The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1863-01-22
The Old House at Brocklehurst,
LcoscIIrpEp FROM LA-r WEEK.

axe EAEUEEhhGEHF
.oretb;po seemed to tell me that this was no Z
insane deiusion, and no concerted scheme. Il
.Nvsnoor woman / said soothingly, III a
whisper low as her own, Il will help you, II 1
can, but you must show me how. WHAT'S your
name and why are you hereg
They brought mel had seen theh 10 -
no one else. and they dared not leave me behiod
10 teu: go, when they had murdered him, they |
brought me here, and shut me into the dread
fnl room up stairs. / am Ann Forrest @ |
The boys tale, the Pearce's reluctance to
let ths house to be seen, the closed lumber room
those few words threw light upon it al, ana
in my horror could not speak at frs'-L couI0
hardly even think. At last | asked no" SHo
freed herself. RI
There were three rusty broken keys-l'
found them one day under some ruoDiSG II a..
old chest nm there, and / tried them all, and
onaaRtted but I dared not use 1t while they
wsraalwsys down stairs, aud 80 l hid it again,
thew would have killed me long ago, but She
the woman-is kinder than the others, and
would never let them. aud Tonight she cried
and talked about your being here, and her hus-
bands anger, little dreaming how | needed
her, forthey think me almost silly now. But
l did heed and l thought that yon would help
me perhaps and so, when | knew that they
must ali be in bed, l brought out my key,and
it unlocked the door and then l listened out
side every room until l found you By your
breathing She stopped at that last word, and
looked at me, with q wistful, searching glance,
4 found you - she repeated, and now oh sir,
you will not forsake me-
i will not | uswered but when l paused
to think, a sense of our danger rushed upon
me. Alone in this house, more than a mile from
any human aid, how could / defend her or my
self from men desperate, as these would be, II
shsy only guessed that l knew their terrible
secret. /, with a wife and children looking
to me, had no right use'essly to peril my life
| must be cautious and then if it came to the
worst, l could but try what one strong arm IN
a good cause could do sgains; two Wilkins. So
[ spoke gently to the woman, holding her hand
as she stood beside me, and trying IT, quiet her
agony ~ofterror and despair, while | said l roOuld
save her, but to do it at this moment would be
impossible. Only wait till morning. Go back
now to your prison, and trust to me-
She started and shuddered.
The key stuck in the lock; it would not come
out, she said. They may find it there, and
then they will murder me, as they have threat
ened.'
Listen y l whispered. There is no sign that
they have heard US yet. Go back, aud try
try with all your strength to loosen the key,and
lock yourself in again then you need tear
nothing, for they cannot guess. | will watch;
if you need me, cry out, and will come-if not
wait and hope for the morning go non before
they fad US together
She seemed to understand, and moved to-
wards tho door submissively and then stopped {:
You would not deceive me- she said. The
look and tone were 90 imploring, go inexpressi-
by moUrnful, that my heart smote me for let
ting her go, for remembering anything but her
misery. She gazed into my face: i know you
would not she said in quite another voice, and
again turned away, | following her. Her fin
gers softly turned the handle she crept mo
the passage, and l watched the tall. dark form
fitting along the gallery, her bare feet moving
noiseiessly upon the boards. | listened BREATH
lessly, but there was neither sound nor move
ment in the house. The old couple slept at the
foot of the staircase, and near the kitchen the
son in small room close TO the hal, never dream
ing that the prisoner they had kept securely all
those months would find means to force her
prison on this very nighG-oniy the woman
even knowing that she had heard Of my pres.
ence in the house. If any chance suspicion had
turned them into watchers, then it might be 4
struggle Of life and death. No, ali was still a.
yet. The moonlight flooded the room, As, eos
ing the door, l softly crossed to the window
seat, and sat down there to listen and to think
Think-think Of what? 4 horrible crime,
secret prison house not twenty miles from Lon,
don, the work that must be done tomorrow
all these things seemed crowded together wild
ly liz my brain. BY degrees, | grew calmer.
must release her, but howl Many ways flash
ed scrOes NE, ane were cast aside again so
sat motionless, gazing into the sky. my eal
strained for any cry, until the first ta;nt streak
of dawn cams into the east. No sonnd haC
broken the dead silence OF the house, and now
at last my plan was made, and might be tried
L dressed quietly, then awaited for awhile, ant
as the red rim of the rising sun showed through
the trees, tramped noislly down stairs. l mean
that they should see and hear me, but no ont
appeared so, crossing TO the kitchen, | locke,
il. The old man was there cutting up wood
he did not hear my step till | was close upoI
him, then turned sharply round You rise ear.
ly,' he said in the old surly 4one.
With all the blood in my veins curdling a
sight of that wicked, mutderous face, l force,
my lips to speak naturally Why, yes, said
1 want to see something Of the grounds befor
| breakfast. Can you tell me the best way t
take
know nought about it, he answered
there's nothing worth seeing anywhere abou
here
Where does the garden ie?' | asked. Tn,
instant | had spoken, | felt that my question
meant to divert suspicion, had been a rash one
He looked up, new expression III his eyes
was it fear or doubt?
There Is no garden now,' he said has tily
it's a wilderness and breakfast will be ready
directly, if only that old idiot, aud he shouted
his wites name, was here, a. she should he.
INV HASClOuo tAhA SilIHiLz inst " RI
aud yet dared not seem IN haste. The OIL
man had returned to his chOpping, and til,
mOnOtOnOus thud Of the hatchet alone SOUNDED
through the room. Presently / said carelessly
wen, I'm Just going for q turn i'll the Woo
now, and presently l shall get You to go roun.
with me- | had not done speaking when Ia,
old wonlans door opened, and l heard her be
ginning slowly to ascend the stairs. Was sh,
going there All might, perchauce, be safe
but If that hFoEpn kav cbO9Tld afil! 9p in fh
lock, the secret was betrayed. In desperation
racked my brains for some device to bring he
back Stay, | exclaimed to the old man ism
that your wife? l want her to get me, if ST..
can,some eggs and vegetables to take 10 tewn
| viii pay her well.
His eyes frightened, and absorbed in tina
promise, he never saw the agitation Of my man
ner he stepped to the door Meg he called
The gentleman wants ye. Come down will;ye:
a pause-then she ssid above; I shan b
long
breathed hard.
Come now he called again; the gentleman
waiting and then the foot came slowly down
A few minutes later l saw her, with Ielief n,
words can tell, 90 off with a basket On her arm
TO the hen house and saGden. Now was m1
time and not a moment TO lose. Followed BY
old Pierce, | crossed tho Hall. As | siool
waiting while he unfastened the door, the lad.
words about the son came to my mind. He
might be away; if soft there were but this ont
mau to face, 1 would battle it out alone, and
not leave her an hour in their hands.
i don't know | said careIesslv, 'whefhel
your sons at home if so, would he direct me
by and by, TO Leekford, and carry nv bag anG
basket
Yes. he can GO was the reply.
Tina, course, then, was hopeless, and I mus
try the other way. Slowly | sauntered alon.
the wood,path, pausing from time 10 time tt
look with seeming interest at the trees anG
shrubs around me and back at the old house
and still that man stood III the DOORWAY look,
ing after me. AT last l turned my head, and
he was gone but while in sight of those win
dows, l dare not quicken my pace. A few step.
more, and 1 was close 10 the old gate l leaned