The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1875-07-07
concealed other intentions.

vents apartments overlooked, Millicent
quietly moved from bed to bed, apparently
absorbed in the work Of filling the little
basket she carried; but when a clump Of
trees hid her from observation, she quick
ened her movements. NoiselesslY unlock
ing the entrance-gate, she hurried through
it, and the next minute was running up tho
road leading to the railway station.
:. The porter, whO was sweeping the plat
form, smhedas she came toward him, too
breathless tospeak her errand. "You need
not hurry yourself like that, MISS be CIV
lily observed; "the first train to London
won't go through for another fye-aud-forty
minutes, so you'vs plenty Of time, ye .see,s
and to spare" rs
81 want to send telegram to town.
said Millicent, now recovering speech.
Where is the clerk? Ask him toi con1es'
here directly : : ..E ..::.sr -
He was soon son the spot; the telegram
was dictated and dispatched; and Millicent
with heavy load removed from her mind.
sped back to Derwent Lodge. Satisfied
that her absence had not been discovered,
she resumed her occupation amidst the
aowers, and gradually drew nearer to the
2 house.
The flush on her heated face had scarce
ly subsided, when one of the servants came
in search Of her.
"What, not filled your basket yet y Give
it to me, and let me finish the job for you,
for MI. Derwent is asking for you, and he
won't care to be kept waiting"
In q moment Milicent was as pale rs
she had hitherto been rosy.
"For me?" she stlnmered. "Askins
for meP'
ayes. He wants 10 know if Mas Linds.
~ isup YETI
Relieved by this reply, she answered
that she would 60 and see, and returned to
Violet.
The unwilling brirle awsEe as she en-.
tered the room-awoke from happy dream
of gliding over the sea in felucca, as she
had sometimes done when at Malta with
her father. In her pleasant vision. Vernon
Aubrey sat beside her, ard their voices
blended in the evening hymn the sailors
were chanting, as the bells for vespers
were sounding sweet upon the shore,
Her first impulse was to sadly exclain,,
"Ah why did you wake mep" But when
her eye fell upon the dress and veil that
lay in readiness for her bridal, she remem-
bered the resolutions formed in the silence
Of the night.
A spasm crossed her lovely face, but she
murmured No more. In silence she per-
mitted MilIicent to- brush and arrange her
beautiful fair hair; and then, with the
assume; she went to give Mr.. Derwent the
private interview for which he had petit
toned before her bridesmaids came to as
sist in dressing her.
As soon as Violet had gone to her guar
dian, Millicent went to the chamber of Sy-
bill. She had not fa gotten Mr.. Derwent's
assertion on the preceding evening -"She
rill not alraken in time to accompany us to-
church."
He seemed to have calculated with sus-
picious accuracy the time her heavy stnpor'
would last. She had not moved since Mil
licent had last bent over her on the pre-.
vious night.
So lovely, so placid did her exquisitely
chiselled features appear, as she lay there,
that the young sirlhesitated. "Why," she
asked herself,-"why should I strive to
arouse her to the misery and disgrace that
awaits her? And yet, if could awaken
and warn her, she might fly before the
avengers come, and all is known" . ..
In haste-for she knew not how soon
she might be summoned away--Millicent
tried to dissipate the unnatural sluinber in
which Sybil Derwent had been wrapped
so long. At first no success crowned her
efforts; but Just as she was about to re-
nounce them in dispair, the dark eyes be-
gan 10 unclose, and look wonderingly into
her face.
Then NLillicent spoke sharply aud de-
aidcdly. She. warned the awakening
sleeper that there was danger at hand;
that she must rise, and either prepare for
the WORST, or escape while there was yet
time to do so.
The words fell upon dulled ears. Sybil
listened but she did not comprehend. The
lethargy in which her senses had been
STEPPED still hung over her; and Millicent's
most earnest adjurations were heard with
an apnthetic indifference that she could
not overcome.
At last, she spoke the name Of Robert
Walters. and now Sybil raised her hands to
her head, and seemed to be trying to COM
prehenA what Millicent was saying.
"Walters ~ she repeated. "Why is he
here2 Why will he persist in remaingp
safe within these wallsf Yes, cruelty aa
rush upon his fate without warning. In
a disguise that he could not penetrate,
have stolen to his side and bidden him fly.
Why does he not gc3"
eYou forget" said Millicent speaking
slowly and emphatically; Robert Wal
ters is dead. Poison was infused in a glass
Of lemonade, which he swallowed unsus-
pectingly, and so perished."
Sybil shuddered, and put out her hands
ns if besceching the speaker to cease these
terrible details.
"He was murdered. and the poisoner ia
discovered at last Mllicent went on.
"Charles Malcolm, who avowed to avense
the death of his cousin, will be here in an
other hour. Away with you before he
comes Away"
But Sybil paid no heed to the injunction.
Sitting up OIL the couch, she incoherently
repeated the words, Murdered Yes, she
tells me that Robert Walters is dead Poi
soned Why does she come telling ME this
Have not the mocking voices of the wind
murmured it to. Inc continually ever since
that dreadful nishts"
MlllCSHC Hciliu UCt utlue CiLlleu Ill Gllc
corridor by several voices. The fair brides-
maids had decided that it was time to-
commence their duties and Miss Lindsly's
maid was loudly summoned to assist them.
She ran towards the door to answer the
inqur.cs they were making; then the
thought Of leaving Syhil in her present
condition overcame all others. She went
back and made another effort to thorough
ly arouse her.
Miss Derwent, in pity to yourself, listen
to me-"
al an listening,' said Sybil, trying to
command her wandering senses. 81 know
you now. You are NIilllcent Fyner. What
do you want with me ?"
Charles Malcolm will be here directly.
Do you know on what errand he is coming!'
Aer dark eyes dilated as she slowly re-
piled, "Waltcrs' request was to be avenged.
Yes, yes, remember that. 1t WAS you
who told me so-was it not?"
"And it is who bid you hasten away ere
the beuuest is fulfilled" Millicent emphat-