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THE SUNNY SOUTH, ATLANTA, GA., SAfURDAY MORNING, JANUARY 10, 1891.
HAWTHORN;
A TALE OF TWO DECADES IN MANY STATES
By Bismuth Miller.
CHAPTER XVII.
Next day about noon the protracted
delay was terminated, and the iron
hone, panting and snorting, pierced the
gorge near Laramie City, passing which,
the way waa open and without Incident
to Colfax, beyond the Sierras. When
Sacramento waa reached Benigna stopped
over, the better to prepare for the dan
gerous operations that atlU lay before
her. Here she presented checks for her
own and Alma’s baggage, and was put
in poeaeeslon of that of both.
On the same afternoon, Virginia hav
ing been mUdly narcotized, the woman
instituted a thorough search of Alma’s
trunks, every useless or inculpating ar
ticle therein being carefully destroyed.
Alma had possessed liberal means, and
Benlgna’s explorations were well re
warded. The deceased had had also
much costly wearing apparel and an
infinitude of fine jrwelry and trinkets.
These all fell to the unprincipled woman.
While she was fitting upon her hand a
diamond ring of rare design, B.nlgna
suddenly recalled that, notwithstanding
her abundant forethought, she had neg
lect-d to strip from the dead Alma a
heavy ring sne reoeatedly observed upon
one of her finders! Sne was greatly per
plexed a - , tills untimely oversignt, lest
som.-> inscription it rnizht contain shoud
bring to light the identity of the buried
woman.
Too newspapers of San Francisco next
morning contained a graph!} account of
tne long and perilous j mruey, noting as
its only fat il incident the unfortunate
death o' Mrs. Alina Beiwyu, of Washing
ton, DC. a passenger who had perished
from consumotloa.
This publication alarmed Benigna,
being calculated to unmask and demolish
her plans.
“Can X have been dogged and watched
all tue wayT ’ sbe asked he-self. ‘‘Impos
sible, 'or even tue porter, passing in and
ont a dozen times eac iday, did not know
Alma when she was lying dead before
him.”
She resolved, despite all obstacles, to
go forward on the daring line marked
out, now sustained alone by the con
sciousness that she was already too far
to retrace, and that the dangers to be
met in retreat were as terrible as conid
be those before her. Taking under ad
visement one after anotber of the various
expedients of escape which decked to her
crafty mind, and having at length for
mulated a plan which promised to set all
things inordtr, sue that nlgUt sought
her couch composed as one whose con
science knows no sting.
Twenty four <>ours later she was at
San Francisco, where, entering one of
its best hotels, she boldly wrote upon the
register 4 airs Alma Selwyn and child,
Washington, D. C.”
Tnls was a downright challenge to the
pnbllsned sensation of the previous day,
and attracted widespread notice. Sbe
was at once besieged bv tbe reporters, to
whom she ore sente d an imperturbable
exterior. Witb deter minsd calmness she
gave them to understand that if the re
ports were not promptly denied and pro
perly excused sue would place suits for
personal damage This brought out ex
tended retractions, supplemented by
apologetic editoria s.
She now at San Francisco awaited the
reparation tt e*e later publications were
expected to accomplish at Livingston,
. btr final destination, where she was soon
to meet Alma’s uuc e, Tom Ba'dwln.
Ou the following day she embarked for
that point.
Bachelor Tom Baldwin was a prosper-
ens aericu turist in tbe valley of the
J laquiu river. He was quite wealthy,
owning valuable properties in Bereral'
Jities and towns of CaiUorhta, including
a few fine dwellings at Oakland, the
social aud t d jcattonal centre. He had
also a plain, commonplace habitation
near Livingsto >, occupied irregularly
white ne was engaged In that vicinity,
and another and more pretentions resi
dence a Util s way from Lathrop.
Tne last named town lay between San
Francisco and Livingston, and it was
here that Baldwin this day awaited the
coming of the putative Alma Selwyn,
who, unaware of his presence, passed
him and proceeded directly on to Liv
ingston. Having never met Alma, but
knowing that she was blue-eyed, Bald
win had looked into the faces of the
ladles while tbe train halted at Lathrop.
Tnere were no blue eyes In the cars.
When Banlgna discovered that she had
overstepped her correct stopping place,
she became aware that it would be im
possible immediately to retrace her way,
and accordingly set ont in the early af
ternoon, with Virginia, for Baldwin’s
farm-house, a mile from the Livingston
settlement.
Coni resting It with the structure she
had expected to find, it seemed little bet
ter than a rookery. At once she con
cluded that his wealth must have been
entirely exaggerated.
“It always happens that way,” she
soiiloqnlzid; ‘ one is never so rich as he
is made out to be. I wouldn’t wonder if
this man were quite poor. At any rate.
I wouldn’t live here if he gave me the
place!”
Virginia had quite fairly divided the
fatigue of the way between her own
feeb.e little feet and the woman's not
ov.r-strong arms—had half come and
half been borne. Hence both were ut
terly wearied, and Impatient for a place
to rest.
Entering the rude, irregular inclosure
wherein stood the low, rug ed house, a
rough-looking man appeared at its only
door and stead f astly stared Ejsaying
in as few words as possible to make
him understand her relation to Tom
Baldwin, she was plain in telling him
tnat it won a be i mpossible for her to go
a step fun her, and that, she must shelter
her caiid there over-n'gnt.
The dark features of t ie man se'-med
to brighten. • Y'ou’re Hale Selwjn's wife
and chile? I see. He was at Frisco a year
or two ago. and 1 was there with Mr.
Bald win .” Then be asked, in a familiar
tone ‘ How’s Ha'e?”
