The weekly sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1886-1887, 1886-08-12
CHAPTER XIV.


| 90 out into the open air, but ev-
erything looks black to me. AT first
[ feel stunned, and as | walk on, find
myself constantly looking back, for l
fancy | am being followed.
Oh what shall 1 do? is my only
thought. To tell father would be to
make it known to Belle and of course
she would tell my enemy, at such a
prospect, thousand evils rise before
me. Isee father murdered, our home
burned, and don't know what happen
ing to us, for his threat made my blood
run cold.
When I get home, I find Belle gone
into the country for three days, and /
heave sigh of relief, for I'll thus get
rid of that detestable man for that
long any way, still I'm in fearful
strain, not knowing what to do, and
feeling that awful trouble is about to
al on me.
make up my mind to wait until
the day Belle comes home, to see if
something doesn't happen to help me
out of the fix.
I'm that nervous, that the creaking
of door makes me start 80, that moth
er, says I'm studying too much, and
look pale.
I'm so irritable too, that | send
Spencer running to tell her that I've
slapped him because he asked me to
play ball. l feel exactly like 1 had
committed murder, and was about to
be found out.
oop't cloo,, OF r;rbt for ooo
dreadful scenes of Delacourt's killing
us all, if I merely close my eyes, and
if open them, feel sure I see his
wicked face bending over me, and
hear his threa thing words.
I'm afraid to be alone, vet afraid to
talk about anything, when I'm with
anybody, for fear III unconsciously
let them into my dreadful secret I'm
sure I'm going crazy | can imagine
how people feel who are losing their
minds, and | wonder when lose mine
what will be done with me.
go on in just this way until the
second afternoon, when Providence
unexpectedly helps me out of my diff
Guilty.
! am sitting Gil the front steps,
Frisk is in my lap, and Nick is lay
ing down beside NE. It is a lovely
afternoon, and I feel little calmer, 1
have made up my mind to make
clean breast Of everything tomorrow,
come what may
As [ sit there veey quietly, q buggy
rolls up, and Mr.. Simon Scroggs
springs aUt most sDrvIv, and chen as
slsts Amt Priscilla TO alight, This is
getting to be 9 common affair. their
going together so much, so it didn't
strike nc as odd, seeing them coming
up the laun, but when they get nearer |
there appears to be peculiar some
thing III their ways; a certain mystery
seems to be surrounding them. Aunt |
Priscilla smiles as blandly as possible
upon me, as she comes u p the steps.
and as MIR. Scroggs reaches me he
SEXES my hand, and squeezes it until I
L scream, and then he laughs as if it
was very funny.
L follow them Ill the house to see
what's up, for Tn convinced there's
in thc wind.
Mother meets them in the entry.
and asks if they had :, pleasant drive.
AT which question Aunt Pris. lila
slmpers worse than Belle ever did, and
ocroggs laughs again, I believe they
are going crazy too they acted like it |
kept casting such meaning chances at
each other, and then laughing. | oct $
disguised. At last Mr.. Scropgs takes
Der by the hand, and leading her up {
% mother says, Z" behold my BRIDE ]
Linen Aunt Priscilla drops her eyelids |
is if she was going to sleep, and blush. |
IS radiently. /
Mother looks thunder struck, but
rles not to show it, But | feel as if a I
mountain had tumbled off my shout a
lars, for feel pretty certain, that Del I
-coart won't want the little bird" t
Without the Aunt money, and know 2
ny Uncle Simon will object to that. #
g i'n eXtricated IN 4 wonderful way. /
~ ny congratulations are certainly J
oytul. while nay spirits take sudden II
ise 1
Mr.. Scroggs explained that they
lad been engaged some time, and >
bought they'd marry without the :
'otheration of big Wedding Reckon ]
le thought we would Try to break it =
p, and ne didn't want to lose such a
ice slice. Mother invites the happy
air to remain few days, and they
kept. After which time they are
DING to buy farm nearer town and
i've on it. Some of Aunt's money will
o now | know. They seem to have
u anged everything among them q,
elves 5,
When father comes in, it's no news
0 him, as he's heard it down town.
e looks Torried. Reckon he thinks E
he was too old to be acting SO, and it
anal no soma I;sao,o;o+n,o.,4 -.