Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1873-01-02

i
now?"
"Yes, yes, certainly you may" eagerly in
terposed the woman, adding in a low tone to
Stanley
"You see it's all right, sir; we'll get along
quite nicely with her, never fear. She'll be
as quiet as lamb all night"
"But tomorrow" muttered Stanley, turning
aside his face to conceal an involuntary spasm
of pain that crossed it.
Madame Leroy affected not to hear him,
and busted herself in mending the fire, and
hanging up Bertha's cloak in closet at the
farther end of the room.
"Iam tired" paintively said Bertha again.
Il would like to 60 to Sleep"
"Well, you shall 60 to sleep" said Stanley,
with assumed cheerfulness "I'll not detain
you any later This kind lady will attend to
all your wishes. Goodnight, Bertha, I trust
you will rest well after your long ride"
"But you are not going, Alfred ?" she
asked, clinging to his arm. "Dou't leave me
alone here" and she cast q piteous 6 lance
around at the unfamiliar room.
81 only said goodnight" he returned, husk-
lily. 81 will see you again-after q while.
Madame Leroy will take care of you now"
"And you will come back? You promise
to come back ?"
eyes, Bertha, yes. Go to bed now, and
sleep soundly."
He kissed her-a traitors kiss, pressed on
the pure, child.like face lifted so trustingly to
his; unwound the clasp of the delicate hands
that still sought to detain him, but which,
when loosened, fell INCREASINGLY at her side !;
and left the room without another backward
glance at the fragile form, the dropping face,
the blue eyes turned appealingy toward him,
the parted lips on which seemed still to linger
the echo of ttrt last plaintive question "a
question that would vibrate in his ears for
many long day, seek oblivion of it as he
would
"You will come back-you promise to come
back?"
A few moments more, and he was seated
again in the carriage, rolling rapidly away
through the gathering darkness of the winters
night; and Bertha, subsding once more into
the apathetic state from which she had been
only partially aroused, submitted, without re-
sistance, to the assiduous attentions Of Madame
Leroy, who disrobed her with her own hands,
and helped her into the little white-covered
bed, where she had scarcel touched her pill
low ere she fell into profound and dreamless
sleep.
Madame Leroy, after lingering little
while to assure herself that there was no dam
ger of her awakening, carefully extinguished
the fire, barred the only window-a high mar
row easement which she was obliged to mount
upon chair to reach-and left the room,
carrying the light with her, and securely lock-
ing the door on the outside.
1t was late on the morrow when Bertha
awoke. The effects of the drug which had
been administered to keep her quiet during
her Journey and on her arrival, still fingered
in her system, and with a dull, confused sense
of pain she lifted her hand to her brow, and
partially raising herself on her elbow, gazed
enquiringly around the room.
She had no recollection of how had she
been brought there, and thought at first that
she must still be asleep, for surely it was all a
dream.
"Where am I ?" she family exclaimed, at
length, as she sank back upon the pillow.
Some one must have been stationed within
hearing of her slightest movement, for she had
scarcely uttered the words, when tall gaunt
woman of forbidding appearance suddenly
showed herself at the foot of the bed.
At this unexpected apparition, Bertha ut
tered faint cry of surprise, not unmiDgled
with fear.
$50, you're awake at last, are you" was
the uncourteous greeting profered by the in
truder. "Seems to me you've had good
long spell of sleep. Do you feel pretty we'll
rested, now?"
"Who are you ?" asked Bertha, disregard
ing the enquiry. II never saw you before"
"No, my dear, you never did, that l know
Of" rejoined the other, "Im your compan-
ion-your guardian-your servant, if you like
that better" she concluded in mocking tone.
1t depends entirely on your fancy"
"NIy servant! All my servants are at
home you are not one of them."
"Well, your keeper, then,' the woman re-
Joined, with laugh. I'm the person ap-
pointed by the madam to keep you company,
at any rate--just to prevent your feeling lone
some, you know"
"The madam" repeated Bertha, in bewil-
dered Tone II don't understand-whom are
you speaking OFF,
"Of the lady of the house, my dear-the
house you're staying at; and very nice,
pleasant house it is, and a very nice, pleasant
lady she is, as you'll soon find out. She's
mistress of everything in the house, too, |
can tell you, from the old man down, which
likewise you'll not be long in finding out"
"And my husband-where is he?" asked
Bertha, still struggling with the mist of be-
widerment that oppressed her, and striving to
preserve her composure through the terror
that was gradually gaining the mastery in
her mind, at the strangeness Of the position
in which she found herself placed.
"Your husband-la my dear, how should
know? Peoples husbands, and other rela-
tions, don't have much to do with them after
they are once in the madam's charge-she
takes such good care of them, and don't like