The Abbeville press and banner. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, September 01, 1875, Image 1
BY V. A. LEE AND HUGH WILSON. ABBEVILLE, S. C., WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 1875. ~~" VOLUME XIIII-N0^
_ CONCAjSpS
. IRON WORKS I
? Columbia, 3- , O.
lAiiiT 11 ihf i unnn
m ALEIARHEH,'!
Proprietor.
Jffanufacturer of Steam Engines
and Boilers.
Iron and Brass Castings of all j
Descriptions made to Order. jS
I was awarded the first premium
on castings at the State Agricultural
and Mechanical Society Fairs,
|. held in Columbia, November, 1S71.
'79. *73
MANUFACTURE
Cricular Saw Mills of all sizes. &
ALSO
i Took tho First Premium at State
Fairs hold November, 1S71, '72, '73 _
j Manufacturer of j
Grist Mills Irons of all sizes.
For Sale. *
Gin Gearing of the following sizes.
9 feet wheel and pinion $30 00 |\f
10 44 44 44 44 S > ;-)(( 11
u 41 44 4 1 4 4 :r> on
12 44 44 44 44 4.', oo n
14 " 44 44 44 50 on Sf
With Bolts $0.50 Extra for each set.
Anti-friction plates and Balls for Cot- ?
ton Press $10.00 and $12.00 per set.
D. B. SMITH, Agent,
Abbeville 8. C. Dec.
10, 1873, 35-tf j J
New Store! j
new finniis!!:!
JLIJU VT Wdvrv t ?
W
THE undersigned have just opne*
an entire new stock ot"
GROCERIES,
eb
Provision and Liquors, [ <
bn
As well as Other Goods in bo
their Line. .sli
u r
At the Old Stand of A. M. IIILL, re- |ai
?tw. THrtWRRinfiK & CO.. wlieiv
we will bo pleased to serve the public
CHEAP FOR CASH. Wi
n n
; a. m. hill. i
[ Jan. 29, 1873, 42-tf th
| s. b. norkellJ
Harness and Saddle Maker, s,)
ca
r AT his Old Stand over Parker & Per- t|)(
rin's Drug Store, has a supplv of i j
Northern HARNESS LEATHER, ", .
and other material for Making and Re- 01'
w, pairing Saddles and Harness.
?. Dec. 2, 1874, 34, tf
' id
I c
?g&& FOR <TATA r.OfUfosT. 1
New Goods. |
[ j brc
-v . :<>: J of
^ r*01
TUST RfcCEIVEU the following at *
? i**Tr?-v- rfiiT*l>l> H'lV)lfK ! i lilt
IV trim r U IVi> L l I.' ilu r-> -
New Wardrobes, wo
New Meat Safes, I
New Spring Rollers,
New Window Shades, -**
New Walnut Chairs, I
New Hall Stands, very fine.
J. D. CHALMERS & CO. '
May 25, 1875, 7-tf
ESTATE OF ?*
JAS. C. RAY, dec'dJi
A LL net-sons indebted to Jnmes C.: mu
AT uy at the time of his death jth?
arc requested to make pay merit to us, u*5j
and those having demands against ?
him to render them in properly vcri-T
fied to us I
WILLIAM ANDERSON,
ANDREW ANDEliSON,
Executors, j
"$ Abbeville, March 13, 1875, 49-Gm j
J ' n T! "R"R TTnP!. IT
Boot and Shoe Maker,
Over Parker & Perrin's Store. fT
Abbeville, S. C. iJ
"kESIRES to say that ho is fully pre
P W pared to meet all demands the)
public may make in his line, lie keepsl I)
'?constantly on hand a large lot of the,
best material and employs only the finest |
workmen. He keeps a full stock of
custom-made Boots and Shoes, and
guarantees the most entire satisfaction
in every instance.
Sept. 1, 1874, 21-tf
Mark the Snot of Your Pe-!^
? T \
ceased Friends,
Marble Works.A
FULL line of stock on hand and
4m all work sold at the lowest price,
^and work done in thebest workman-like tj
manner. Several hundred new andlJCi
;haudsome designs on hand to make!
jselpctionsfrom. We will duplicate cityprice
in all monumental work, by which
vou can save freight.
Very respectfully,
J. D. CHALMERS.
Columbia, S. C.
frv. WING
Proprietor.
MAN UFACTUIlEll OF
ash, Blinds, Doors
WINDOW
AND DOOR FRAMES,
sifle Pivot Blinfls awl Staler
COLUMNS,
Pilasters,
MANTEL PIECES,
[ouldings, Brackets
T-To ii /1JP o 11
i iaiiu-iiu,i ioj
EWELS, BALUSTRES
;roll fort of_ all DescriptioD
11 Work Guaranteed A No. 1
May 28, 1874, 7-ly.
. D. CHALMERS & CO.
DEALERS IN
iairs. ParteF Suits, Cbamlier Suits
ralnut & Mahogany Bareaus
ashstands, Tables, Bedsteads
Window Shades, <fcc. Looking
(i lasses, Oil Chromos, &c.
Abbeville, S. C.
Also agents for the sale of the ce!
rated Philadelphia Improved Rus
Window Shade, which for dura
lily, cheapness, convenience ant
anty, cannot be surpassed. Eacl:
ade is furnished with all the tixt
es complete, and only requires twe
,li nails or small screws to fasten it
' with. Should they become soiled
flics, they can be spread on a table,
ished and made as bright as new,
d will last for years. This style oi
ade is much superior to cloih
ades. In warm weather, when the
ndow is raised, the shade admits
e air but prevents flies and mosquijs
entering the room. The simplic
of their fixtures is much in their
tov, as they require no rollers, each
ade being complete, and any one
ri drive two pails by which to han?j
em. They are low in price, duraconvenient,
and never ^et out ol
Jer. Call at store and see samples
Nov. 18, 1874 32-tf
5NTISTRY! DENTISTRY!!
T)r TT n WTT.SO'H
M'FEllS his professional services t<
" the people of Abbeville Count}
il of upper fcjouth Carolina. Having
t finished a course of study in tin
nnsylvania College of Dental Sur
y. he feels fully competent to attend
nil cases requiring the exe.cise o,
tiled Dental Surgery that may b<
>ught to him. He a.*ks the patronage
the people, and guarantees full ami
nplete satisfaction. He has procured
full set of first-class Dental Instructs,
and is prepared to do first-class
rk at most reasonable rates.
i-aT OFFICE 311st over Post Office.