“He i3 not with us,” she demurely,
wearily answered
“Well,’' said the man, 1 Mr. Baldwin’s
somewhere up abou. Lathrop. Didn't
yon see him? '
“No,” she impatiently replied; “and as
we can’t get back now, we’ve got to stop
here ”
“Ob, you can do that, of course. There
ain’t many woman folks in these parts,
but you needn’t mind that. Just come
right in and rest, aud 1 11 make it a3
pleasant as I can.”
Bmigna entered without further cere
mony.to survey the interior and elevate
her no e at ail she saw. It was an
doubted y uninviting and not imrnacu
lately clean; but she must make the best
of ItT She set, woman-.ike, to putting it
in tolerable condirlon lor short occu
pancy. Having provided herself at Ban
Francisco witb an abundant luncheon,
of which Virginia only hid mlncingiy
partaken, there was much of It uneatep;
On this sbe was declled they shouu.
both subsist till next morning, notwith-
standi g that the man proffered the
latch-key to his plethoric larder.
At night Benigua and Virginia occa
pled a pallet on the flour or one room,
while the hired man, spread on a bench
jnst beyond tbe thin board partition,
filled tbe other, aud snored with the
vigor and regularity of a forge-bellows.
CHAPTER XVIII.
When, after the long night at Livings
ton, tbe dawn at length came, it opened
np to Benigna a complexity of difficul
ties such as would thoroughly employ
her extraordinary genius for successful
lying. She was this day to enact a quad
ruple role In which every impersonation
she most acquit with amazing adroit
ness, or else succumb to discovery and
destruction. Baldwin, whom she had
never seen, nor as to whom bad she even
the advantage of incidental foreknowl
edge, she w<;s self-appointed to meet
face to face in the relationship of his
neice by marriage, lo support such a
connection she must uniimptscnably
have been tbe wife of his own nephe w,
whom he well knew and sbe had never
-seen. And, to further embarrass this
pretense, she had not the slightest re
semblance to the true Alma Selwyn, of
whom Baldwin had in possession a life
like portrait in oil. To crown the as
tounding array of impostures, she would
have to insist, would have to eonvinoe—
unwed maiden that she waa—that she
was the natural mother of the cbUd Vir
ginla, of the date and locality of whose
birth she was in absolute darkness!
Haply for the woman, the innocent buby-
girl could afford not a ray of enlighten
ment even If she conid know Benlgna’s
flslslty, which extreme childhood for-
bade!
What wonder that she who was thus to
meet this trying ordeal—grown to awful
proportions from the infinitesimally smaU
bnt fertile germ of a first girlish folly—
had been wearing away long nights that
knew no sleep, only to wrestle with
guUty days that gave her heart no
peace 1
And yet, while she lay awake In the
loneliness of last night’s neighborltsi
lodge, to ponder the sunless past, to plot
for the sinful morrow, not once a pang
of remorse, not once tbe joy of repent
ance, deepened a wound or dealt a thrill
of sonll Had she no shudder for the
crimes that were mounting to Heaven?
No! Nor prayer for extrication—for
preservation? No! Hid she no terror
that the outraged spirit of the dead Alma
might snatch from ner side tho sleeping
innocent on whose beauty was being
reared the hope of one whose life was
not brightened by a blush oi houor or
blest by a smile of truthl Not one! Tbe
inram jus woman was wholly of the
world, and knew of nothing beyond the
sphere on which, were her nighest aspi
rations rewarr.ed, sne could never be
larger than an atom of sand.
Aud it transpired, when she had ar
rived at Lat.irop and was sitting for a
few minutjs at Baldwin's side in the
ladles’room qf the depot, that he gave
her a quiet, studious look, and that by
that glance she already knew he was not
fascinated. Yet when he bluntly
questioned her about the “divinely
blue eyes,” which Hale’s many letters
had dwelt upon, tne words which
might utterly have wilted the
living, genuine Alma not for an Instant
disconcerted the lying pretender, who
smiled to hear him utter them. He said
that sbe didn't look one particle like tne
portrait he had of Hale’s wUe.
At this she laughed, as If to convey that
she knew he was jesting, and that she
enjoyed the humor.
At length, affecting to see for the first
time that Baldwin waa serious, she said,
airily: “There are no bine eyes about
either of ns; bat Hale knew that it was
your favorite hue, and he thought it
would gratify you to call mine that
color ”
“But the eyes or the painting are bine,
he said, earnestly.
She laughed outright. “Another par
donable deception, made necessary by
the first. Having told yon my eyes were
bine, and tnus having flattered your par
tlality, he sent you a bide-eyed gin’s pic
tore because t.e thought mine wasn’t
pretty enough for a proud bachelor s
fancy.”
Baldwin was rather tickled at this, and
himself smiled.
Wnereat Benigna resolved to follow np
the strife for his perfect conviction of her
genuineness. Tuere would nave been
less difficulty in doing toil, shethougnt,
had not the officious newspaper rtpur.s
complicated matters. The news of Alma
Selwyn’s death and burial had attracted
great public attention, and its flat refu
tatl>n had widened tne popular interest,
it was of vital Importance that this
should be allayed. Agitation would Lad
to a search for the mooted grave and to
the txnumation of the hidden body.
What if, by comparison with her portrait,
or turougn the cuomicai restoration of
the name on her linen, or by a ratal tell
tale inscription on that ring tbe woman
bad omitted to strip from tue dead fingei,
Alma tjeiwyn were, after al., to rise and
con.j't.:d uo ; oi iieuigua
Bernand! Tue possibility was an awful
one; and yet, wuiist these tantalizing
feats were prodding her tormented mind,
the woman preserved In Baldwin’s pres
ence a wondrous outward oaiance, and
was even baoyant and flippant.
