Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1875-05-06
gu 0rigiual Sturg.
Written for the Yorkville Enquirer.
UNCLE BRAINERD'S WILL;
OR,
The Fortunes of Alice Lynn.
CHAPTER XIV.
AN UNLOOKED.FOR RELEASE.

CHAPTER XIV.
AN UNLooKEDFoR RELEASE.
In spite of the terrors she had endured, and
the miserable feelings of loneliness which op-
pressed her, Alice had no intention ofyielding
to the wishes Of her prosecutors, and brought
all her fortitude and selfcommand into play,
to sustain her during her brief periods OF In
tercourse with Mrs. Broderick, who came
twice in the day to bring her her meals; and
who was evidently disappointed at the calm
and proud manner in which the girl received
her and replied to all her questions.
Alice had no watch to keep her informed OF
the time, but she noticed that her dinner on
this afternoon was brought her much earlier
than usual. After it was over, feeling tired
of seeing nothing but the four narrow and
dscolored walls of her prison, she mounted
upon her chair, her sole post of observation,
and leaning her forehead against the window,
stood there for some time, gazing in melan-
choly abstraction upon the fields that COM
posed the prospect.
Suddenly the aspect of two figures emerg-
ing from narrow path which wound around
the house from the front door, and proceed
ing in the direction of gate which gave
egress into broader road beyond, met her
eve. She looked atteptively; surely it was
Raphael and his sister going out for walk,
or perhaps bent on some more important ex-
pedition. She could not mistake the lank
figure and STOPPING shoulders of the one, nor
the stiff carriage, firm tread and black gar
ments of the other. She watched them until
they passed through the gate, keeping herself
81 faor fhoxy init ~
up at her window and once assured of their
departure, began to look, with vague thrill
of expectation and hope, at all her surround
ings, with view to the possibility of effecting
her escape during their absence from the
house. She might have known her rjailers too
we'll, however, to suppose that they would
have left her any such loophole. She tried
her door, but the security of the lock bafied
her slight strength. She then tried the win.
dow. With some difficulty she succeeded in
lifting the sash, and fastening it up with an
old crazy button placed there for the purpose,
then leaned outand looked below. No chance
of fgetting out that way-there was no ledge,
no projection of any kind, between the win.
dow and the ground only the fiat, unbroken
wall of the house, and the height was too
great to admit of her letting herself down by
sheets or blankets knotted together, as she
had heard of persons doing, without the peril
ola fearful jump, when she got to the end.
Moreover, just beneath lay heap of loose
rough stones and fragments of rock, threat.
ening serious injury, and perhaps loss of life,
to any one who should fall upon them. None
but maniac would have tried such mode
of escape, and Alice exclaimed mournfully as
she turned away
mo, there is no hope-absolutely none. I
must make up my mind to remain in this
horrible place-perhaps die here; and Maurice
will never even know my fate !"
This Thought brought gush Of tears to her
relief, and for some time she wept and sobbed
unrestrainedly. When she was more com.
posed, she took her letter to Maurice out of
her pocket, and read it through, though she
knew it already by heart.
"Poor letter." she said, "it seems like a
mockery to keep you by me, for shall never
have chance Of sending you off,
Even while she spoke, however, the very
chanceshe spoke of was near at hand. When
she refolded her letter, she resumed her post
by the window for the freshness Of the air
revived her, and the sight of the blue sky was
more cheering than the dull, confined pros
pect within her chamber. While looking out,
and despairingly musing on the hopelessness
of her situation, she caught sight of the figure
of an old negro man hobbling along through
the nearest field, with a basket of provisions
on his arm. With painful eagerness she
watched his approach. Would he turn off in.
to pathway by the fence, or cross over and
come near enough the house for her to attract
bis attention? How slowly he came along !!
She fairly burned with impatience and the
keenness of her fear, that Mrs Broderick and
her brother might return just at this crisis,
and cut off this one feeble chance on which so
much depended. The old man did not turn
aside He crossed the fence and came toward
the house. Alice now leaned as far out of
the window as she could, and shouted to
him. He stopped, and looked all around, of
course in every direction but the right one.
She shouted again and again. Oh ! joy, at last
he raised his eyes and saw her. She waved
her handkerchief with frantic eagerness, sign
ing to him to approach. Slowly he came to-
ward her, with wondering, puzzled express
ion on his sable countenance. At last he
was near enough for her to make him hear
and understand her.
"Old man." she cried, as distinctly as she
could, "I've got letter here, will you put it
in the post-ofhce for me p
"Postoffce |" echoed the old man "lord,
missus, don't 60 nowhere near the post
Office"
"Oh but please, do, for PHYS sake, my
kind, good man" said poor Alice, impatient.
ly, "1've no one to help me, and my letter
must go-oh can't you find some way ofs send
ing it off,"
The negro took off his hat, and slowly
scratched his head, considering, while Alice
waited for his answer, glancing along the road,
meanwhile, in an agony of fear lest she might
discern the returning figures of her cousins.
Cant you take it for me?" she entreated
again. eff you don't, can't tell what will
become of me-"
"Well, missus," said the old man, "my
young master, he goes twice week down to
the store, where the letters is put in the mail
l don't 60, cause you see I'm too old to 60 SC
fur. l lives up yonder over the hill, good
ways from here"
"Oh then your master would take it fol-
me; am sure he would" cried Alice. "Won't
you ask him to for me? Will you carry ii
to him ?"
"Yes, missus, will. But amt this Mr.
Chester's house,"
"He lives here" said Alice. "But he's not
at home now," she added, quickly, "and
want it to 60 right off,"
"Ain't he to home now? l seen him yes
terday, along to ole man Guppy's place"
No. Oh please take this at once," said
Alice who had drawn the precious letter from