GOLDSMITH. I'. KIND
C-roldsmitli "Kind,
SUNDERS & MACHINISTS,
(I'HOJNIX IKON* WORKS,
OLUMBIA, S. C.
IAXUFACTURERS of Steam Engines
of all sizes; Horse powers
cular and Muley Saw Mills, Urisl
.1 Sugar Cane Mills,Flour Mills, Ormental,
House and Store Fronts, Iron
ilings, Agricultural Implements, etc.
ass and Iron Castings of all kinds
LUC lO oruer Oil snort notice, iiuu uu
? most reasonable terms. Also, manictnrers
of Cotton Presses.
Jay iS. ls":-t, T-lL'in
HOMES' SAW MILL
is
Closed for Repairs.
VVHTIES who have contracted
for LUMBER will call on Ah
CX McCANTY at Mr. Edwards
T linen ?nni(> Inmhnvnn luind which
11 be disposed of for the cash.
. W. THOMAS.
March 24, 187.j, 50-tf
R. JOHN S. THOMPSON
DENTIST,
OFFERS his professional services t<
W the citizens of Abbeville, and th<
rroundiug country.
Office over Citizens' Saving!
ank, Abbeville, S. C.
Jet. 2, lSTG.-'Stf
Thresher and Fan,
ALSO
lailway Horse Power,
For sale by
Barnwell & Co.
April IP, 1875,6-tf
[COTYKIGHT SECURED.] 'J
Theljeirofthel/[ilIs:
OR ?
jlH
Oc ?Mtorunj's ?tt. I
EY
ALFRED B. TOZER,
I XJTriiOK ok " lJoi'Ku Hand and Foot,"
"Who was to Blame," Etc., Etc.
? !
/
CHAPTER XVL
IN THE riOUSEKEKI'Elt's ROOM.
When Hugh Gordon loft Clayson's ro^t-.
dencc he walked as fast as his weakened
frame would admit of in the direction of
the Wallingford house.
9 As he had been through the ravine before,
he had no trouble in finding his way
on this occasion, although all was pitchy
dark. After entering the first passage,
however, he took a short candle and a bundle
of matches from a pocket and thus
supplied himself with a light.
After proceeding a short distance, Thigh
p ! found it neccss tiy to sit down and rest.
^ j In this way he lost considerable time, and
I tci<i f 11m-..fVirr. sf.ill in t.ha nrvner nassatre
j when Amos entered the lower one. Hearing
stops below him lie shrank close to the
sccret door leading into the second story of
the house and waited for the intruder to
developo his purpose. Previous to thi3 ho
' had extinguished his light.
As the steps came nearer and nearer he
was at a loss how to act, for the landing
on which he stoud was too small to admit
of his being passed without discovery.
I "The person, whoever it is, evidently intends
to visit the housekeeper," he thought,
"and must be frightened back until after I
have seen her."
After some thought lie hit upon the plan
which had frightened Ames so effectually,
' and was surprised at itd success. In that
one blaze of light, which In- had produced
by re-lighting h;s candle tin ler the shelter
a!' K i II /IA if f lift VfilinaT |||>| n VUiN'l'/niVu/^
^ VJL 111Q WUU J VV*4I? *UMU iVWgUtuvu
Ames.
Knowing he was there for no good, and
desiring to take advantage of the stupor
into which Ames had fallen, Hugh, thinking
that he would come to no harm, decided
t- leave him where he had fallen until
he h.ul accomplished his mission. To provide
against all possible interference lie
1 secured the secret door after leaving the
landing so that in case of Ames' recovery
he could not force his way into the sittingroom
formerly occupied by Mr. Wallingford,
and thence into the rooms from which
i the housekeeper's slecpinj-room opeued.
) j All was dark in the deceased's <ipurt;
went, and Hugh, in order to avoid attractj
j ing attention thought best to extinguish
I his candle. He tried ihe hall-door and
. I louiiu It. lOCIietl. lie 100-^eueu iuu ava-n s
j in the bolt socket and stopped outside the
I door to fiud a dim light burmiig ut the
| further end of the hall, outside the housekeeper's
apartment.
He gained the doorwiihout encountering
anj one and knocked s ftly.
"Who is there?" asked a voice from
within.
. "Open and seo," replied Hugh, imitating
a feminine voice.
1 The door was unlocked and cautiously
opened a few inches?just enough to per,
init the housekeeper to look out.
She uttered a low scream as her eyes
' rested upon tho strange figure standing
outside, and would have closed and locked
, the door again had not Hugh prevented
t such a proceeding by throwing hia whole
weight against it. .
"Hear uie, Airs. Ames!" he said, softly,
"hear me before you shut lue out or make
any outcry. F assure you that you shall
; come lo 110 harm."
"Wli.it do you want ?" demanded the old
lady in a trembling voice.
Siio opened the door, however, and allowed
Hugh to enter.
J "You don't remember mc,of course, Mrs.
Ames," said Hugh, sinking, from sheer
weakness, into a chair. " 1'ou don't know
me, and yet 1 was born in this room, and
the hands you uplift in horror now, were
' the first to hold me.''
"But one child was born in this room,"
began the housekeeper, "and?"*
"1 am that child?Roland E. Wallingford,"
interrupted the young man.
I "Impossible!" ejaculated the housekeeper.
"The child you name is heir to tins
house and all the W.illingford property,
lie don't need locreepabout his own premises
at such unseemly hours, but you are
hurt?bleeding! Who has assaulted you i"
) exclaimed the good woman, noticing the
: cut on her visitor's h^ad as ho removed his
; hat.
Hugh placed his hand on his forehead,
and withdrew it covered with blood.
1 "The vround must have been torn open
I in creeping through the vines, ' he said.
i "iiere, uu ou tins ijoia aim 1 win call
; for help to dress the wound,'* said Airs.
| Ames, all sympathy in the presence of suf|
fering.
".No, no," said tho young man hasti ly,
5 "no one must know that 1 am in this house.
Don't you know that I am dead, Mrs.
