Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1879-02-13

silence and gloom, her fears began to return,
but she struggled bravely with them, reso-
lutely putting aside all the uncomfortable
suggestions and presentiments which kept
occurring to her mind. 1t need scarcely be
said that sleep was stranger to her eyes.
At length daylight came, and she began
to be on the alert for the appearance of some
one coming to announce her deliverance,
which, she persuaded herself, must be close at
hand. With ears strained to catch the slight
est sound, she listened intently, but heard
only faint murmurs fromthe streets without.
Outlook from her prison there was none.
The windows, of which there we're two, were
securely closed and fastened in such manner
as to battle her endeavors to open them.
At length she heard the key turned in the
door. She started up with heart beating
with expectancy, but sank back disappointed,
as only Miss Carey appeared, with tray
containing some breakfast in her hands.
"Won't you have this ?" she meekly asked,
as she approached the table.
= 'sNo, / thank you," coldly replied Mildred.
II would not touch morsel in this house on
any account"
"My dear cousin p exclaimed Jtshuas
voice in the passage, 'it distresses me to hear
you utter such sentiment, for if you carry
out that resolve, starvation must be the re-
suit
Mildred deigned no rejoinder, but silently
waved gesture of dismissal to Miss Carey,
who stood irresolute, with the tray in her
hands.
"Leave the breakfast, Clarissa," said her
brother, peeping through the doorway. "Our
cousin will feel the need of sustenance after
a while" ....
Clarisss, with an appealing look al Mil
dred, set the tray on the table and hurried
out; and again the door was locked and a
complete silence ensued.
"Great heavens!" cried Mildred at length,
as she rose from her chair and commenced
restlessly to pace the floor, "can it be possible
that am doomed to remain here, under the
rule of these dreadful people? Will no one
come to my aid? Oh! if could open but
one of these windows, I might find some way
of escape, or at least attract the notice of
some passer-by."
She tried with all her force Gas she had al
ready done) to lift one of the sashes; but
they were tightly nailed, and even had she
broken one of the panes, the shutters were
made equally fast with wooden bars She
guessed, and rightly, that this apartment had
been designed for her prison, even before she
had been brought to it.
The day wore on, but brought no sign Of
relief. Mildred's distress Of mind continual
ly increased, and hope began to wane in her
breast, as the slow hours crept by, each one
appearing like an age in duration. Faint
with hunger, she was at length forced to
break her resolution not to partake of the
unwelcome hospitality offered her. Indeed,
she felt that it was expedient to keep UP her
strength, as far as lay in her power.
Night came again, and from sheer weari-
ness she was obliged to close her eyes, But
her sleep was ftful and uneasy, and she only
lay upon the bed with her clothing on, being
afraid to undress.
Day after day now passed, and brought no
change. At regular hours her meals were
served to her, Miss Carey always bringing
them, and Joshua accompanying her to the
door, in order to open it for her, and relock
it after her exit. No words ever passed on
these occasions, between Mildred and Claris'
sa. And if Joshua addressed the former, she
replied in the briefest possible manner, being
desirous to avoid all intercourse with so de-
tested an individual.
Atlength, one morning, Clarissa came alone,
and Mildred Immediately detected unusual
nervousness and trepidation in her manner.
"Hush !" she said, with the little warning
gesture she had used on their first meeting.
A very unnecessary caution, as Mildred had
no intention of speaking. Putting down her
burden, she returned to the door, closed it, and
then approaching the prisoner, whispered hur-
riedly, close to her ear
"My brother had to 60 out little way on
particular business. Won't be back for half
an hour"
Mildred half started up, with an eager
hope that this announcement might be intend
ed as an encouragement to her to attempt an
escape. But this hope was speedily quelled,
as her informant continued
"We are locked up, all thesame. It would
be no use trying to get out. I'm kept shut
up, as much as you are. But 1 can get a
chance to say few words to you now, while
he is out Won't you trust me? Indeed, I'm
your friend"
Mildred looked doubtfully at her; but
something in the poor little womans piteous
glance touched her, and seemed to offer cor.
roboration Of the assertion just made.
eff you are my friend" she said, languid.
ly, 81 do not see that your friendship car be
Of much service to me, if you are prisoner
too"
"Hush!" said Clarissa again. HE may
come in at any moment. We must be very
careful, you know! He can hear and see,
believe, when he is couple of blocks off,
"He must be a monster, I Think" said
Mildred.
"He is, my dear. He's horribly wicked,
said Clarissa, with energy. "There's nothing
he's not capable Of"
"Even of numbering me, SUPPOSED" ques.