Bald win nad bsen for naif an hoar hold -
in nls lap the wearied and slumbering
Virginia, aud all through this coiioq ty
Beuigua observed that he alternated uls
gazs as though he were searching for
noes of resemblance between herseif and
Virginia—of whicb she well knew there
txisted not one. Matters were becoming
more and more grave, when, -a by an
inspiration, she suddenly remembered
that she had with her own hand written
Aima Selwyn’s only letter to ner uncle,
and that at this instant she had on htr
person a second letter, which she had
written at San Francisco tne day before,
and wffich was likewise signed “Alma
Selwyn.” If she could contrive to bring
botn these letters to Baldwin’s notice—to
have him see them side by side—then he
must leel confirmed that she was the
person she represented herself to bt; and
it wou.d follow that the world beside
should stand convicted.
Sue calmly, rather nonchalantly, said:
“You received my Washington letter
witnout delay, did yon not? I don’t
think the blockads caugot that mall.”
“I think so,” he answered; • do you re
member Its date?”
“It was written on the S;h; for I recall
that it was my calculation X should oe
nicely hero by tne lb'.n.”
“Tue bth—tue S»n! ’ he said, musingly;
“it must have been written later. 1 got
it only a few days ago.”
“I’m sure it was too Sth,” she Insisted.
“ Well, 1 nave it here, aud we can easily
see.” At the same time he withdrew
from his pocket a mass of mlscellaueous
correspondence, from whicn he produced
the Ittter In question. •Y’es," he said,
opening it, “it is dated the Sth.”
Aud wnlte he held It belore him, Bs-
nigua, who hud takeu tue otaer from ner
satchel, tendered it, saying, careiess.y:
“Tnls was written to you at oau F/au lo
co, but finding it would come on tue
same train with us, 1 tuought it would bo
absurd to mail it ”
He held luew both, glancing from one
to the other, perhaps unconsciously, but
certamiy comparing tne two letttrs,
written by the Bkuuo hand and signed oy
the same name. A.id if ever Bachelor
Tom Baldwin had had a hu-piuion that
the wo-nau btbido him was not me per
son she claimed to be, he cow was uual-
ttrab.y convinced that Benigna Bernard
was truiy Alma S.lwyn, sne wife of his
nephew aud mother of Virginia!
In tbe lad’s mind, even while bis manual
strength was exerting its most faithful
struggles with an unwieldy hoe. A vast
concourse of reveries crowded the Weil
turned head wbifh he bore as though it
rested on the shoulders of a prince. He
reasoned that opportunity was huiryir g
by, whilst he stood helpless in its very
shadow. He determined to fall In with
It, to follow It. Vividly recalling the
last, imperious words of his father, bid
ding him, when he became a man, “first
of all things to find ont who he was,”
these Impressed him that there must
have been a proud origin, and that a
proud deetiny ought to follow.
That evening he reached a determ'na
tlon to go forth into tbe world; and next
morning hia widened sphere was beyond
the horometer of the plow handles which
yesterday confined him, soul and body.
He had ran away.
There waa little preparation needful
for his world-wide journey, slnee ho
possessed few articles, his scanty stone
scarcely filling a modest parcel. Tne
operation of gathering into one place
these effects, however, gave rise to sue
plcion In the Walters that he waa de
signing a surprise for them, they having
seen, as most naturally they must have
expected to see, intimations of discon
tent. They accordingly set an unseen
watch upon his movements.
At night, having uncomplainingly and
folly finished his farm task, Raymond re
paired to the rude sleeping room, reedy
for the morning’s start. In tne shado v
of a dense cedar some distance from bis
window stood Walter, eagerly observing
the lad’s every torn. Raymond, nncon
scions of this, sat gazing into the dim,
dying Dune within the chimney, ita dn
blous light all that forfended profound
darkness. At his side, on the long, low
bench, was set his bundle, tbe same to
serve for a pillow when, later, without
removing his clothing, be should extend
his body ft r a last night’s sleep in that
locality.
Walter, tiring of the paucity of incl
dent rewarding his contemptible eye
service, stepped noiselessly from his
hiding place and entered within, where
De siOjd an instant, staring at Raymond,
who met hla gtzo without a sign of dts
turbance.
Walter aspect, in a gruff' tone: “Ray
mond, what do yon intend to de? ’
“When?” inquired the boy.
“Tonight,” said the man.
“Sleep,” answered Raymond.
“Here?” interrogated Walter, with a
certain emphasis.
“Certainly.”
Tnere was a pause. The prompt,
placid responses of the little fellow put
Walter's questionings at nay, if they did
not drive off his suspicions The man
seemed, at any rate, to reflect that if
Raymond were to leave him there was no
other place for nim to go, and even if
there were, he wonld be glad enongh to
corns back.
And while he was thus cogitating,
Raymond's own thoughts were busy, his
fears, too, being wide awake. He had
no terror of tbe man who stood before
him, for whom he felt a certain sense of
disdain; hot he was afraid he might be
forced to tell his plans, by being forced
at all to speak; for be would not lie
about them, even though, by telling tne
truth, he was sure to defeat nimself.
The man, wishing farther to ease his
misgivings, again pressed him: “What
will yon do in tne morning?”
“Don’t know jnst what yon mean,”
Raymond said, stooping over to stir the
embers.
“When yon wake np,” said Walter.
“Well, 1 can’t do anything at all till I
wake,” replied the lad.
“But after yon wake, what then?”
“Bay n y prayers,” patly answered the
boy.
That was a settler. Walter was over
matened, and said no more. Ha went
away, posstoly to resume his post as a
spy. In that event, he must have felt a de
gree of chagrin to see Raymond compose
himself along the narrow pine bench
before the rode, vacant fireplace and
complacently fall to sleeping.