Ames?" he asked, with a smile. "Is it
possible that you haven't heard of my ac-'
cidcut at Gajcn Gray's oilice i"
"I heard of an accident to u mill h:ind
there, and heard that .the body was stolen,"
, said Mrs. Ames. "Have you been working
in the mill Mr. Wallingford '< and why did
you take yourself oil in that strange man
nerr
"Ah ! you believe me at List, thon," said
the young man, noticing the name she had
used in addressig him. "I am glad ot' that
The question you ask makes a long stoi-y
necessary, but it is proper that you should
know."
So, while the motherly old lady was caring
tor and binding up liis wound, Koland,
as we must call him hereafter, told her the
whole story.
"I couldn't consent to accept of a cent
from my uncle after mother's death," he
said in conclusion, "because I was young
, and strong, and, after wandering around
York Inr :l vein*. I ciwin Iimiv turn
weeks ago, and went to workas a mill hand
and under an assumed name."
"And you think that (Jray meant to
kill you to make room tor this other
heir who bears your name?"' queried Mrs.
Ames.
"There can be nonoubtof his intention,"
I was the reply. "1 can't tell how far his
client is implicated in the affair, however."
"It will be hard to make anyone here balieve
that Eugene had any hand in the
1 matter," said the housekeeper, "but I suppose
he will be in the same boat with his
lawyer when it all comes to light."
"I suppose so," said Roland, thinking,
with a pang, of the sweet girl for whom
such terrible revolutions were in store.
"There is one thing that I did not tell
you," said the young man, after a pause.
"I encountered a man in the secret paa'
sage, and the light 1 used in a little tableau
designed to frighten him away,revealed
the face of your husband."
^ I "Why docs he continue to porsecute
| me ?" exclaimed the housekeeper with a
I look of dismay. "1 have no money to give
5; him now."
You are safe from him to-night at least,"
raid Roland. "I fastened the secret door
so that it will be impossible for him to en
ter. Besides, i left him half dead from
fright, and I hardly think lie will attempt
anything further to igiit."
The houseiatetjer lo.,?cd relieved.
"You still hold the ke;-s of the house, I
8upposo, Mrs. Ames ?" asked Ifoland.
Yes."
9 "And tho keys of the mill are hcroP"
"Yes."
"Then, as the owner of the property, I
I" request you to keep the keys of tho house
'1 in your possession. Deliver them to no '
I one. I also desire you to send a trusty man
to the mills in tho morning, to take pos
session in my name." Instruct liim not to
leave the promises for an instant, until he
Hears from me. Both yourself and the
. man muBt be in my pay. Do you understand??will
you doit? T liavo already
notified my attorney in Now York," he
added, "to prevent nny money being drawn
'* from the bank by this false heir."
. "It shall be as you say," replied the old
^.lady. "I3ut what do you propose to do
y " about the will ?'
"There is but ono way to proceed," was
the reply. "I must prove that, although
the names and descriptions are the same,
io rn-.f flm nnrjcin UfimpH
in the will. It may bo ille ;ul for mo to
take possession now, bat I will run the
risk."
"There will be no trouble, I hope."
"I anticipate none," was the reply.
"But I must return now. My friends will
be anxious."
"Why can't you remain here, and send a
note to them ?" suggested Mrs. Ames.
There really was no reason why tho
young man should not adopt this courne,
unless-, indeed, the fact that it would separate
him from Bertha could be regarded
as one.
"It may be best not to see licr again,"
ho thought. "How can my foolish fancy
avail me when such a wide gulf separatee
us ?"
Yet lie was not content to abide by this
[ reasoning. His whole heart yearned
I toward t.Vio fair rro.ituro who had so suddenly
become a part of his life.
"No, I think I will return to my friends,"
he replied. "They have been very kind to
me, and I fear they will bo offended if I
I remain away now. You shall hear from
me in the morning, howover."
After reaching the door Mrs. Ames called
him back.
"But this?this man in tho passage,"
bIio said, hesitatingly. "Won't he die there
alone ?"
"The world would not suffer much from
tho loss if he did," said Roland, bitterly.
! ?r ...:n i i. i.:?? ;r
X VM11 1UUO. ailCl UJUU At. JUU UtOilt, ll\J ?> ever."
"That will be best," rejoined the housekeeper,
mentally wishing that hor brutal
husband had already recovered ttnd departed.
"You can come withme to thedoor if you
like," said Roland, "but leavu the lamp in
the hall. I will open the door softly and
creep down in the dark to see if lie is still
there."
He soon reached the spot where Ames
had fallen and wsis gratified to tinfl that lie
had takeft himself oif.
The housekeeper's face brightened when
informed of this.
So this is the entrance to the passage,"
sua saiu, viewing uiu paueieu wan 01 me
room. "Air. Wallingford never helievud in
itd extifctcnce, and 1 think my husband was
the only one who knew about it until your
poor mother came here. It id strange how
she learned the secret."
"Tour husband showed her one day while
good nature*! from wine she had given
iiim,'' explained Koland.
"He would never give me a clue to it,"
j 6aid the housekeeper, "but. used it himself
I in entering the house to extort money from
nio. You have no objections to my fastening
the door from this side for a few days,
Mr. Wallingfordr"
"On the contrary," replied the young
man. "I am anxious that it should be
closed forever. There is 110 knowing how
many of his reckless associates may have
been informed of the existence of the passage.
I hope 1 shall never use it again,
for it makes me shudder to think ot the
dismal place. As il is late enough now to
adinif of my departure by the main hall,"
said KolaUd, glancing at Jiis watch, "1 will
I Uftbisi/yuu 111 iiuauuiii^ iiiu uuwr.
This was :i tusk very easily performed,
' au<l K??land was Hoon ready to depart.
"I'oii't forgot what I told you about retaining
possession of the keys," lie said, aa
he stood in the lower hall. "Everything
may depend upon that one point."
"1 will not forget," replied the housekeeper.
"And, whatever happens, 1 will
remain always your friend."
| Rol.md was highly gratified at the result
i of his visit, llis way seemed clear now?
] tne immense property almost within his
grasp. Still Ins mind was by no means at
rest its he walked along. As before, JJer
tha nil I'd ins tliouglii*, au<l all uie Origlit
picl urea of future happines.* ho tried to
draw seemed to want one awcot f.ico to
make them complete and perfect. It is
true 1 h:? I he kuew not how his suit would
be lvc-ived, but he had an idea that liertha
was not entirely indifferent to him. "I
would rel'iupiisli every claim t > this property,'*
he murmured, "if 1 could feel insured
of her love, for it. cannot bring me
happiness if it shuts me away from her
he.irt.''
