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About The Advocate-Democrat. (Crawfordville, Ga.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (April 16, 1897)
0 4M r t\ 1 ! s \j e- A 5 Steel J £ N fit 4 , v I E3 fiOARTtf P m j- V. \ __. ^ ( J K — CHAITKK XII Continued. There was a <iTK*ry , . Up __ telgri th . . fclant fcot during Its Mercer g told tha , eyes of Beatrice their owner was not ldlt. plotting, preparing fehe was thinking, grasped tin to aot Her quick mind Situation readily, the situation she had she ha< •ftttclpated and which com* ’ ' held remedy prepared to moot. She the t-gold. in,an loved To befriend In his dire the father extremity, of th< U she from have an honored family name gratitud* re broaoh-would it not win the Sr pity, the delinquent son, and gratitud* and pity lo,e? She had other final resources in re •erve. She had prep*r«c' P‘“» pystemati-ally. Ob! eh* ooulcl not f ail a 8 "Tt,e stern-faced pecre,i |n e sat the —U JC, .......* »'• 1 Bhe “topped ' boldly a! rose !he thresh Old of the room, s„t until she hat fcached the table and her shadow fell Across it did lawyer and victim glance Up, with a vivid start “ Madam!-—why—■—" began the former "1 have come to purchase those docu¬ ments." Ihe , pile or notes . Her hand pointed almost to touching them. and securities, lawyer In profound wpnderaiont the re¬ garded her. With a gasp of hope, sus¬ pense, h veiled dr*ad, fan--. Colonel Marshall stared at r repeated the " You hav e 1 - 01110 - lawyer, vaguely. " In buy those documents. “ M hy—I do not understand—by wbal riftiit." for " Are they sale. Her voice rang out fiharply. author¬ "To Colonel .Marshall or his ized agent, yes, but to a stranger —’’ Beatrice Mercer turned to the be¬ wildered Colonel. “1 stranger, but a friend, , snr . am no balf-whlspered tn his dumfouuded ear *1 cauie to save you, and then aloud •Colon.-. Marshal! you authorise mate irttic r The half-stunned Colonel could only nod like an automaton. "Ten thousand dollars is the amount, I believe," went on Beatrice, calmly. •There Is the money. See that it it right." She had flush'd a neap of bank-notes ©f large denominations tmfore the law ver’s night. Stio took up the papers on ”This is the forged $2,Oil) note, 1 l>c jiovei " sho said, selecting one from th* ninny papers, Colonel Marshall, 11 shall never trouble you again. dainty " With two twi ts of her 1 til supple wrists, she severed the fatal doo ument in twain. “Tlieao other papers 1 shall keep foi tt tiny or two. The amount is correct?’ $Uo d- rnnu let! of tho lawyer. “ Colone' MuTHhall, you aro free from debt am? dread ali ho I tru-t wo all know how to keep a sorrel, 1 would like to speak a few words to you alone.” Tho lawyer had witnessed some strange soones in his professional ea roer, but th'-’denouement of the presen’ Inexplicable one I* ft hli speechles C olonel Marshall, like one in u dream followed the woman who had myste riously saved him from ruin and dis honor from the room. Then, real! lug that he had been ennvhrd from the brink of a precipice be reeled to a tub e in the outer oflte< lor Hupport, and burst into tears. “Woman angelic deliverer!" he fair!j Bobbed. "Who sent you here? Yot have saved to me ail I hold dear or earth. My tears, my prayers shall b< yours till my last breath, 1 shall tear! iny own to reverence for dollar. you. W I hat shall re- 1 pay you dollar can say. whst can 1 do to acknowledge, ti repay this stupendous obligation tha’ crushes, stuns, mystifies me?" "On* single favor." "Name it—oh! name It." “ Ask no questions, feel no obligations I only ask that to-morrow evening a’ dusk you come to tho hotel ami to th* apartments of Miss Leslie, and bvin, your son Raymond with you." flash th< She was gone tike a with words. The Colonel st*sxl staring aftet her as if sho were some wraith. His eves dosed aud he swayed like one in a (tr eat He hastened after her a min ute »ter to demand a more lurid ex I'itt ’ution of her strange intercession ir h s behalf, but when he rone hot l th* like tho fairy in the story-books, -*ne had disappeared had utterly. hastened back tc Beatrice Mercer th >tol Her face was flushed, hes ey* hot* exultant, as she laid asidt iuT wai ? * S(i a!! is well," she murmured contui “Now for the most diflieui' lot “ 1 « she led him S S iit)5 came, tt tt !» over an hour in k w ft we n conversed with him S A in ttU her plot, Ail her d< / .rtied him with her i) wv;ness, (ihe da a with the prom if »of nmnifleent rcwwnls W hat a scheme*** he cjttcttUt ttn*ni£ *t la-t, “sii'i aM for the love t : , tuna whose heart is luned to the gr»N