Al daylight Raymond, having written
short, characteristic note, which he
le t to oe discovered, was far on his un
certain way.
When Walter, inspired by a queer curl
osity, came earlier than ever oefore to
Raymond’s room, it was to find the con-
picuous note, which proved to be la
jutcally as follows:
become nntena
at her service.
But an apparent
denly alarmed
career of gayet{
hastened her to el
Indefinitely at tl|
‘Thanking yon, I am gone.
“Raymond Hawthobn/
Knowledge of the lad’s sudden d-pe r
luxe uccouliug circulated, tne coincP
deuce of the father’s aud son’s myeteri
ous exodus from the same house wa
generally instanced, and In time th°
Walter family became so widely nnpopu
lar that they inc mtlnently removed from
the vicinity of Charlottesville.
One day a gentleman leisurely driving
on the outskirts of Fredericksburg saw
bright, handsome faced lad sitting at
the roadside as if he were resting, and
invited him to a seat in his buggy.
Tbe little fellow, though apparently
wearied, rose briskly to accept, aud soon
had leapt to a place beside the gentle
man.
As 1 live!” exclaimed the latter, rec
ogmztng him for the first time, “this Is
my brave little Charlottesville patient!
Aren’t you Ksymond Hawthorn?”
“Yes, sir; and I know you, zir—Dr.
Montgomery!”
Yes. And tell me, now, what In the
world are you doing out this way?”
Raymond explained everything unre
servedly, concluding by saying that his
purpose was to reach the North, where
he tnought he conid obtain an education
and make a man of himself.
Whereat tbe doctor became enthusl
astic, and promised to help him. ‘ Noth
lr g was heard of your father?” he asked,
feelingly.
‘Nothing, sir,”
“How sad!” said he. “Do yon remem
her nis solemn words, my little friend?”
I snail never forget them, sir.”
At the poBtoffice on Caroline street,
Raymond, with boyish al.crity, notwith
standing his fatiguing tramp, sprang
from the vehicle and procured the doc
tor’s mail, remounting to his seat with
graceful supplenxss. Near the river side
of tne historic town his gaze was attract
ed to a square white marble pedestal
wncse shaft, lay prone beside it and
hall buried in the earth.
“What is that? ’ asktd Raymond.
“Tuat s a nation s disgrace,” answered
the doctor, explaining that it wan an
uncompleted, abandoned monument
to tne mother or Washington,
“If it was for my motner, it shouldn’t
be that way long,” said the boy ‘ I d do
cverytt ingin tne world I could to have
it put up aud kept white anc clean.”
Tuis pleased Dr. Montgomery, who was
quick to trace me true character of the
coming man in this ardent outburst of
tne boy.
Tue doctor had at home three of the
prettiest little girls in the c luutry, and
they had a royai Virginia mother. When
he and Riymond arrived at the neat
family homo the latter became at ODcea
“lion,” albi it a young and harmless one
Mrs. Montgomery welcomed him as If ha
wire a long absent son, and tne little
gir s went into ecstacies over him, he
having gone straight to their hearts.
Tbev entreated him to forego his doubt
ful journsy at d to lemiin with them,
fling Incident end-
woman from her
at Oakland, and
less a wish to remain
i more retired town.
Her motive wae not inquired into by the
g-nerons Californian, since Virginia’s
location at Lathrop would better suit his
continual demands for her companion
ship. It would be easier for him to reach
her there from either Oakland or Living,
s ton,
Virginia was rspidly growing into
great beauty, and was brignt far beyond
her years. Her presence at the side of
Benigna when they were abroad on the
thoroughfares or making calls in society
markedly enhanced the pleaaant general
intereet bee towed on the women, while
on her own a coo ont Virginia waa a reign
ing “every body’s pet” wherever she
appeared. I
And yet at all Uraee while in pnblie
Benigna named an awkward, an lneepar,
able preeentimentJthat ehe should stum
ble upon some sort of casualty that might
diaoover her real pereonality; and tula
feeling bad to do with her selection—
clearly in oon filet with her faatidloua
E re tensions—of a permanent home at
sthrop.
At this epoch she wae having a royally
joyous season of visitation at the si cial
centre of the Golden Beats, free as air In
her wanderings and fickle, as of old, in
her whims; viewed bya genus of Individ
uals of the other gender as a “sparkling
widow,” and by tbe aristocratic of her
own sex as a captivating woman-wel
come everywhere, and going or coming
at will. How unceremoniously was axi
this abbreviated!
On a certain morning she casually
glanced at the “advertised letter list” In
a Ban Frauds so paper, and, to her hor
ror, beheld the name “Benigna Bernand 1”
il had been a long time since that oini
nous patronymic—if the liberty to so call
ii be permissible—bad recurred even to
her own memory. C rtaiu 11 was, too,
lhat never in Ca ifornla had a letter
arrived for her so acdressed. To her sol
itary correspondent—the garrulous Mrs
U ision—s ie last wrote as “Alma Stl
Wyn,” perfidiously exp aiding tout she
was married to gentleman named
Selwyn, and that-VUma” was an omitted
middle name of her maiden title!
Agxiu and again Benigna fixed her
eyes upon the perplexing advertisement
vainly" cudgeling ner ingenuity for an
iudex to its purport aud authorship.
Start ing at this period of profound im
muuiiy from annoyance, tue incident
wrought revived alarm; and she hied
away from Oakland, daring neither to
call nor to send for the mysterious epis
tie—nor yet lo suffer it to remain unde
manded, lest, if it be inculpating, it
might fall Into inimical hands.
