Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1874-06-25

hold of the furniture as she crossed the room
to keep herself from falling.
"Was it any one?" Sydney asked, as she
opened the door and made feint of looking
out.
"No; was mistaken"
"It must have been the wind. Hark how
it has risen. 1t sounds almost as if there was
a storm coming on"
"It is clear night, sir, and the moon Is
shining"
ut is? Well I'm glad; I've had horrors
enough this evening, without having storm
to add to them. I'm getting sleepy-what
o'clock is it?'
"Half past eight"
"Is that all? I thought it must be later
Are you tired? Because, if so, don't let me
keep you up"
"No, am not at all tired or sleepy"
She sat down in her former place, but Sgd
ney had changed his position and did not look
at her any more; he was beginning to think
ofsomething else. The excitement of the day
had wearied him, and drowsiness soon asserted
its dominion over him.
When Mrs, Norton was sure that he was
really asleep, she rose, and with uncertain
movements, like one in dream, yet with a
fixed, set purpose in her white face, proceeded
to carry out plan she had arranged
Every night, Sydney, when he woke at
about twelve o'clock, was thirsty and wished
something to drink. A tumbler of Lemonade
was, therefore, always prepared for him, and
placed on the table near his bed, within his
reach. This lemonade, Mrs Norton now oc-
cupied herself in mixing, measuring with me-
chanical precision, the exact quantity OF sugar
he liked, and cutting the rind of the fruit
carefully, in thin rounds, to give the beverage
a stronger flavor; he always asked her to 40
.it that way. When all was done, she left the
room, and went, with noiseless steps, to her
own, to fetch something she wanted next.
1t was the little green phial that stood on
the shelf in the closet.
Her experiment had proved successful, and
she no longer doubted the merit of its con-
tents.
AS she was returning along the entry, a
figure, with light in its hand, appeared,
emerging from a door at the opposite end
If she had encountered ghost, she could not
have started with more palpable terror, as she
hastily concealed the bott'o in her dress but
it was only Ellinor in a Y lite dressing'gown,
with her long hair hanging about her shoul-
ders
"Mrs. Norton, I was just coming in quest
of you," she said, as she drew near. "Grand-
papa is not feeling very we'll, and I want you
to come with me to your room, to get bottle
of that old brandy; think little would do
him good"
81 am sorry he is not we'll. 1t is nothing
serious, hope?" said the house-keeper, as she
turned back with Ellinor, in the direction of
her own apartments.
80, no! at least, I hope not; he says not.
He complains Of feeling little weak and
nervous; his lawyer was here Il long time to.
day, and talking over business, generally
worries him and makes him nervous; but
nights rest will set him right, dare say"
The brandy was found, and Ellinor carried
it of, with thanks to the house-keeper for her
assistance. The latter hastened back to Sgd
ney's room butthe interruption had changed
the current of her thoughts; she no longer
looked resolute, and the wild, scared look, her
face sometimes wore, when she was fercely de-
batting her own purpose, settled Oh it now.
She paced up and down the dressing room,
with faltering, uncertain steps.
At last she drew out the phial and looked
at it; then shook her head and replaced it in
its concealment.
'I'll not do it noav" she muttered, passing
her hand across her brow. "It's too earl |
must wait until an hour or two hence. How
strangely my head feels! my brain is so con-
fused-'tis as if an iron band was pressing
upon it. Oh! that this ordeal was over.
Well, it will be over soon."
She threw herself upon the sofa and tried
to sleep; but there was no rest for her troubled
mind
"Ouly the innocent Sleep" she murmured,
as she sat up again. "How could l think to
find such refreshment tonight"
Again she paced up and down but the at
mosphere of the room, Or something, seemed
to stihe her; she softly raised the sash and
leaned out to get breath of air. AS she did
so she caught sight Of a shadow moving
among the trees in the shrubbery; to her ex-
cited fancy it appeared like the figure of a
man, but the next minute convinced her that
it was only the swaying branches Of an oak
that almost swept the ground. She closed
the window and drew down the blind again.
81 must read, or find some means of divert
ing my thoughts" she exclaimed, cor l shall
60 crazy"
She took up book, but the words were as
meaningless figures before her eyes, and she
cast it patiently away from her.
81 have it w she said, suddenly, at length
and going to a table she took from the drawer,
pens, ink and paper, and placing the light in
a favorable position, commenced to write with
eager, feverish haste.
She had been for more than an hour thus
engaged, when a noise startled her. Whence
it proceeded or what caused it, she could not
tell; but she felt almost sure that it was in
some part Of the house.
She opened the entry door cautiously, and
looked out. All was darkness; but again
there was slight noise-this time the unmis-