'1 he young man was indeed in a singular
position. W'luie lie feared that liertha
would regard him as a very hasty fortuncj
hunter it lie declared hi- p:irts>on at once,
he also feared that if he waited until tlie
whole truth was known, she would turn
I from 1 iin with horr< r as the cause of her
broti er's ruin. He still believe.I that Eugene
wjib equally yuilty with the attorney
| in the attempt upon Ins life, and did not
tioiiijl that. when the whole matter came
out, both woi.lil Lc dragged to prison toI
gether.
j 11c tried to think if a way by which Eu{
gene mi^ht he saved from trial on the
charge oi attempted murder, but could find
none without making up his mind to leave
the whole ?tury <>f the assault entiivly out
of the case. Eugene had lefl the attorney's
room 011 ttiat night jus :u> li d md had entered
it, and the young man regarded the
fact as very siguilicaut, and as strong evidence
against nun.
\\ lu ll he iva-:lied his friend's house lie
was still undecidcd. Jiesolving to leave
the matt< r to he controlled entirely by future
<-vents, he ill ide his pivseuee at the
d'-or known by a l-?.v kao k. and was at
once aduiitted i y Gr?ver, who looked Hurried
and exeiied
'You will tind a light burning in your
room," lie wnisperod. "(.to up staiis as
i ...: ,i.. i.?. i.'..., \1?
j 4III UV.IO JUU
Or.iy me iu the t>ittiug-room. You will
i iijui 1)1 < doctor uji st-iirs if 3 on should need
j ally In lp."
S.I. in . this Urover returned to the sitI
tiu?-r m iu and Jiol;iit. 1 hastened up stairs.
"IV r. turn t>> wln.t 1 w.ijj saying," said
(Jray, is Urover re e t r d tlie room, "this
I yonnjj inaii advmn ed .tuiost singular claim
i t > the property, and left my room in a
j great ngo. It id my opinion that the fall
| u hioii resulted in ins death was caused not
j by a nn.-step, but ly a lit produced by his
i exessi.e excilenicil."
j "And you don'i know who the man realj
ly was?" .asked Eugene.
I "That is the strangest pu t nf it all/'
I replied tho attorney,"I never heard of hiuo
I before."
"Well," said Eugene, "this is my fii3t
j knowledge of a second claimant. I wish
j the poor fellow had lived, lie might have
j been the true heir after all."
"And if he was?" l^gan the attorney,
j but Eugene interrupted him.
j "ifhat would have ended tlie matter so
far as I am concerned. I should have withi
drawn my claim at onoe."
"Even if a decision iu your favor could
have been procured ?"
"That would have made no difference
when the right of the case was considered,
and I should most assuredly have done so,"
j was the linn and manly reply.
"Well, well," said the attorney, "ttyit is
I n-.Ul, .., ?wvt? T1AVC Tlw? TlllLt.tlif
I was settled in a strange way. and it is not
j necessary to talk of what might have hap*
j penerl."
I "Hut I don't feel quite easy about the
j matter," said Eugene.
"You have nothing to fear, sir.1'
"1 didn't mean that. I meant that I am
not so sure of my right to the property aa
I was before."
Gray laughed.
"Never mind that," lie said, "yon should
not que.-stion such good fortuno."
, "Who was that person you was talking
I with in the hall just now T' asked Eugene
of his friend as soon as the attorney had
taken his departure.
Grover colored deeply before replying
and Engene noticed it.
"It was a man who came on businea
and went away again," Grover fiuall,
said.
Eugene was certain that he had hear
some one pass up stairs, but, for fear of oi
fending his friend, ha said nothing mor
about it, and soon ffont home.
Grover, impatient to know if Roland hai
overheard any of the above conversittior
hastened up stairs and was glad to fim
him interested in a quiet talk with tli
doctor. ,
CHAFPER XVIL
THE FORGED LETTER.
Ag the attorney passed the stairway lead
ing to his office on his way to tho hutel
bo saw Auies standing there waiting fo
him. '
"Well," lie said, stopping at his side
"have you anything new ? Have you see]
your wife ?"
"Come up stairs'" said the other, hoarse
ly. "I want ter see yer."
* Gray led the way into the front office
and, after closing the shutters, produced i
light.
"Now what is it'(" he demanded angrily
for he taw by the man's face that he h.u
been drinking heavily. "Can't you .speak Y
he continued, shaking him roughly by th
shoulder. "Have you gone mat!.?"
"P'raps I be mad,'* said Ames, with i
shudder, "but I've got sense enongh loft ti
keep out of this cussed business for good
A man don't want to see such a sight a
that but once.
"Such a sight as what?" demande<
Gray. "What infernal visions bus you
drunken brain been conjuring up now t"
"I didn't cynger up nothin'," was tin
uoggeu repiy. ~ i avou uiu iuuh a y,1U3
what was kilted in th.it room as plain as
sec you now."
"And where did you see this wondeifu
ghosttisked the attorney, nervously.
"In the secret passage. It was darker'i
a pocket there, an' all at once I hear*
groans, an' a light sprung up. an' I seen i
by that, with a bloody cut in its head an
one hand raised like it was goin' to stnki
out at uie."
"And you, like a coward, ran away,!
suppose
No, I didn't," roplied Ames, "I couldn'
move. I just tumbled down all of ' t
heap !"
"And gave up the attempt to see tin
housekeeper?" asked the attorney, in t
rage.
"No; whon I come to I went up to th<
door 'cause yer see it was nearer out of tin
infernal hole that way, an' the door wai
fastened. So I couldn t git into tliQ hous<
ta all."
The attorney sprang to his feet anc
walked nervously up and down the tioor.
"1 didn't think you was bucIi a fool
Ames," he finally said. "I'ou went then
drimk, I suppose, and had a tit of the do
lirium tremens in the passage."
"But, mister, there ain't another chap it
this town as knows how ter fasten t bat dooi
from the inside."
"Then, as a consequence, the ghost musl
have done it," said Gray, with a force*,
laugh. "Now tell me the truth," he con
tiuued, "wasn't you drunk when you weul
there V
"Not exactly, but I had been takin* a nij
or two for tiie good of my health, but thai
braced me up rather."
Seeing how confident the man was thai
he had really seen something in the passage,
Gray began to consider the matter ii
: u.,.?