Lathrop was quite an important rail
way town, having communication with
principal points, and of coarse contained
its quota of ldleis such as quarter about
centres of travel. Ten exceeding sweet
ness of Virginia attracting much admir
ation, it wss the enstom of many to
speak to her or pet and even to play
with her, as she rollicked about the iictie
front garden thereat, now catching at a
butterfly or again chasing some stranger
insect
Among her favorite companions was a
youth named J.rry Smith, he with more
tenderness than otners yielding to her
girlish whims. He ezine many times
dally, sometimes inoniging in “baby
talk,” and telling her his vagarious im
pressions. One day he said: “Virginia,
if I conid make money enough to get to
Szn Francisco, I d then go rignt away to
sea. Then" he asked with an inflection,
“what would you do fora big sweetheart
like me to play with?”
Quick as a flash, Benigna caught his
words. Calling him wituin the open
door, while she bade Virginia an. use
herself alone until his return, sue said:
“Your name is J-rry Smith?”
‘■Vts, marm.”
“And yon would like to go to San Fran
cisco?”
“Yes, marm.”
“To live?”
“No, maru ; to get a place on a ship.
That was my old business.”
“To go to sea?”
“Yes, marm.”
“Could you get on a vessel right away?”
“Well, If 1 could get a little money to
live on fora few days while I was look
ing up ajob, I’d find one, marm.”
“To what part would you sail?”
“Anywherextf* alfV.-way from Califor
nio; it’s got -■’• IftOS?.”
woman searcher
to see if she might tJ\uot him, she con.
tinued: “You seem tube willing to do
nomt thing for yourself, and perns ps 1
may help your ambition. You’ll find it
agoaa rule of life always to keep your
business to yonrself~not to tell your
affairs to anvoody.” Sue again paused
to see the effect of this rather discon
nected precept.
“Yes, marm,” he answered, as though
he thought he ought to fill the hiatus.
“There is a letter In the Ban Francisco
postcfiicafora woman who was once a
domestic in my serylce, and who is now
dead. It may be of value to her relatives
whom I know; and it mlgut be my dnty
to obtain it, and then pat it on Us way.
Do yon understand?”
“On, yes, marm,” Jerry answered.
“Now,” went on Benigna, seating her
self at a table and opening her writing
desk, “I will give you two envelopes,
each with a written name. Pay close
attention, please.” Having written on
one of these, she handed It to him, say-
ing: “This is the name of the person
whose letter yon will apply for—can yon
read it?”
“Benigna Barnand—that’s it, I think,”
said Jerry, reading It aloud.
Then, writing upon a second envelops
and extending it to him, “Read this,”
she said.
“Mrs. Alma Selwyn, Lathrop, Calfar-
nia.” he read.
“Very well,”said the woman. “Now,
when you get the letter for Benigna Ber
nand, just slip it into the second envelope
and, having sealed it, drop it into tne
same office, and I will get it right away.
Is i r all clear to yon?”
* Yes, marm.”
“You see, I’ve put a stamp on the sec
ond one. You will feuow by that.”
“Oh, I know exactly what you mean,”
said tbejoutb, intelligently.
Producing from tee wallet a ten dollar
bill, she placed it in ids hand, proceeding:
“ThatwUI pay all your reasonable tx-
penses, besides yonr passage, and if you
are irugal it will supply a few things for
your sea voyage. Aud, by the way, be
certain to say tuat the letter you apply
for ii ‘advertised’. You will go oy
to night’s train, and I shall expect to
hear from you oy noou mail tomorrow.”
“Very well, marm; you’re very kind,
and I lido wnatyou wish ne,”said Jer-y
A word morejis toaperesy,” she said,
, it should be placed vlduality. And now, at the dawn of
marilageableness, a roseate nimons clr
cuiig her life, a new thrill quivering into
her neart, an unaccouuiabxe glow gieam
lug upon her Cleese and grown to a deep,
passionate ruby at her lips—she was in
deed now more than beamilul, more than
eve r lovable.
Kale 8 admirers were a legion, and her
lovers were many. Bhe was the stored
of the youth of Hawthorn. But, as often
has come abont at this stage in the life
of a maiden, her Fabian -‘home” suitors,
aJJ fervid enough, but each tearing her
denial, in doe time iott the prize to a dis
tant lover wno dtuntlisbiy stormed her
heart aud stontly held it.
Revere Bentiey was an occasional visi
tor to the home of the Singletons, whom
he had long known; ont, better than this,
he had been from nls very early yonth
Kate’s pleasant correspondent. He was
intellectual, industrious and apt, and
his prospects In life were excellent. His
unvaruiahed merit touched Kate’s ap
preclativeness, and later bis olrectand
unique method of love-making— wh.ch
had oeen always Ignored in bis tetters—
helped to ward her capitulation, to whose
utterly candid instincts a dawdling or
aisscmbilng suitor woaid nave been in
supportable.
“Kate,” he said one day while they
were away together for a stroll, “I’ve
known you for a long time ’
“Oh—not so eery long—not too long, I
trust,” sue eaia, a.chly, suspecting some
tnix g was to follow.
“Well," he went on, “it doesn’t need
that one shall know you ‘so very long,’
Kate, lo love you.”
■ An?” she said, playfully.
“do you must not affect surprise that
I, knowing you even well, am wholly and
deeply devoted to you ”
This was the style of Revere’s early
attack, and it was unmistakable. He was
not given to the flattering of a leature.
