again the poverty Of her child
hood home. It did not take John Roke-
smith long to find her and the cherublc
Mr.. Wilfer felt happily faint when he
saw his Bella's head find what seemed
a natural resting-place upon Johns
breast.
| Meanwhile Eugene had found LIZ
zie's hiding place, near Plashwater
Weir Mill Lock. Eugene rowed up the
river to the hamlet, but did not notice
the interested lOck-keeper who swung
open the gates for him. Nor did he
know tina. a man dressed like the lock-
keeper was near, watching him with
baleful eyes. The latter was Bradley
Headstone the gate-keeper was
Rogue Riderhood, who was known to
hate Eugene. Riderhood puzzled more
than a little when he saw Headstone,
with murder in his eyes, in clothes pre-
ciseIy like his own.
Eugene walked at nightfall with Liz.
zie by the banks Of the river. Head
stone could not know that Lizzie
begged Eugene to go away, but he saw
their lips meet. A shadowy figure kept
close to Eugene after that until some
!, thing seemed suddenly to crash in his
head and the stars and moon reeled
! in his sight. He closed with his as
sailant, there was scuff1e and 9
splash. Lizzie, tormented by her talk
had not gone to her room. She heare
the splash and rushed to the river
bank. When she saw face in the
river she hurriedly leaped into boat
/ No man could have been more skillfu
t with oars. She reached the floating
body, caught it by the hair. secured 4
and screamed for help. Help did no
come before she had bound and kisse'
, thacface that was so dear to her.
Scared and married as he was, Eu
, gene struggled back from the borde
of death. He did not expect to re
cover when he asked Lizzie to MARI
him, but she was as proud of hin
! when. she was made his wife as thoug
, he had been standing in full strengt
, by her side instead Of lying helplessl
, In bed.
!. Rogue Riderhood remembered tina
' Headstone had intended him to suffe
i for the crime. So he announced tha
he would dog Headstone until he wa
: paid handsomely. Headstone kne'
! that the scOundrel would trail him fol
> ever, as he had trailed Eugene. 81
i walked away without a word, wit
! Riderhood at his heels. He steppe
/ out upon the bridge that held bac
: the Thames and then suddenly caugf
= his tormentor with grip that coul
D not be shaken. They wrestled bac
! and forth on the brink. steadily nea
!. ing the edge. Riderhood tried in val
to draw knife. He fought, he trie
to squirm free from that relentless en-
!, brace. At last he went over backwar
! with Headstone gripping him. The
: found the bodies locked together.
= In the meantime Silas Wegg tigh
. ened his screws upon the hapless Bo
: fin. But the dramatic scene that
: had planned did not work out, Il
: there was later will than the one
: had found. giving everything to NJ
Boffin. So Mr.. Wegg was sudden
swung out of the house and into
= passing scavenger's cart. His woodt
$ leg waved a gyrating farewell as
e passed out Of the Boffin house.
ie Bella Wilfer had become Bella Rok
lg smith, and there was wonderful, til
y Bella before she understood Mr.. Be
q fms strange miserliness. Not
u then did she learn that her name VI
E Bella Harmon and that Mr.. Boffin b.
u been troubled by her hardness
- heart. So he had decided to try hi
lit was for that reason that he b
"a been so gruff and misery. He W
e glad he had done it, for it had prov
IN Bella's worth and given her the m
lg. who loved her. And now, althou
y the Harmon fortune had been left
e, the last will to Mr.. Bofin. he res
n llutely refused to take 1t. He ke
e only money enough to live comfortaf
y for the rest Of his happy days.
er The magnificence Of the new ho1
q where Bella was to I've impressed ev
rs her impressive mother, and the che
n bic father was made Johns sec
to tary and released from the numbi
e- life that had been his for many yea
r. But perhaps John and Bella and
MS Boffins too who were living with TIT