It bCHUUa zia uw iw?, i*w n.*?* uv |;vor
tivo proof that the blow lio had dealt .Roland
was a fatal one. There had been uc
medical examination of the body, and its
sudden disappearance, the mystery which
Btill enveloped that disappearance, and the
fact that the young man's most intimate
friends appeared the least curious about
his fate, were points which Gray's aetivi
mind was not lung in summing up. Besides,
no one but i4 'land?or young Gordon
as Gray still called iiiiu?knew of the secret
p issage and the means by whieb
it could be closed from the interior of tht
house.
lie could draw but one inference from
these facts.
"If you saw anything in that passage,"
he saifl, turning excitedly to his companion,
"it was not Hugh Gordon's ghost, but
Jlu-h Gordon lumself, alive an<i well, and
as full of mUchiet and the devil generally
as ever.'*
"1 never thought of that,'" said Ames.
"You don't tmnk of anything," said
Gray, "and never will until you let whiskej
alone. If you bul your senses about
you Hugh Gordon would never have troubled
us again."
"Curse him! curse hin^!" ejaculated
Ames, pounding the table excitedly with
his clenched list, "when 1 meet him agaiu
it will bo the end of him."
" You might make it an object to meet
him," suggested Gray, cautiously feeling
his way.
"Suppose I did?what then ?" exclaimed
| the villain, a greedy glitter ere )ping intc
I his eyes.
j "It would be worth ten thousand dollars
to yuu, SIblU IfUC abWUlllUjr .
Allien started.
"Will yer stick ter tha* ?" he demanded.
"Yea, yes," was the lmty reply. "Why
do you doubt nie '( Have I ever deceived
j yonY"
"Then his {fame is up," crisd Ames,
i excitedly. "liui I muat haveone thousand
j now."
| "1 haven't that much money hero," rej
plied '.ho attorney, but ycu need have no
j Fears of being cheated in Bueh a job at
j this."
"I knows that,'* Bnid the other, "but I
must have some tin to use."
"To use!'' exclaimed Gray, "you haven't
swallowed a thousand dollars since morning,
have you ?"
Ames then told the story of the robbery.
"You are a fool, Ainep," said Gray, coolly.
"Are you certain that you didu't tell
! this choice friend of yours anything that he
1 ought not to know?"
"Yea; dead sure. Wo didn't talk of
j such things," wis the reply. "I told him
; I got my cash wlmlin'," ho added, with a
| laugh.
| "That is well; ho careful next time,
j Here are one hundred dollars. Not a cent
; more will you get until the job is complot|
ed. I am getting short of cash myself."
"But where am I to tind this covey?"
"How can I tell that ? You must find
| him the best you ean."
t "If he's in this town ho won't lost two
j days," said Ames, confidently, as he prej
pared to take his departure.
".Remember," almost hissed his companI
ion, "follow him like a bluodhound, but do
j it quietly. Don't rest an hour by night or
I day uutil he is silenced forever. He has
< seen lit to set himself against me, and he
i should die if ten thousand lives stood between
him and my hale."
4..,^,' firnr inR+pnxl ftf
I AllUi: rv 111 t.'O VHJJJiw n?iVi, ?-?*?j , ?
i going directly to the hotel, produced, a
j number of letters and papers from ono of
I the compartment of his table and sat down
j to examine them.
They were the same which had been
l taken from lioland's pocket on the night
i before, when he lay, us one dead, in the rear
oMice.
| "it is best to he safe," ho muttered as he
j opened paper after paper and noted its
j Contents. "If anything should fail now, all
I would be lost. There must be a scrap of
that woman's writing hoie somewhere,
i Ah! here it is !" he exclaimed, as a sheet in
I a lady's handwriting was drawn from an
! enve.ope.
The name of Margaret Wallingford waa
at the bottom of the sheet.
Gray at once set to work imitating the
style of the writer. Ag ho was a skillful
penman, aud remarkably good at work like
the present, it was not long beforo ho
was sufficiently perfect in the style to bebegin,
on a fade 1 sheet of paper evidently
prepared for tint *>urpose. a letter our?
porting to be Mra. Wallingford's message 1
t to her son.
The sheet first taken waa full of glaring i
9 inaccuracicd when the attorney had finish*
y ed, and he destroyed it and patiently be- i
gun on a new akeet, prepared like the
J j tlTdt.
> I This is what ho wrote: ]
a v New York, Sept. 15,18?.
^ My Deae Roland:?I must hand to you 1
( in writing that which I have not the cour- 1
i age to tell you. I am not your mother.
Lon't hate me for the deception I havo
aided in practicing upon you, my dear boy. !
I have loved you as londly as though you
had been all you seemed to be, and I would | ,
now give all that is left of my shattered 1 ,
life to shield you Irom this terrible blow.
But that is impossible. When you know
the facts of the case perhaps you will think .
more kindly of my memory, for I fully re- ^
|( alize that 1 am oven now as on^^ead.^Jfey^ v?,
i' know that I cannot-live a week, at. best.
On the nighf- my child was born," in Mr. ;
,t Wallingford's house, at Fayettevfllo, now
a nearly twenty-three years ago, the wife of
a mill-hand who bore liis master's name,
i. gave birth to a male cliild. My marriage 1
with the mill-owner's brother had never
.f been made public, and it was desired by ,
a, Mr. Wallingford that it never should be, ,
for, forgetful of my claims upon him, my ^
t husband married in Franco soon after he
I deserted me, and his wife still lives. Ini- ^
" mediately after contracting this marriage
d he died, and it was the one great aim of his
brother's life to shield his memory from j
ii dishonor. For this purpose ho even como
promised himself with the villagers. The
children were chauged, and I consented on ^
3 the condition that my child should become
Mr. Wallingford's heir. As that was Mr. *
.1 w iitiingioiu 3 oniy oujecB m maKing me
r exchange, matters were soon adj usted. He ,
did not wish to recognize a child in his will ,
e of whoso existence his brother's second wife
: was entirely ignorant, for that would lead j
I to litigation as to the child's being born in c
wedlock. He also wished to have the child r
1 near him, and my child?my darling babo j
?whs taken away and placed under the j
l care of the mill-hand's wife. I could not ]
I reconcile myself to the change at first, and ]
t prayed to be allowed to remain in the vil- ^
lage where my boy was, but Mr. Walling- v
j lord declared that to be impossible, and t
sent me hero with you. I have allowed f
[ you to consider yourself as Mr. Walling- t
ford's heir because I could not allow you to a
t think uf me in any but a just light, and I i
i had not the heart to undeceive you. For- t
give me, Itoland, and believe mo when I
3 tell you that this blow can cause you no \
i deeper grief than it gives me to write it. j
My child will become Mr. Wallingford'8 t
3 heir simply as the mill hand's boy, and not I
J as the mill-owners only living relative. i:
* You have only your own efforts to depend r
J upon in the future, and I hope and pray i li
that jou will succeed us fully as though !