He aid net tell ner sue had exquisite
teeth, so that she might conclude sue had
at least a redeeming en«rm. Wuen sne
once naively wished her hands were
wore shapely anu her ba.r oi a belter
suaue, he answered that “nature knew
bust tue lorin aud ixce whicn bcll.ttd one
wno was rnauc to be loved, aud had
created them a.i In harmony.'’
bum offuand nttlo outouists as these,
olloii nitty aud pat, greatly pleased one
ho was herself natural in all things
aud a aevutte oi ail txiugs in nalute.
Anu soon a systt malic CsUrulxip waB
to endue, since Revere was Very shortly
cxmlxig lo Hawiuorn to engage in busi
ness.
He bad been quite entertaining on
this present visit, aud lingered with
Kate, alter tea, till admonished by the
approacn of tue hour when he must
leave ou the train. Sne attended him to
the outer door, where Mrs. Singleton and
Will Wereinet, leturniug from a call at
Mrs. Gaston’s, wno was ill. Revere for a
moment held Kate’s hand, and then, re
leasing it, was lost in the gloom of tbe
garden.
Ou tbe reappearance of their mother
tbeie was a general movement among
the younger members or the household
to retire to bed.
Mrs. Singleton alone entered the li
brary for a short rest, and took a book
from tbe taole. Hearing an unfamiliar
step without, she started up, wondering
wno should be about to call so unseason
ably. A tap at the door following, she
calmly called aloud for the person to
come In, and made a slight movement
forward to meet him.
A tali, spare strauger, attired in black,
frank and pleaBlng of countenance, wltn
dark, ke< n eyes and neatly trimmed,
snow-white hair, bowed himself grace
fully into her piesence.
He was Invited to a chair, and, while in
the act oi draningoue, sale, courteously:
•I take this to be Mrs. Singleton.”
“Yes, sir,” she answered, with a look
of Inquiry.
‘ Ann 1, madam, am John 'Hawthorn—
formerly well known in this place.”
Mrs. Singleton having long ago learned
of the man and his misfortunes, and that
he was since dead, felt at once an intense
interest in the remarkable apparition
who was addressing her. “Yes, sir,”
she said, “I well rtmombtr hearing of
that person.”
“I may say, madam, in all sincerity,
that 1 likewise have heard of yon—of
your excee llr g gentienei. s and good aess,
and when you nave been briefly told or
my purpose 1 am sure I shall be forgiven
this Intrusion.”
“Proceed, sir, with freedom ”
“I am seeking for a lung-iost son. Ho
yvrvz.born in .Vets bur-'* ov' 1 /’y eighteen
years ago anil t wo years later his mother
died iu this very room.”
“When last did you see your son?”
“Thirteen years ago; yet I feel a con
viction that he lives.”
“Very likely, indeed,”Bhe said.
“But 1 also know. If I may call a strong
conclusion knowledge, that he long ago
mast have become impressed that I was
dead.”
“Why so, sir?”
Hawthorn summarized in plain words
the crowded incldeots of thirteen trying
years. Leaving his son very ill, his
mind, greatly shattered by troubles, was
soon temporarily lost. In this state he
wandered aimlessly until his actions
were continually noticed. Falling among
strangers, and maintaining a dogged
silence as to himself and his affairs, he
was taken in charge and consigned to an
asylum. In a short time he entirely re
covered, to experience great mortifica
tion at the surroundings. Not for tbe
world did he wish his friends to know of
his situation; and yet, not unless he
sbonld make It known conid he hope for
release. In this way time went on, his
mental faculties all the while in full op
eration.
“My determined silence had,” he ex
plained, “at first angered the attendants,
and now, when I wisned to speak, I could
not find among them a listener. I began
to think that death alone wonld meicl-
fully free me, but even that might not re
move the shame I attached to my misfor
tnne. At leDgth I enlisted the aid of a
visitor whom 1 old rot know—this not
until I had persisted in pleading to be be
lieved; for the man was disinclined to
entertain my statements, assured that 1
was a lunatic Yet anot her long interval
passed without relief; but it came in the
end. and I was set at lloerty.”
“Well, sir,” said Mrs. Singleton when
he hsd paused, “you certainly have se
cured a listener in me and your story is
deeply Interesting and touching. But
continue, sir.”
“I am about to conclude, madam. It
has lately been my p-esentiment that
^Tut’tfirX'bontenance
Fairy Queen' Nickel Case.
Cut shows full size: sides and top^are f.xxss, allowing full view of works. Runs 24 hours.
Keeps accurate time.
Fine steel cut pinion movement. This little clock is a novelty and a beauty
and is a cute mantel piece.
TVS' We send this little clock by miil postpaid with the Sunny South for only |2 75.
FARMER'S AND SPORTSMANS KNIFE.
A combination of eight useful articles combined in one
The material in this knife is the best razor steel, and every one gnaranteed perfect,
Tbe hand e is stag-horn.
We send this knife and the Sunny South postpaid one year for £2.75.
OUR 8-INCH PREMIUM SHEARS.
Warranted the very best, heavily nickel plated, and of superior cutting quality. In 3«-
]«cting this style and size we aimed to get that for our patrons which would prove of
greatest utility. The se'ling price for these shears in the market is W§
warrant them to be as represented, and to give entire satisfaction.
IFe send these shears postpaid and the Sunny South one year for f2.S0.
GOLD THIMBLES.
needs and would be proud to owa.
PATENT GRADUATED
—STIFFENED
-4 Gold *! * Thimbles 4-
Warranted to wear twice as long as solid gold.- Mz«l
[on the same principle as gold-filled watch cases.
We send one thimble and the Sunny South postpaid one year for £2 50. “
i BStUBLB SWISS BATCH. M. M. T. SALIEK,
A Handsome Time Piece and Reform Dispensary, Atlanta, Georgia.
