The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1886-04-29
IN SILENT DREAD.


Suddenly the silence was broken BY
wild ana hurrying footsteps along the
principal street. flying figure closely
pursued by another figure vanished into
the deep shadow caused by half-dozen
large, lcafy trees about midway the dis
tancc of the street, and from out the
darkness came 4 terrified and piercing
cry:
"IIclp Murder! Oh, hclp-hclp!
Murdcr"
y few seconds of brcathlcss silence.
and then the silence was broken again
by the sound Of hurrying footsteps,
growing fainter and faintor in the dis
lance, While several persons who had
been aroused by the cry for holp hast
lily drew on clothing and shoes and
rushed toward the spot whence the cries
had proceeded
1t was l o'clock in the mornifig and
naturally the inhabitants of the street
were all in bed and most of them asleep.
OF those who had been awakened MANY
stopped after the first alarm, rushed into
the street, questioning one another and
awaiting for some repetition of the cries;
but the street was silent agan-even
more silent than it seemed before the
outcry. OF all who had gone SO far as
to rush in frantic haste at first only two
actually proceeded far enough to learn
the cause Of the alarm.
II think the cries came from this di-
rccton," called out William Forncv.
running in the direction Indicated by
his outstrctchcd arm.
81 think so, too,h answered Charles
LoeSon. following him.
The first speaker ran so fast and head
long that he nearly stumbled over n
prostratc body, and while he recovered
himself his companiC:. stopped and
raised the inscnsiblc figure.
"Why, it's u womanr' he exclaimed:
n girl, ! should say, she is so slight and
slender"
'Of course, knew it was woman's
voice. Can you carry her, Charlcy?
Let me help You. Bring her to our
house. Mother is the most kind and
thoughtful, dear, good mothcr that was
ever KNOWN" he added, lending his as
She is either dead or in n fant,n said
& then the two young men lopsed
into silence, and did not speak again
till they had entered Mrs. Forncy's bar
lor, whore they laid their inscnsiblc bur
den on the lounge.
Now Charley, do you light the gas,
and | will go and bring mother here,
and well see what can be done"
And he left the room as he spoke,
while Charley Lesson proceeded to obey
his orders.
After cropping about the mantel-picce
ne soon found, by the aid of the MOON
hight which streamcd in, tho match-safe.
ana having lighted two gas-icts, he
gave his attention TO tho still inscnsible
gill. '''' '''''>' '''' 'Ao
- Her hat had fallen of, a,.d her rich
dark halr, iooScncd and disheyclcd.
flowed back from hor dcath-pale face
over the sofa pillow Her features were
delicate and regular. her mouth small,
and though distorted from recent fear
wonderfully attractive, and her general
appearance betokencd refinement and
grace.
"Quite pretty and interesting"
thought Charley. Looks very pale But
not dead. Wonder what kind of ewes
she has? If they are fine the chances
are she's quite n beauty at her best"
Young Fornoy now entered, accom-
panied by his mother, and the kind lady
at once proceeded to the sofa.
"The young lady is only in swoon,"
she said, at once taking the girls hand,
land, think, far more frightened than
hurt. But we shall soon know, for she
is already recovering. l can see the
color is returning to her face. See,
William, her eyes ,inclosc. What q
sweet-looking creatro! wonder who
she is!''
"Hcavcns! 1t IS"
The exclamation burst from William
FOrncy, who, at his mother words, had
come over to the sofa, and now saw the
stranger for the first time really, for,
Notwithstanding the moonlight, he had
not caught even n glimpse of her face
while he helped Charley Lesson to carry
her.
Even as the words which surprise had
forced from him burst from his lips he
suppressed them, and from the expires.
sion OF his mothers face he could not
De sure whether she had noticed his cx.
cilmatlon or not. Indeed, her attcn-
ton was presently absorbed bv the con.
seriousness OF her patient-particularl
as the girl, on opening her eyes, ut once
raised herself and began, with the wild.
est excitement, to implore the protection
of those about her.
Don't let him kill mo-he will do il
he swore he would kill me, and bS
VIII keep his word, for no is Terrible
terrlDlo!' she said, wildly; and then, as
her gaze wandered from face To foco
she started TO her feet on reco0nizinn ~
young Fofncy.
"Ah, Wilhelm! Wilhelm! it Is. then
you who have saved mep" and over
come with emotion, and perhaps shame
aC haVlng betrayed herself, she covered
her n; c;rilmisoning face with hor hands and
barst into tears.
boro Co",9, M, come my child, you arc safe
ho"se oe, - no soiI ono NV will hurt you in my
greatly but intent on placing tbn vonn :
girl at her case. "And now nroy % 'If tnfI