I you were the heir you have always believed c
yuiirault to be. 1.
? 1 am, in grief and shame, your friend, ' v
Mahgabet Wallin'qfoed. '
It was nearly morning when the attorney
i | finished this letter to his satisfaction. As :
f i will be surmised, he had drawn entirely
upon lils fancy for the facts it contained,
t "There,he exclaimed, leaning back in | *
i his chair, "when Ames has done his work | tf
I am ready to begin mine. Of course the I
t people will want to know why my client ^
made young Wallingford his heir, and I ?
> am prepared for them if anything serious c
j comes up, although it is more than proba- j e
hie that this ancient bit of paper will never ! i.
; be used. Still tliere is no knowing how
many friends he may have ready to hunt
i the matter up and I must be safe."
The artful attorney's chain of deception
and villainy seemed perfect indeed, and ^
i ! lint after link it was closing around ita ,,
! v.ctim. |
1 CHAI>TER XVIII.
> ?
TRK MAN IN THE SITTING-BOOH. 1
i When Roland awoke on the morning following
his visit to Wallingford house, the
, sun was shining brightly ihrough the win- ^
dows of his ruom. His head ached badly,
i and he felt weak and sore in every joint
i from his exertions of the night before.
j His effort to arise resulted in an increase j.
i of his pain, but after atiine he succeeded in
I dressing himself and reaching a sofa which
1 j stood near the stove, in which a bright fire j.
. was burning. j
( Then he noticed for the first time that a ^
[ beautiful bouquet of autumn flowers stood ! ^
r on the table at the head of his bed. He at
once arose, took it in his hand and returned t
1 1. _ i
i 10 nis cozy resung place.
I "How beautiful it is!" he muv<nured, I 5
' caressing the boquet, in the arrangement 0
i of which great taste had heen exercised. .
*1 wonder if Bertha had any hand in thi?f
! It was very kind, especially after my will
fulness of last evening." !
l While he was enjoying tho beauty of tha
l flowers tho door opened and Grover entered.
(1
i "Good morning," he said, "I hardly ex;
pected to see you out of bed to-day. You
looked like a gho3t when you car-/? in lasfc
[ night I see you found Miss Bertha's bou- B
> I quet," he added, laughing. "She is a dear, ,
I kind girl, and I am heartily glad of her 1
i I brother's good fortune."
"She was very kind to me yesterday," 8
said Roland, "but I suppose her mind will n
be taken up with other mutters now," ha ft
added, with a sigh.
[ "How so?" asked Grover.
"Why, what usually occupies young ?
, girls' minds on such occasions ?" asked ' J
i Koland, "pleasure and dross, and lovers, of j n
| courso." I <
I Grover laughed. I 8
I I ?'Ymi lira intatsLlran this time." hfl 8aid. I ?'
I "Bertha would be just the same girl she is : ^
I now?or wm yesterday?if she were called .
to the throne of England, and.as for lovers, >
I believe she thinks more of her brother |
than any one else in tiic world." | f!
lloland felt as though a load had been , 1
taken from his his heart. j
I Bertha was heart free! ,
Truly the young man was allowing hiin- j ,
! self to be guided by circumstances, and ,
that with a veugeance. ! P
"Well, well," said (.1 rover, "the girls aent j ^
mo up here to see if you were ready for 1 ,,
breakfast, and here [ stand talking and \
| letting you go hungry. I will go down at ?
once and send them up.w j 3'
In a few moments Bertha and Fanny [ u
I made their appearance with a daintily pro- '
j pared breakfast, whroh tliey arranged upon i **
a table and drew to the young man's side. j v
"Did you rest well, Mr. Gordon?" asked ] P
j Fanny, as sho poured out a cup of fragrant 1 ,
ten. . j 81
Koland saw that she knew nothing of 1 c<
going out, aud replied in the atlirma- | '
tive. ;
"What a world of trouble T must be," he ; ,
i said. "Please be seated, girls, and let me j
i help myself," he added. "This is too I
pleasant a home scene to bo spoiled by my j
laziness." ! .
The girls seated themselves near the ! ^
table, and the young man went on with his |
talk.
"It is strange,'* he said, with a smile, j
"how the misfortunes of life are sometimes
needed to bring about one's pleaaantest ex- ?
perionces. Hero I am, after year's of health
and loneliness, in a pleasant little sceno ^
which only illness could bring about 1
Still, I am not certain but my isolation ^
from society has been entirely my own ,
fault." 1C
"Do you forget the writer who compared j g
1 the world to a mirror ?" said Bortha. "If i j
' you make mouths at it you only get ugly I
faces back, while a smile always commands
one in in return." gl
"So it's better to laugh than to sigh/' jj
I hummed Roland. "1 think I will profit by ^
that comparisou,"he added. "But suppose
one lives iu front of a shattered portion of ^
this great mirror, as I believe I have all
my life ?"
"Then he has only to move," said Bertha.
"You seo you can't destroy the theory
in that way. '
"Well," said Fanny, "I will leave you to in
your discussion and attend to a- nail#' *
bco making for tlie door."
Left alone with Bertha, Koland immediately
became silent. *.
"What would who think of me," he pondered,
"if I should tell her now just what I
long so much to say ?'*
"Miss Bortha," lie said, after a short silence,
"are we to have any more of 'Maud'
to-day?"
"Why not something olse?" asked Bertha.
"I think wo did well to. leafo
the poem just as we did, for the conclusion
is too sad for the bright picture we read
last."
"You really believe in it, then?"
"Why shouldn't I r" wns the reply
"True, I have never seen a lore like the on>K>>
the author pictures, lnit that is no reasoWf.
why I should believe that such a one coald
just what he bestows upon "it?smile for
smile, trust for trust, and lpve for love I
Do j'ou really believe that?"