Warrranted to Wear, ! Dr. Salter enjoys special advantages In :aa
treatment of general chrouie complaints, ,ia i
special diseases. Rheumatism. Cancer. Con
sumption, Bronchitis, Catarrhal Diseases
the Head, Throat, Stomach, Bowels an-f.
Bladder rapidly cured. All Blood Diaeai»es and
Blood Poisoning cured in a sh#rt time Nerv
ous Diseases, Epilepsy, or Kt. Vitus Dance,
Nervous Debility, Hysteria and Hypochondria
quickly relieved and rapidly cured. Jiaease*
of Kidneys so common to both sexes cured in
the shortest time possible Diseases of Females
Falling of Womb, Leucorrhiea, Inflammation x
Womb, Menstrual Irregularities piickly re
lieved ana permanently cured.
CoBsnltatlon Free. Charges very moderate
including all necesary medicines. A persons
interview seldom ne ‘essary. Hundreds have
been cured by Dr. Salter by correaponden >e
with medicines shipped by express. Give %
plain history of your ease in your own language
Dr. Salter will return a correct diagnosia. If
he cannot cure he will so state and if employed
will greatly benefit or completely restore you o
health. The most timid need not fear * as h -»
holds all letters ana consultations with :h*
strictest confidence. Address
M. T. SALTER, M. D f
777 90 Broad Street, Atlanta. r%.
Sin IT’S FREE
! WILL DO ITS DUTY CORRECTLY AND
PLEASE TBE PURCHASER.
| The watch has nickeled movements, 22
! line stem-winder and setter, jeweled
j cylinder movement, put in nickei case,
I and nears the guarantee of a respectable
j flrraof makir.ln Switzsrland. Us sell-
I ins- pr'ce ia ?S 50
. . -j - _ v j I We send th<s watch and the Sunny
my son growing daily to manhood will Southpostpaid for ovl v 5m
be disirous to learn of his early history, [ * a
and that he will revisit his birthplace
H re alone, possltvy. he may atsume
teat he will fii d a clue, and here, there
fore, might I reasonanJy hope to corns
upon him. It would be perfectly natural,
1 mink, should te reach Hawthorn, for
GOLD FILLED WATCHLS.
/MM fc"
it-all Q • • •-.i
CHAPTER XlX.
No tidings ca ne of Hawthorn in all the
five long years now elapsed since his .
uiiBlerlons departure fromtuesiae of his 1 WUe, ' e all snoula be done for hia happi
, . . . f. , .. I ness; ont their pr-ssing pajsuasiveness.
sick boy, and his death was generally ac- i their nearly proffers ot hospitality, pro
espied to explain the strange non ap- i voking his copious tears and tenderest,
pearance. J thanks, still could not swerve the boy’s
, . j devoted resolve to pursue a path of self ■
Raymond, ha ing fu.ly recovered soon ( dopandence. It was impossible for him
after his father Went away, was in better j to turn from the way he had cut out for
condition than he had ever been; and the
Walters, regarding him mere in the light
of a farm apprentice than of a pupil and
guest whose expenses were adequately
provided for beforehand, put him to
work in their field.
The lad was of fl aely wrought physique
and fall, ardent mentality, both admira
bly balanced. He could easily withstand
severe bodily strain provided tbe task
fell equally to bis faculties of mind, it
seemed that his bocy was made pre
clsely for the needs of nls head. He was
ten yean old, and, already craving for
knowledge, grasped with avidity every
means, however insignificant, which
seemed to promise assistance to his am
bition. Parts of old books, torn maga
zlnes, time-worn newspapers—these, the
mlldswed litter of the loft under which
he slept—were ransacked for the treas
ores of learning they might yield. How
he had acquired the art to read, be knew
not; bnt he read and comprenonded with
a readiness far beyond nis years and lm
measurably beyond big advantages. Aud
be waB proud spirited, Impassioned, pa-
tr eian, manly.
To chain such a boy to the hard, hum
drum catly work ot the farm was to beget
in him a distaste lhat should soon ex
pand to aoborri nee, sad termii-ate in
revolt. Aud it cine to that. To the
very last ho v eli periorix-ed and patient
ly bora the routine of hardships rsgular-
iy set to him, and w hen he rebelled he
old so lire a iitt:e gentleman.
For a few days tuere had been a won
drons deal of phiiosophiz ng proceeding to a family from New England—should
himself.
Finding that he was immovable. Dr.
Montgomery, having volunteered for him
a letter to a distinguished friend at
Washington, and presented Raymond
with a ticket to that city, besides provid
ing him with a nice sum of money,
reluctantly consented to his leaving, and
admonished him to make known any
subsequent need while on his travels.
Next day the entire household attended
him to the train, touched by the dauntless
purpose and tender nobility of theyonng
traveler, saddened, even sobbing to see
him go, yet admiring the confidence and
trust with which he again cast himself
Into the future—upon that wild, vortioal
tide where the airisst hopes may drown,
whilst tbe weightiest fears are dancing
at ita crest!
CHAPTER XX.