of that lost, drowned girl. Beatrice, is the game worth the --andlo?” “i will have it so!" she cried, wildly. “Without Raymond Marshall, what U wealth to me! Vou will help me?” “To the last!" “You can give me the medicine to pro¬ duce the effect I desire. You will help me carry out the imposition?" “ Yes. Wait till I go to my office. ” In an hour he returned. Beep ana subtle must have been the plots of th* fair and false siren, for, as he handed her a tiny phial, he said: "You can rely upon it. When Ray mond Marshall comes to see you to morrow, it will be as you desire. Ali th# jt hja heart taBDOt fall ^ e( out to the woman who . has . saved .,, hi* family from penury and disgrace, for, U all seeming, through the agency of thal potent drug, you will be a dying woman!' CHATTER XIII. A SOJSTLB PLOT. “All 1 b ready?" “Everything. My housekeeper, whon wo can trust, will act as nurse and is It the next room. I will receive the Mar¬ shalls when they arrive and pave th* - „ no mistake!" It was the afternoon of the day succeed , ng that which had witnessed Beat rice Mercer’s strange act of generosity. zS”.;Ottir!£.K but She was no longer disguised, there wati a change in her from her ordinary appearance that was most remarkable. IIer face looked thin and wretchedly white, her eyes heavy. As she lay back on the pillow, her labored breathing and hectic cheeks seemed to indicate a hot, burning fever. A hot, burning fever she had, but pr0l)ll( . c ,j by artificial means. This ruthless schemer had paused at nothing to accomplish her ends. To further her schemes an assumption of mortal ill¬ ness had been necessary, and het worthy coadjutor, Dr. Simms, had not prevaricated when ho told her that the jontents of tho little phial he ha-1 given -icr th day previous would bring about h( , re8u j, H ) 10 (j es i re d These two had plotted well in unison, and as he entered the outer room of the suite he assumed 1hut grave, serious ex¬ pression of face that the average physl lian wears while attending a patient in : the last extremity, I He opened the door with warning ! ttolsolessness as there ezine a tap final .. A servant stood there, two persons I it his side. " U untie man to “f Miss I esfi* he finifouiioeii; ^ withdrew, an«U"4* > »• 7 umms ushered hie two visitors Into th* ■ 00 m md pointed to ehafrfl, his serious manner evidently surprising them. Colonel Marshall was the one, his son Raymond (ho other. The former was ill curiosity and excitement. As to Raymond, as he sat gazing vacantly at he floor, his hollow cheeks, haunted ? y P s and dejected bearing generally x>ld ihui (In- pr-esoni visit had no inter j wt for him. “Doctor Simms! ” ejaculated the Colo- 1 10 I. Why! 1 came to see--” "Miss Leslie?” ’ “Yes,” , “Miss Leslie is a dying woman, Colo lel Marshall. “What!” With an Incredulous gasp the Colonel itarti-d to his feet. "Yew -in- has been ill for some time. I was summoned yesterday afternoon l found h»-r levered, almost delirious oho asked me to receive you. “Doctor, you amaze rut-! This strange 1 ,ad.y---" “Hasan will iron even in death. She ms explained everything to me. Sh* nsists upon seeing yourself and yout sou, even in her dangerous condition. 1 ;old her that the shock might kill her, hut she insists." "Doctor! I am a* a perfect loss tc understand this lady s remarkable gem " r »sity in my behalf—the mystery sur ! rounding her - j "Here are the notes she took yester lay. Hhe bade me destroy them In you. - presence. "Wait! Don’t! I really cannot ac sept all these favors from a stranger.’ I The Colonel spoke too late. Th* locuments were blazing on the hearth. He was a free man! A stranger had liberated him from all the financial en .(inglements of the hour. “Doctor!" he panted, “this mystery if maddening. Who Is this lady?" “You will be surprised when vox know Come: you, too, Mr. Marshall,’ to Raymond. d sleep lie advanced to the >or of the ng-room aud tappe lightly. The Marshall iurse opened stood it. Awed, startled, Col. th* in the oenter of ipartment, gazing dubiously at the fig¬ ure lying on the coueh, its face turned from him. (yulteos curious and interested forth* moment. Raymond Marshall looked up "Miss Leslie has asked me to explain o vahi why she hns interested herself in four behalf. M spoke the Doctor, in calm, mcasurtMi accents. "Her act has been <>u© in a measure of atonement, of com* your*familv\"* WrV)nsd0ne * “***”' oi "Ha!" exclaimed the Colonel with a siart, "she must be, tbi-u. some relative M the wretch who robbed me—who en ■mu^ssed me in all Mu* trouble, my .oruver partner. “Not at all. Sue simply deceived a member of your family. She is familial with ihe troubles of yoOr sob, as well as > ursolf, un i she desires me to imparl -'due mournful inform*; en to him Mr. Marshall, will you kindly read tha 4rt.cle The Dootor had handed to Raymond Marshall the newspaper which had firs) set Beatrice on the (railof Edna Deane, tt chronicled her death at the snow scribe laden bridge. So accurately did it de¬ Edna and her attire, that, as Raymond Marshall perused it, with dis¬ tended eyes and ashen (ace, he could aot mistake the truth. With a wild crj he sank to a chair, the paper fluttering jo the floor. "Dead! dead!