Bertha looked np in surprise at his earnestness.
"There may bo exceptions," who replied, ;
with a vague idea of what was- coming |
throbbing in her brain and bringiug hot i
itlll.-ilrt'S in Vii>r ?
? *HU?liUUiM VAVCp
iious I mean, of course."
"Ah!" exclaimed iioland, "of what use
,hen are the smiles of the world at large
vlieu one exception may darken a life ?"
Then, overcome by tlie strength of his
ove, Roland did:i tiling which lie had fully
mule up his mind not to do?at least that
lay or that week. _IIe walked unsteadily
?ver to Bertha's side, took one un esistiag
hand in both of-hid, and made
wssionute love to hor.
"Don't run away from me," he cried, aa
3ertha started as if toarise from her chair.
'1 beg of you to listen to me now if my
oioe never reaches your ears again. I
lave known you only twenty-four hours, but
>ne may livo a lifetime in ti day. When
uy eyes first, fell upon you I loved you,
iertlm. Don't start. I believe that all
ove is born in a minute's time, only others
lavo taken longer to make the one they
ove ready for the declaration. But don't
hink of that now; you will know in time
vhy I speak now instead of waiting. If
here is any dearer feeling than that of
riendship in your heart for me, I pray you
o tell me now?to put aside all wonder at
. declaration that may seem liko romance
icon use it is hasty?and tell me the
ruth ?'* :
Jlertlui was a true hearted girl. There i
r;i* very little of the sentimental in her I
omposition. She knew that the youug j
iiau before her had awakened feelings in j
ler heart which had until now lain doruant;
still she was hardly content to sur- i
ender her affection# entirely ut such a <
iisty deiiiaiiil.
"1 will iell you the truth," she said, her ! I
heeks suffused with blushes. '*You have <
ieen frank with me, and f will be frank <
rith you in return. A girl's heart cannot !
ie won in a day?at least not in real life, i
can't tell you that I love you, but I like l
ou very much, and the future can only deermine
what that may lead to." i
The shapely head bowed lower and lower <
3 the maidenly blushes deepened in her '
nee, and when slie finished speaking her |
y< s were fixed upon the carpet at her feet. 1
"1 thank you for your womanly frank- j
iess," said Roland, still holding her hand. <
Only don't keep away from me now. I j
ouldu't bear to think that I have destroy(1
the one sweet dream of my life by &
aste which circumstano ? placed entirely
evond my control. Oh Bertha, my dar- j
iig, won't you, can't you tell me that I '
lay hope for the* very best ?"
In his excitement h?5 would have camrhfe '
ise blushing jrii l ,'n his arms, but Hho 1
prang away with a little lau-h and stood *
.7 tho v.iU'luw looking oat kud i
tre? fc.
"There," she sxid, "you are like e.-^ry
me I meet now; you have a mystery which
on will explain lye and bye? Don't say
mother word. I won't answer a singlo
piestion until I know why you made such
taste."
Ar.d she loft the room, leaving Roland in
, whirl of thought.
Notwithstanding tlio eareft:l answer ho
lad received, the young man was, in a
neasure, happy.
"She is as sensible as she ih lovely," he
height, as he pondered over the reply he
tad received. "I love Iter all the more for
hat. I wonder if she will come again, to
lay ?"
In a few moments Fanny cams up to
ake away the breakfast tilings. Roland
aw by her face that Bertha had told her
f the scene recently enactod in the room.
"Has Bertha gone away from the house ?"
te asked.
"No; but she will go soon," said Fanny, j J
rith an arch look at Roland's anxious t
ace. I
"What did she say to you ?" t
"You must not ask me,1' was the reply, i
I suppose she told you all she desired you j
o know." \
"And that was little enough, Miss Clay- 1
on. When can I see her again?" i c
"I can't sxy. I don't Chink, however,
hn.t she will l.a here strain to-day." ! i
"Can't you help mo, Miss Clayson ? I am j j
nra you would if you know how sadly I | J
eeded your assistance. I must see her ' g
gain to-night" ! I
"Well," said Fanny, "Eugene is to bo j1
way on business this evening, and I am j ^
oing over to keep Bertha company. If |t
ou are strong enough you can go with ,
ie." J
"Thank you," exclaimed Roland. "To
bow you how strong I am already I will
arrv that tray down stairs for you," and r
efore tho girl could make any reply ho j t
ad taken it from her hands aud started i
lto the hall with it. \
Fanny followed him to (he lower sitting- 1
3om, where their conversation was con- c
inued. a
As Koland leaned back in an easy-chair, 11
'ith more happiness in his heart than he j h
ad felt before for month*, a stop was i
eard on the walk outside, and Eugene a
assed tho window. t
"He must not see me here!" oxolaimed j;
'ie young man,starting hastily to hit? foot, n
lie must not know that I did not die that ^
ight!" and ho sprang to an inner door j
ast in time to avoid being seen by Eugene ^
8 lie entered tno room. I
Fanny met her lover with a perplexeil as
ell as happy face. She hutl seen him
ery little for the past two clays aud was !
leised at his visit:.
"I did not expoct you so soon, Eugene," I
iie said, "but I am very glad you have j t
Dine. What are you looking at?" she | tJ
gked, ns his eyes glanced inquiringly I
round the room. | tj
' This is very strange," he said, throwing U
imself into a chair. "When I passed that o
indow a man was sitting in this easy- t
hair, and when I entered the room he was l!
o where to be seen. ILivo you spirited s
im away, Fanny?what has become of
im ?"
"Eugene!" 41
"There, there, darling, never mind now. t
must have been mistaken," said Eugene, v
" 4-V.n onnmil lm.fe nil F:Lnn\-'8 frlC6. <1
'^'"o ? ? M
We will say no more about it." I j
Although Fanny knew that Eugeno was |,
iding bis real though tsfrom her? perhup* I tj
linking terrible things of her?she could jv
o no less than to appear satisfied ami al. | v
>w the matter to rest where it was. i f,
Eugene did not remain long. For the j j
rst time in their lives both felt that a j
loud w;is arising between them. ;
When, after Eugeiu-'s departure, Roland I
nssed through the room on his way tip j v
airs, Fanny was sobbing by the window. r
[e did not stop to comfort her, for his own
eart was full, but proceeded to his room t
lid sat down to write the promised not* k- ?