Five and a half uneventful years had
rapidly enongh gone by since Benigna’s
entree into California. For the past
three of these she had been conducting
the life of a somewhat fashionable wo
man at Oakland, which city she visited
freely while maintaining her residence
at Lvthrop. At the outBet Baldwin, hav
ing providently anthorizsd her to use his
credit for her household needs and to
draw upon himself for private means,
located her near the latter town, with
the promise that when his handsome
dwelling at Oakland—at the time leased
Impressively. “Tr.is is our business, and ! him to make a call at the house in which
i; oiody else’s. Don t be ontrapp-d into ilia was born. Tnat would bring him,
sayiig a word to ajothci—retutmber face to face with yon. If so, I would hate J
that” you tell him that I still live, and that I
“I’ll bear that in mind,” replied the ! trust I may not pa-s from tarth until I |
young mau, as i e rno ttd away; “aud I’d | have prtesea him once more to my heart,
better bs getting ready now.” j If he will but nan e a point of meeting, |
Returning to Virginia, he tarried with tell him I v.il! hasten to him. 1 shall j
her to tell tier he was going away for the ] make bold on tomorrow to sei d ycu my
afternoon and to ask tor a parting kisaddress, at this moment not tully oe
which she pursed up her pretty mouth to j terinlued or; but 1 will meanwhile pur-
grant him. Then he went away, Btnig- j sue a patient search after tidings ”
A Handsome Hunting Case
Gold Watch/
ca watching his steps. Eater he mount
ed the nortnern train, and was in Sin
Francisco in a short time.
Esrly next day he applied at the post
office for the advertised letter, but was
told that only the person addressed could
oDtain it.
This information Jury Smith embodied
in a brief note, inclosing the same in the
enveiope bearlDg the name “Mrs. Aima
Selwy n,” and deposi ted it to be mailed to
her. The s line day he shipped on a vessel
for New Orleans.
In the early afternoon Ben igna received
the disappointing message, its explan
ation the more increased her anxiety.
Sue waa now sore that the unaccounta
ble letter contained something which
would involve her In mighty trouble
sbonld It become public.
It will transpire in the order of this
narration that its possession would have
preserved hi r from tbe awful turn in for
tune which ultimately overtook her.
CHAPTER XXL
And sure enough, now past ten years
ago—and full sixteen after Its abandon
ment by John Hawthorn—the Singletons
came on from Augusta to dwell at the
famous mansion, tbe seme, with its
grounds, having baen restored to primor
dial grandeur.
It was a noble, a regal family—the
Widow Singleton, bet daughters Kite
and Cynthia and sonsfHerbert and Will.
The perfume of thetfj domestic virtues
sweetened the life of) all who became
their Intimates, and ffiaey were endowed
with personal qnalij
gem possession of;
putable riches.
Kate, the elder of I
teen, and intensely f
divinely pure nato
, each of which a
all was incoal
i girls, wss seven-
able because of a
id beautiful indl-
Sir. it will give me joy to assist your
devottd tush it every way possible. 1
shall pray for yonr success aud waten for
his coming.”
“And let me solicit your secrecy. I
have come in tbe darkness, and must de
part tonigtt. I wish to avoid the Slight
est public sensation. ’
“You may rely on me,” said Mrs. Single
ton.
“Again, madam, more grateful than I
can express, I bid yon good night.”
He warmly grasped her extended hand,
and paeBed out of the door by which he
had entered.
(To be Continued.)
v ' - ■ ■ j,
>,<& ’ -
Tv?;
v s mM
B'l '
TEE IsM-ut wlHi r:ti,‘h.
“4,
For the Sunn* South:
LINES.
I ramble the valley
In the eerie moonshine.
Where wild zephyrs sally
In mystical time;
Tbe beau'.if ul flower
Bedecked witb tbe dew
Reminds me each hour.
Dear Annie, of you!
Your image comes nightly.
Effacing my woe
Like showers failing lightly
On flowers below;
And the bright stars gleaming,
Tbe gloom piercing througn,
Weft And me sweet dreaming,
My dearest, oi you.
When on waves Elyslan
Icai! in a dream,
Like some fairy v sion
Your beauty noth gleam:
Ann 1 think of yon ever.
So lovely aud pure,
But a though! from you never
My hipe may secuie
Please mention Ihis iap.;r
Will Headen.
More convenient, than a pill is Sim
mons Liver Regulator. It is made noth
liquid and powdei.
DO YOU WANT
MONEY?
WORK?
HEALTH?
A FARM?
A HOME?
BUSINESS?
St. Paul, Minn.,
anj say just
you dasira, and an
swer will be sant
free, together with
maps ^ publications.
784 4t
EITHER LADY’S OR GENT’S SIZE,
EQUAL TO ANY flOO WATCH.
The above cat represents tbe celebrated
James Boss Hunting Case, tbe pioneeroi
filled cases. It bee stood tne teat of fifty
were. These oases ere manufactured
from two plates of solid gold, over-laying
a plate of composition metal, end in ap
pearance and for wearing qualities are
rally equal to tbe solid gold cases. Each
Case ia accompanied with a certificate of
guarantee from tbe mann'aetnrer. Tbe
Style of engraving is rich end varies in
design. We fit this esse witb the cele
brated Hampden Movement, which ex
perts pronounce as far superior to either
the Elgin or Waltham nukes. We have
selected this Hampden Movement from
all others, believing it to be the best for
the money, but. thee nbo are prejudiced
in favor of the Elgtn or Waltham move
menlscan havelhtm atthesame price
These watches are car»full} boxxi and
will carry safely to de^-tnnnon. Inetruc
tlons go with lao” and ev-ry walc'i, as
to how to take care of same, to Sit the
bands- to reeniate. et^i
We send this watch postpaid with the
Sunny toulh for only |17.00.
FASHIONABLE HAIR.
- Goodssent
by mail to
all parts of
TOT
United
States.
SPECIAL REDUCTION ^
For two months we will m*U f° r
approval our
53.00 Water Curl Bangs for |2.«0
$5.00 Water Curl Bangs tor SJO
8TEMLE33 SWITCHES.
$3.00 Stemless Switches for $2.00 1
5.00 “ “ “ 3.00
8.00 “ “ 5.00
18.00 “ “ “ 7-00
The above prices are
for common shades of
hrir. Serd for circu
lar to John Medina,
463 Washington street,
tf Boston, Mass.