The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1875-06-09

men, whose features were shrouded by her
veil, was addressing some Questions to the
porter. This female paused to look at her
as she went by, and ere Mary had gone Tar,
she found the stranger bastde her. ;
Startled out OF her anxious thoughts res
pectiag the man she loved, Mary stopped,
and gazed at her half fearfully. .z
"Ycur name is Vyner you have been
visiting Richard Robson, haven't you?-and
he is your lover, is he not ?"
Mary colorc,l, and sighed. She wishedshe
could answer in the affirmative, but Mill
cents more intellectual face had bewitched
the playmate of her childhood, and the
a1Tection.for her that he had once felt had
grown cold. -
The stranger came closer to her. ~ =.
care you ready to risk. something for lis :
sake-to do your best to assist him to escape !
from this place'2 Answer quickly, and re-
member that if he should be committed for
trial, and removed tothe closer ward Of a
prison, all efforts in his behalf may be'un-
ayaling." = "
"Indeed, M am,'' replied Mary, engerly,
"Pd do any thing in the world to help poor {
Richard. But how cdn L-how can 1 -
The lady walkel u little way in silence,
and then said abruptly, 81 have formed no
plans yet. But now that I have a willing
coadjutor in you, it shall be done, if money
and perseverance can achieve it,
"Money will do q great deal, know"
said Mary, douhtfully. But they watch
their poor prisoners SO closely at tiis dread
full place, that 1 don't see any chance Of 2
Richard escaping ,.--
The lady eyed her from head to foot. =,
"Would you not have courage to change
clothes with hlm2 He is about yoar own
height"
Mary was considerably staggered by the I,
proposal; but, after little while, she an
swered, eyes, would risk that, or even
more, to get his liberty. But what will he
do, and where will he 80, if he succeeds in
getting frce?'
"To America. The funds for his voyage
shall be provided, and there he will be in no
danger Of being recaptured.'
Mary now was begiuning to collect her
thoughts, which had been scattered by the
unexpected address of the lady.
s'This sounds very kind Of you, lna'am,0
she said, suspiciously: but you are a
stranger to me, and should like to know
uhy you are 80 ready to help Richard
cam obliged to explain my motives to.
you ?" the lady haughtily demanded. "Ac-
cept the good l propose, and ask mo no
questions why offer it." r-r 's-#
"But Richard will ask me that question" " z
the girl retorted. "Re will not agree to put
himself in the power of q person he knows
nothing about; and who may be only de-
ceiving him with false hopes, after all. -
With an impatient exclamation, the lady
turned away. Let him perish, then; but
remember, the sin will be on your head, not
on mine; for I would have saved him if
could"
She was moving slowly away, but now
Mary, in great alarm, clung to her skirts.
"Dear madam, Don't go-pray don't go!
I was wrong to doubt you. Don't let poor
Richard suffer for my folly Only tell me
what you would have me do, and I'll do it
and ask nothing more!'
The lady's anger was appeased My
good girl, you must be content to Let me
serve you after my own fashion. My motive.
for interesting myself in Richard Robson's
escape is this IL know him to be in danger
Of being convicted Of dreadful crime which
another has committed, and therefore seek
to rescue him. l can devise no other way,
than what have already proposed; but, if
you or he can suggest anything better, do
so. will be here about this time the day
after tomorrow, to hear your decision and
his" !.
~ will be sure to see Richard as early asT
can get access to him. But he will ask me
the name of his friend. What shall tell
him 2" .- ... ~r -: =
"That I will not be annoyed with idle j:
curiosity" was the stern reply; and, step
ping into cab which had been waiting for
her ct the end Of the street, the lady depart
cd before Mary could stammer out an apollo.
81 For the inquiry. .....
The whole Of this conversation had been
SO extraordinary, so unlocked for, that Mary
Nyuer stood on the pavement pondering
over it till the rude remark Of q passer-by
reminded her Of where she was. fastening
away, she went straight to Millicent, to tell
her what had happened. She found her
cousin sitting beside the bed OF her mother,
who w.ls suffering from nervous attack,
and plying her needle industriously to make;
up the time lost in attending the examine.
ton Q: RicNard Robson.
Eag, lIy Mary told her tale, and then
w;ti.e,! 70 hear Mnlicent's comments upon
it. =
Mrs. vyner, too, leaning on her elbow, her
thin checks flushed with eagerness, had
listened breathlessly to Mary narrative, and
now lay on her pillow, with her eyes fixed
on the face of her daughter. She had never
advocated Robson's suit to Millicent; but
she was concerned at his present position,
and seemed so shocked and troubled when
she heard how much the evidence had gone
against him, that her child had been afraid
to leave her. .- s..-..-..f.- rs.sS
eft is very mysterious why this unknown
lady takes so warm an interest in Richards
troubles" said Millicent at;length. "Were
1 in his place, and conscious of my innocence,
would not accept her offer, but boldly wait
and take my trial.
A cry from Mrs. Vyner made her turn
quickly towards her mother, who threw her
arms around the neck of the frightened girl.
"Dont counsel him to do that, Millicent
for my sake, don'tp' -
"For yours, mother?
= eyes, yes; bid him escape if he can. Tell
him entreat him to do so; for If he should
be committed for trial, what would become
Of mel" -,
"dy aunt is light-headed, surely p whis-;
pered the wondering Mary; and Millicent
gently endeavored to soothe the agitated
woman, but she was silenced by her passion
ate exclamations.
"Don't, Milly-jon't talk as if you
thought me mad or childish, for lam neither;
but 1 am wretched and-and guilty
creature; for, oh, Milly, it was I who gave
Richard Robson that ring"
"You Oh, mother, how came you by it Z"
cried ATillicent, Mortified at the confession.
Instead of replying, Mrs. Vyner flung her.
self back on the bed, and lid her troubled
face with her trembling hands.