* he walled. “All hope then, is lost!* “What may all this hate to do with she lady here?” began the astounded anc nystilied Colonel Marshall. 'Much. This ordeal is trying, fatal M her, but she insists. Nurse, turn up ihe lamp. Colonel—Mr. Marshall, youi henefactress, the lady who makes an itonement for a great t/rong, is-" “Beatrice Mercer!* In surprised accents from the Colo ol’s lips, in a gasp of incredulity from hose of Raymond Marshall, rang the tame simultaneously, as the pretended nvalid turned her wan features toward -hem. Dying featwree they 'rare, to all sem jlance. The) Doctor’s art and her own left acting earned out the intended •ffcct “Raymond!’ complaiely. she fluttered, in a weak, trailing voice. "Say that you forgive me. I did wrong in deluding you. I iron sought to find Edna and restore her to you after my cruel deception, but she is dead. A distant relative left me a fortune. The only restitution I could make was to aid your father. I am dy¬ ing. The only reward I ask is that you tako my hand and forgive me for It all.’ Raymond AH Marshall stood flashed like one his in a dream the past e ver mind. This woman had, indeed, wronged him, but still ebe was not ac¬ countable for Edna's death. As he thought of ail sho had done for his father, as he fancied he read a noble re¬ morse in her words and deeds, a gener¬ ous impid.se drove him forward. Ho felt her burning hand twitch in his own. He did not doubt, after all the Doctor had said, that sho was a dy¬ ing woman. “You did me no wrong except to tor¬ ture me with a passing belief in the faithlessness of the woman I loved,” he said. “For loxj of you!” murmured Be¬ atrice, fervently. “Raymond, I can tell yon now, for I shall soon die. I was not to blame for ray love, and I had not Ed¬ na’s gentle nature to enduro in silence. I loved you so hopelessly, yet so fondly!" Love His eyes dimmed with tears. was surely no sin, even when hopeless. His great heart stirred with honest pity. “Icandioin now," she said, peace, I for¬ ‘for your eyes tell me that am given. Raymond, good-by--gr nd-by!" Her eyes were raining tears. Oh, ictress deft and subtle! oh, hypocrite strong and confident! pitting all the is¬ sues of lifp upon the frail cast of a die. She turned her face to the wall, her sobs causing the sympathetic Colonel ro wince -ith honest pity. Raymond Poked er ri-o ( i f grieved. her Ta, .. o, 7 yortW af pier?” 1 e tire olouel, deeply ected. "» Mi 1 not toll her how grate •ut I am—how some arrangement must bo made for the repayment of the money advanced?" “She would refu e to consider it,” re¬ sponded tl 0 Doctor. “But—no! I had better not tnention it.” “Speak, Doctor!” urged the Colonel, sagerly. “You were about to make some »ugg esfioa?" “Iteonc rrns j-our son. This morning bis poor ^reature love wailed for him. her heart-sick- She cannot less over tier survive th^ nfinltely night, and yet for I that think brief she s ou id be i iime happy verbal of if she knew that you—— Forgive m 9, gentlemen, my task is too lifficultto complete." “If she mew what?” demanded Ray nond, yod Botf ly. would wed her. “If consent to Say, sir, Jo not start. A dying child’s wish: you need not gratify it, only she las left ail her fortune to you. “1 will never accept til" dissented . Raymond indignantly. “The lew will make you. This poor firl’s devotion Is pitiable, Give het pour name, render her dying moments nappy, It is not much to do, for before inorning vou will be a widower,” _ This tho deft The plot was out. was ieslgn two clever schemers had planned. Ihe unsuspecting Raymond Marshall never dreamed of a new deception. “Raymond, do it; it will quiet talk when her will is read, l’oor creature) her devoflun is indeed pitiable,” spoke the Colonel. Raymond Marshall thought of the woman dead and of all his love for her; of Ihe woman dying and his pity for hei forlorn helplessness. murmured, “What does it matter!” he dejectedly. "My life is gloom—the fu¬ ture aimless, if that small ceremony can brignten this dying girl s moments, Doctor. 