Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1881-01-27
Au Original .sturg*
Written for the Yorkvilie Enquirer.
THE LADY OF LINTON.
By WALTER MORGAN.
CHAPTER XI.

solemn and mysterious tome as she went on
paused, and looked 6xedly at her listener
A cold horror crept through Cyril's veins
Something in her gaze-a dread forewarning
of what was coming-wrought fearfully upon
him. He neither moved nor spoke; but
waited mutely for the revelation he knew was
to follow.
At last she went on, drawing little closer
to him, and glancing at the face of Lady Hep
burn, who still lay white and senseless as
stone.
"They stood there, looking down, side by
side, he just little tiny bit nearest the edge.
"'Yes, it's dark enough he said. Dark
and Deep 'Twould be dreary fate to be
shut up there, even for day. One might
cry aloud, and not human ear catch the
sound of ones voice So solid is this stone
floor, not even an echo would come through
"'Besides,' answers she, still in that low
kind Of tone, 1 suppose nobody ever comes
in this room at all
"'I suppose not he says. They do say
it's haunted, so all the servants are afraid
"Just then, l saw her make step back
ward, and lift her hand My heart jumped
to my mouth. and was about to spring for.
ward, but before could make movement
or sound, something happened that seemed
to freeze the marrow in my bones, and turned
me into stone
"She pushed my master IN.
81 heard fall-a dull, heavy sound on
the floor below-and one low groan, then
nothing more l wanted to fly at her throat
and strangle her; but thought I'd serve my
end best if could wait and bide my time.
kept myself quiet, and watched her lift the
door up. Twas heavy, and she strained and
pulled fearfully at it before she could manage
to make it stir-and let it down again into
its place. She did this very carefully, making
no noise, though it must neary Y have broken
her arms to hold its weight that long without
letting it slip. But she got it fixed all right,
and then she turned her face toward my side,
and in the yellow light of the candle could
see it. Twas like the face of demon. I'm
free,' she said aloud, I'm free ! Then she
gave look backward, over her shoulder. as
if she saw something. 1t was her own evil
spirit, no doubt-and in a hasty, fearful way,
she went out of the room. crept after her.
| wanted to be sure she would not return.
saw her put the candle, which she carried in
her hand, on the laundry table, where they
had taken it from. Then / waited till |
heard her 90 upstairs, and the back door
close, and | knew she wasn't going to return.
l went back as fast as could to the old empty
room, taking the light with me. was shak.
ing from head to foot, but had an unnatural
strength given me. Seventy years old, though
l was, lifted up that trap door, and listened,
hoping to hear some sound. But | heard
none, and at first, doubted not my master
was dead.
81 was we'll nigh distracted, and | didn't
know what next to be after; but while was
waiting and thinking, heard another groan.
So called aloud, putting my face down to
the opening, and my master answered me.
He'd been stunned only, and was coming to
himself, and pretty soon he was able to tell
me what should do. / was to fetch little
ladder that was outside in the passage, and
put it down through the door, and 60 down
on it and help him, for he was badly hurt and
couldn't move alone got the ladder and
found twas long enough to reach, though at
first feared it was not When l got it steady
l crawled down, holding on with one hand
and carrying the light in the other. found
my young master lying with his leg doubled
under him. and he said he knew twas broken !;
but when spoke of fetching surgeon, he
forbade my ever breathing word of what
had happened to any living soul.
This secret is between you and me- he
said, when l told him how had happened to
be there You remember promising once to
stand by me, if any trouble should happen,
and never betray my misery to any body.
No one shall ever know that my wife tried to
kill me and if one person finds it out, an.
other surely will answered him that no
one need ever know. People could think it
was an accident But he said his wife should
never be troubled by the sight of him again.
She had wanted to get rid of him, and his
presence should never more darken her eyes.
For that reason, he made me swear to him
not to betray that knew of his existence.
was to make believe that didn't know any
more than other people what had become Of
him.
The thing was to get him out of that hole,
for knew he would die if he stayed there.
But found an underground passage leading
out to the open air and through this | crept
with him clinging to me, poor soul, dragging
his broken leg along, though he tainted twice
from the pain before we got out By mid
night had managed to get him to my own part
of the house, and laid him on my bed and
then / knew he was safe for the present, for
no one ever came to my room."
"And he lived?' gasped Cyril, finding his
voice for the first time.
wait Bit haven't finished yet.
81 nurse6 him there in secret, not soul
knowing word of his being with me. He
had made me 60 back to the vault and take
up the ladder, and put everything as Ia
found it, so as not to excite suspicion in case
of anybody going there. And she did 60
there one day-soon after it happened. l
found that out, for in spite Of the care | took
of my master, managed to keep an eye on
her movements still. suppose she wanted
to make sure he was deau, or something
for she listened at the trap door long time,
and then crept away again, as softly as a
ghost"
Here the old woman was interrupted by a
loud ring at the door bell.
"Visitors!' y she exclaimed, as she saw from
the window Lady Hungerford's handsome
equipage, with its prancing horses, standing
before the door, Il must be off,
"One word" Cyril called after her below
his breath, as she hobbled towards the door
but with a warning motion of the hand she was
gone. The question which he so desired to
have settled was still unanswered-was Mi
riam's husband still alive?
Miriam herself, with faint gasping sigh
opened her eyes just as Lady Hungerford, in
her rich satin and lace, swept into the room