Ira. Ames. # t
TO BE COhTlNTJED J ;
= h
"Does good farming pay ?" wo MQ asked v
an agricultural exchange. It is not e
o l farming that does not pav! .V
i:
The Dead Letter.
BY JOHN a. SAXK. '
And can it be? Ah, yes, I see, -3
'Tis thirty years ?ud better M
Since Mary Jjorgun sent to me ' ;j>
This musty, musky letter. ?
A pretty hand (sbe couldn't spell,) |
But 'twas, as I remember wel^^
'^^^Ai}j^.^en^tlie postal changes t ^ ~ ^
This letter cost in postage! ^
The^love that wrote at such rate' , |
jp ive nundrea notes (l calculate 11
Was certainly a dj^p one.
And yet it died?of slow de<a^.ft^B : ':;':;V's
Perhnps suspicion killed it
I've quite forgotten if 'twas.^pVno ;> '
At last the fatal message.came; - f
"My letters?please xeturii them;
And yours?of course you wish the \
same?
I'll send them back or burn them." ~Ti
Two precious f^ols, I must allow,Whichever
was the greater; . ''vM
I wonder if I'm wiser now,
Some seven lusters later?
And this alone remains! Ah, well!
These words of warm affection,.
The faded ink, the pungent smell,
Are food for deep reflection.
They tell of how the heart contrives To
change with fancy's fashion, ~ \
And how a drop of musk survives
The strongest human passion!
' I
The Hon. D. Kay, of Chattauooga, *;
who has been appointed by Gov. Potter,
of Tennessee, to succeed ex-President
Johnson, of the United States Senate, is
at present one of the chancellors of the
State, but has not figured much In Tennessee
politics. He is forty-five years of
age, of decided talent, diffident and retiring,
very popular in his section, but
not generally known throughout the
State. The appointment willglve general
satisfaction in East Tennessee,
which portion of the State claimed the . _
appointment of Mr. Johnson's success- - <
or. The Legislature of Tennessee meeU
only every second year, and its next pea3ion
will begin January, 1877. Senator
Key will therefore occupy the seat by
the Governor's appointment for two
whole sessions, embracing the long session
next winter and the short session
succeeding the presidential election.
rne nexc .Liegisiaturu, 10 De cnosen in
the fall of 1870, will elect a senator for
the remainder of Mr. Johnson's term,
ind will also have to elect the successor
>f Senator Cooper, whose term expiree
in 1877.- - !
The Spartanburg and Asheviiae
Railroad.?A meeting of the stoek- *
solders of this road was held in Asberille,
N. ('., on the 11th. After an elee*
:ion of officers, there was some disagreement,
when President Memminger and
Secretary Kaufman, who have rendered
nvaluable service to the company, resigned.
D. R. Duncan, Esq., of Sparanburg,
was then elected President,
uid Mr. W. K. Blake, Secretary.. . :
Twenty-live miles of the road hare
)een graded, aud ready for the iron.
rhe whole road is surveyed aud located.
Phe financial condition of the company
s as follows: private subscription ?138,)0U;
County bond9 ? TTnion $150,000;
Spartanburg, Henderson, Buncombe
;ach 1000,000. Total, $.588,000. The
Jnion aud Spartanburg subscription is
ibsolute; the money subscribed by Henierson
County must be spent iu that
Jounty, while it is provided that the
3uncombe County bonds must not be
told at less than 90 cents. The estimated
:ost of the road to Asheville is $1,500,100.
and to Wolf Creek $1,000,000, or
>2,500,000 to complete it.
How to Live Forever.? M. Robing,
m eminent French chemist, announces
o the French Academy of Medicine hla
>elief that life existi only in combusion,butthe
combustion which occurs
n our bodies?like that which takes * * ' .
)lace in chimneys?leaves a detritm
vhich is fatal to life. To remove 'this,
ie would administer lactic acid with orlinary
food. This acid is known to poaless
the power of removing or destroyug
the incrustations which form on the
irteries, cartileges and valves of the
leart, and, as buttermilk abounds in
;uch acid, and is; moreover, an accepta>le
kind of food, its habitual use, it is
irged by M. Rosing, will free the sysem
from such causes, which inevitably j
lause death between the 7oth and lOOto . I
'ear. .-jfl
Col. John T. Brown, keeper or tno <
>enitentiary of Georgia, has supplied
he Atlanta Herald with the following
nfonnatiou: The whole uumberofconvicts
is about 800; one-tenth oi these ony
are white. The ratio is one of deTease
in the number of white convicts .
.nd an increase of colored. Many of
hem ara employed on plantations. A ?
leavy increase is anticipated the com- j
ng fall. Courts will soon be in session,
,nd jails are full all over tne State. In . J
he month of July, this year, there were J
lineteen brought In, against two in 1873
,nd four in 1S74, ror the same month.
"here are many young negroes brought
11, some as young as ten years, and nr.
lumber fourteen and fifteen years old.
Nkw Postal Cards.?A circular jflBH
rom the Third Assistant Postmastericneral
announces that the Department
s prepared to commence the issue of posal
cards of the now design. Postmasuis
will not, under any circumstances,
n napini^nil tn rilppm or pxnhancre dos
al cards of the old style or cards that SK
imy be misdirected, spoiled in printing, ,
r otherwise rendered unlit for use, in
he hands of private holders. It will be
iseless to apply to the department for
uch exchange for redemption.
?> . ? n
We frequently hear women exclaim
I wish L was a man;" but, my counrywomen,
you never saw a man who ^H9
fished he was a woman. Which is an
nan*werable argument in favor of tho ~ MM
inferiority of wo?hello, my dear I didn't jflg
icur you come in. Have achair. Bit
own. With an eyeon theolive branch, 9
vc will draw a different conclusion-*
/hid) is an unanswerable argument in H
ivor of woman's sufferings.?Rochester ^
)cmocrut.
"Where's the molasses, Bill?" said a j
iroman, sharply, to her son, who had
eturned with an empty jug,
"None in tho city, "mother," replied
he boy. "Every grocery has a big
ilaekboard outside, with the letters, >.
). Molasses.'"
?_
The liktyfcnapolls News has found out
lowthejjfex of that man in Europe who
/enfrabenitin woman's clothes was disovered?"He
inadvertently said 'thank
ou' when a gentleruau gave up his scat
n a street car."
? --- ? -