1 will marry her!" The (lever actress on tho couch thrilled wildly. At last, reward, at last, success! Herhourof triumph had coxue. irO B* COXTtSLEal Segrop* Ask lor Aid. Vicksburg, Miss.—The leading ne groes of the city have organized a re lief committee and addressed an ap¬ peal to the people of the United States They claim that 13,400 negroes In this county alone are flood sufferers and No More Silver For Peru. T . ima . IVrn.-Tho Peruvian Goveru ment Uf>« suspended the coinage of sll vor at the Oovernment mint uml iia? !ss „ (h1 Jt prohibition against the iuq*or mk)n „ lvw ,. oUls after . Ut , lrtth of May next. ........ . Jerry Simpson says he will block legislation unless Reed appoints H committees. CAPITOL CITY. Our Washington Correspondent Regular Weekly Letter. SOME INTERESTING ITEMS A Meeting Looking to the Promo tion of the Shipping Interest. IMPETUS TO LEVEE BUILDING (liven By the Recent Disatrous Floods Democratic Senators Hold a Caucus Money for Federal Courts. Reivera wD Live. Washington, D. C.—A meeting ol the Senate Committee on Commerce representatives of the shipping inter¬ ests was hekl Friday in the room ol The meeting was for the purpose ol promoting legislation looking to the en couragement of American shipping, There was a general exchange of views . Mr. Griseom presided, and the meeting was private. Several address¬ es were made, one of the most impor¬ tant being that of C. H. Cramp, tbl shipbuilder, who declared that until means were taken to keep in tbe Unit ed States a part of the $300,000,000 an¬ nually absorbed by foreign shipown¬ ers no good times could come. He sug¬ gested tbe following new classification for bounties to American shipping: Not less than 10,000 tons and 22 knots, $0 per mile; not less than 8.000 tons and 20 knots, $5 per mile; not less than 6,000 tons and 13 knots, .$4; not less than 5,000 tons and 1G knots, $3 per mile. All other iron or steel steamers, not less than 14 knots, $1.50 per mile, After a general discussion a committee was apopinted to consider the question and to unite, if possible, upon a policy to recommend to the Government as a remedy for the existing situation, as follows: E. C. Bliss, of the Red D line; H. D. Boothe, AYard line; William P. Clyde, Clyde Steamship Company; Charles H. Cramp; F. J. Firth, Vice President Lake Carriers’ Association; C. A. Griscom; C. P. Huntington; Gen. Thomas YV. Hyde, shipbuilder; Charles H. Keep, Secretary Lake Carriers’ £a oociation; I). D. C. Mink, President Asso.-mtio.r; S. S. Sewell. shipbuild.M’r-Sena t,Ira 'Hamm and Perkins. • * * "Instead of making It probable that the levee construction along the Mis¬ sissippi will be retarded, it seems cer¬ tain that the work of devastation by the floods will give an impetus to the building of levees and the next appro¬ priation made by Congress will be more liberal than any in the past. Representative Catchings, in a brief speech In the House, outlined the plan which he will urge at the next session. It contemplates making an adequate appropriation to insure the earliest pos¬ sible completion of a perfect system of levees from Cairo south to the Gulf, that will protect the country against my flood that may conic. He wants Congress to decide upon the immediate con8tructk>n of the elltiri . . systeni and lo take the matter in hand vigorously and hasten the control of the river »nce and for all. It will require an ap propriation of $10,000,000. The Democratic Senators held a cau¬ cus after the adjournment of the Sen¬ ate Thursday to consider the question of the committee vacancies, but decid ed to postpone action until next Mon day. This wes decided on the sugges Mon of Senator Gorman, chairman of the Caucus Committee, who rei>orted that tbe Republicans baa been so far unable to make any progress toward taking control of the committees, but had promised to reach a conclusion within the next two days. Senators Gray and Ooffery, who are known as Gold Democrats, were present at the meeting and participated in the pro¬ ceedings. The Georgia Monument. Atlanta, Ga.