The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-09-27

Surely the devil did appear to be in
league with these good people! For with
the morning Mr.. Lawrence was plunged
deep into an agonizing fit Of the gout,
could not leave his bed, and his servants
were running all over Marlborough for
the most able physicians.
'Is that you, Mr.. Hastings? Come
here"
The speaker was Richard Lawrence.
He sat in post of honor in the counting
house, and Dean, as he entered, in obedi-
ence to the mandate, saw it with some
surprise; for that place belonged only to
the head and chief. :.
"You are little late this morning"
81 am; it is quarter past nine," re-
piled Dean, ood-humoredly. "Truth is,
1 got an important letter from an old
college chum, and waited to answer it."
"Ah; one generally gets hindered at
the wrong moment" observed Richard
with pleasant smile. "I want you to
get off to the station and take the ten
O'clock train for Liverpool"
care you joking, Lawrence"
"Not bit of It. There's something
wrong with the cargo Of cotton just in,
and you must 60 down to see about it. L
should have gone myself but for the
Governors illness. He is in for q fit of
gout again, and I must stay here to take
his place"
Deans face wore blank look. 81
wish I had known this before"
"No doubt. I knew nothing about it
till the letters got in this morning. The
Governor ordered me not to bother him
with trifes, but I thought he ought to
know something about this. GAS you
can't 20 yourself" said he, "you must
send Hastings down. Let him be off by
the first train" So you have no time to
lose, you see."
Yes, his Satanic Majesty was certainly
at work; for it was a positive fact that
this news about the cargo of cotton was
no fable, and that somebody had to 60 to
Liverpool. Apart from any scheming,
that somebody would probably have been
Dean Hastings.
"When the sun sets be at the stile by
the cross road"
It was this remembered sentence which
was troubling his mind. Dora would go
to the trysting place that evening, and
20 in vain. Legitimate communication
between herself and him was difficult at
times; but now he bad no time to plan
for or to risk it. He glanced at the clock
hanging over the desk. No; there was
Just time for him to dash home to his
lodgings, tumble few things into port
manteau, and dash up to the station.
"Well, I suppose Emust be off, then.
What are my instructionsW
'I am writing them down for you"
Perhaps the word writing" inspired
Dean with an idea; or, perhaps it was
the little delay. Selling paper and pen,
he began note to Dora. Then he hesi-
tated; wondering how he should get it
conveyed to her. His head seemed in a
whirl-an unusual thing. Richard was
writing fast, and the noise worried him.
Scratch! scratch! Tick! tick! How
that horrid clock hurried the minutes
away. If he could only stop it. If he
could only put out his hand and stop
those.bits of steel which were whirling
his time away so fast. If he could only
stop time itself. But no Then another
idea struck him; and he wrote rapidly
and fastened up the note.
"Here," said Richard, handing him a
folded paper, with some money. Good
luck to you, Hastings, and don't lose
more time."
Richard seemed so gracious at that
moment that Dean was wondering
whether he might not trust him with the
notes delivery-the idea which had been
floating with uncertainty through his
mind. He looked at him, then glanced
at the note, and looked again.
"Can do anything for you ?' asked
Richard, blandly.
"Well, you can, Lawrence. | think
can trust you; though l am truly sorry
to give you the trouble. You know the
Calloways well-and Dorothy Stevens,
the governess; if you'd not mind calling
there and putting this into her hand pri-
vately, should be truly obliged"
cali right" said Richard, holding out
his hand for the note.
"But you must let her have it before
five o'clock this afternoon; that's indis-
pensable."
Richard Lawrence nodded as he slipped
the note into his pocket. And Dean
Hastings made all speed for the train.
"TelI Mr.. Lawrence how sorry [ am
that he is ill., he waited to- say. 81 hope
he will soon be up again"
AS to Richard, he found a minute to
run to Miss Lawrence to report PROCESS;
and he showed her the note.
cpl undertake that, said Bella
"Give it to me-"
TTo ri coNTTNrrED1