The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1853-08-17
So PER ANNUM.

her to hurry along, though both were 90
ing as fast as people well could travel.
Turn in this way" directed she.
"Aye, aye" was his seafiian-like res
ponse. "Turn in it is."
Through this door"
Through this door all right"
"N"w step as light rs you can up these
stairs" .N...
She had stopped and laid her hand
upon his arm.
mo noise at ALL" he half whispered.
She sprang up the stairs befnre him.
lie followed her till he reached the third
flight. When he found him .ef at the
foot of this, she was at the top. She had
hurried on before him to unlock the door
She feared he might ha suspicion if he
found that she had locked the apartment
He reached the door.
. Come ill.," whispered she.
And in he went. She conducted him
to n seat in the farther part OF the room
speaking in low voice, as to sick per,
son-
Louisa, are you awake 2"
But no answer from the CORY bed
lie sat with his back to the door, as
sic had purposely arranged it. She
drew match across the wall, and lit the
stump OF II can lie. Before it had burn ii
sufficiently to light uD the ol,scurity of the
room, he heard the door suddenly shut,
and the key withdrawn
The woman had left him there alone
with the murdered corpse! .
lie rose from his seat, and sprang to
the door, but it was locked securely
There was no retreat. Ills curiosity was
suddenly excited to know what ali this
might mean. Taking the candle, there
fore, in his hand, he approached the bed.
His heart grew sick-his brain swan
his senses nearly left him, as his eyes took
in that fearful sight! There lay the mur.
dered woman in the glare Of the light
hcr throat gashed terribly with the cruel
weal'on-her mouth open--her glazed
eyes set, and all the evidences OF her las,
fearful struggle for life still about her !
He stood perfectly motioul"ss. lie did
not seem TO know where he WAS, or what
it was that he saw. His senses seemed
Ienuinbed. He was in waking sleep
rivetted, he knew not how, to that fatal
spot.
As soon rs he could sufficiently recover
himself, he lifted the Land OF the corpse
il WIS coll. A lock of hair was still tight
" clenched between the fingers. the last
testimony OF the fearful struggle for life.
lie turned again, and went to the door
lie tired 1t once more-pulling, pushing.
drain.ng, pryiug, wrencling-but all to
no purpose; he was secure. There was
no escape through the door, unless he
risked noise enough to call attention, when
the CRIME wou!d he instantly discovered
and laid at his feet.
he set down his light, and walked on
tiptoc across the room to the window
Three stories TO the ground No escape
surely, there. He was fast in the to,ls o
the deceitful woman who had drawn him
through sympathy to the spot. lie could
not escape except 10y force, and violence
would at once lead to the discovery he
most dreaded. ........ ..
Tie whole design now flashed upon hi.
MUD, He was a dupe, and at how fear
fui n sost
llesat down in chair, brnoding ovel
his heavy calamity. The perspiratior
stood in beaded drops upon his forehead
AID tlr palms Of his hands were proft,se
ly wet He could not keep his eyes ava,
irom tle corpse, lying there so rigid, and
CHASTITY and cold. 1t froze his blood will
terror. Ht
To tie day he had never expected such
a determination. When he rose in tn,
morning he little thought of seeing hi,
hands ted as murderer; but here the
fact wGst-bere j. stared him full in til,
face; mol corner in which hc might hias
mo Nice through which he could es
cape.
He waAed there till ten o'clock. The,
were LONG and weary hours. lie sat a,
silent rs IL he had been keeping watch II
a sepulchrs The dead right before him.
The mos, terrible thoughts narrowed hi
q ind. TIE bitterest reflections Tore hi
heart Ths glpomiest fancies and fears
writhing themselves promiscuously togeth
err, torturedhis brain.
He hardly knew his own identity, Sc
absorbed became he in planning the means
Of escape. There were but two ways-b,
the window, and by the door. The for
mer WAS oul Of the question; the latter
il was that V which he was so gloomil,
studying.
But footAeps were TO be heard on th,
stairs heavy feet. Others had come uI
and gone d2Tn since the wretched maj
had sat therS bat he had ceased to fee
alarmed. Tbs step, however, startle,
him |; !. sounded Ike this doom eopin,
| On.
Straight I'D steady Il mounted tn
stairs. moved s<ross the landing--neare
-neaFer--ne,ref.
II was elosS at the door
| A hand wa laid heavily On tho latch.
aLet mo inlI say" demanded gui
voice j > - - - is. :, 4.
The misearsble Victims heart beat audi
bly,, and his fas grew paler than ghosts
He remembeeA, Cor tue first tiroe, tha