—The contract with Venable Brothers for the granite work on the Georgia State monument to erected signed on the Chickamauga Saturday and battlcfielj. the work was up xvill progress rapidly to a finish. Venable contract will amount to $10, 000. Tbe bronze contract is with Gorman Manufacturing Company, New York, and is for $7,000. bronze work will consist,of three fig ses on the pedestal, an artilbTymau. an infantryman aud a cayalryman, representing the three branches of service, of heroic size; and the color hearer, which is to surmount the and which will be a conspicuous land mark for many miles around. THfrOUGH GEORGIA. The price of the new code of Geor¬ gia has been fixed at four dollars. This is the result of a conference between Governor Atkinson, Judge John L. Hopkins, representing the codifiers, and the contracting printers. * * * The directors of the Newnan cotton mill met a day or two ago, declared a dividend of 7 per cent and paid ofl §15,000 of bonds, thus leaving a total bonded indebtedness of $15,000 out¬ standing. The net earnings the past year represent 13j per cent on the capital stock. * * * A petition will be filed in the supe¬ rior court at Atlanta within the next few days, asking that the Southern Mutual Building and Loan association be taken out of the hands of the re¬ ceiver, and placed in the hands of a new board of directors to be elected by the shareholders in the defunct associ¬ ation. * * * When times get dull in some of the rural regions the citizens engage in the pleasant pastime of laying off new militia districts, which is followed by elections for justices of the peace. Four or five have been laid off during the present year, and the last is No. 1558, in the county of Decatur, which has been duly put on the order book. » * * Judge Newman lias adjourned the United States court at Atlanta until the fourth Monday in May next. He goes to New Orleans where he will sit on the bench of the circuit court of appeals with Judge Pardee. If any court is held in the summer it will doubtless be presided over by Judge Bowman, of the United States court of Alabama. * * * Having made a tour of the sawmill convict camps of the state, Governor Atkinson and Judge Turner will now visit some of the mining camps run by convict labor in tbe mountain regions of north Georgia in search of informa¬ tion as to their condition there. They begin with a visit to the Durham mines in Walker county. The chautauqua to be hekl at Cordele begins May 9th and will be in session one week. The auditorium, with a capacity of 3,500, is in course of construction. Prominent speakers and lecturers will be present, among them being Governor Atkinson, General John B. Gordorq Hain JLJfessa,. Pr.q fiienn and Betsy Hamil ion. This is a new feature for Cordele and the prospects are very flattering for a successful occasion. * » * The Woman's foreign Missionary Society of the North Georgia confer¬ ence convenes in Athens on the even¬ ing of Apiil 21st, and continues four days, through Sunday- This is the 18th annual meeting and is being looked forward to with much interest and great results are expected. The peo¬ ple of Athens are making every prep¬ aration possible for the pleasure ol their visitors, and are endeavoring to make this the most successful conven¬ tion ever held. A mass meeting of railway presi¬ dents and managers w-ill be held in Atlanta April 21st. The conference will discuss rate affairs, and perhaps traffic will take up the proposed new- called agreement. A meeting had been for April 24th", but there will be a number of railway officials present 101 the 20th to attend the meeting of the state railroad commission. It was thought to he more convenient to bold the traffic conference on the next day than to have these- gentlemen return later in the week, hence the change of date. The four indictments against Jack King, of Rome, have been 110 I prossed. *pi le on i e r of nolle prosequi was issued p,y j U( jg e William T. Newman, of the United States court. King was charg ed with violating the national banking laws while holding the position of president of the Merchants’ National bank of Rome, He was indicted on four counts for making loans without obtaining proper security. King has made good the loss which the bank sustained on account of his alleged misconduct, and the attorneys for the institution asked that the cases should be given this direction. The petition for a receiver for the property of the Gate City Guard of At t’ui euus^oxxTof ‘tile hottest legal h between the ol(1 ^uird and the . a thaf the city has eTer All those in any way con j neo ted with military matters are in j tereste( ] the fight. It has shaken tbe m qjtary w-orhl of Atlanta from e enter to' circumference. The new g„ ari ] j g now in possession - of the property in dispute and the members I of it are determined to retain posses¬ sion of it. They will fight the bill for receiver for all they are worth and will i spare no expense to keep the injune j tion from being gra nted. j j The loss by the fire in Knoxville la $1,600,000; the insurance $600,000.
