The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1886-04-28

9alSlng her arm, Out lOOh, anu sn
shook back the loose sleeve, "you sec
had a narrow escape; andSn fact tn
sleeve was pierced and torn by SOM
sharp instrument
Il was so frightened" the girl wen
on, when he struck at me with th'
knife that I thought was killed. Oh
dear! what trouble must be giving K
you all"
Mrs. Formey disclaimed all idea O
trouble and led the young girl up-stair
to her own room.
when We are all alone she vii
doubtless explain all this mystery
thought the good lady, for she guessed
at once that there was something unus
uar between her son and this stranger
judging from their glances and excla
nations
But she was disappointed in her ex
pectations. The stranger was lovely
She was charming. She was exquisitely
grateful for the kindness shown to her,
but she was dumb in regard to the
strange events of the night. She neither
explained nor referred to the mystery d
her sudden and extraordinary entrance
on the scene, and she offered no solu
ton Of the looks and words which had
passed between her and William For.
nev, and Mrs. Forney began to think
that she was not treated with a proper
degree of confidence by either of these
young people.
After making the young stranger as
comfortable as possible for the night she
bade her rather cold "adieu," and
added:
"You shall tell me who you are and
where am to send for your friends in
the morning, my dear. You are too
weak and too much alarmed for further
efforts Of any kind tonight "
And, indeed, the mysterious young
lady did look pale and wan, so that 4
harder heart than gentle Mrs. Forncy
might have been touched with pity for
her. But it was not in human nature
not to wonder at these things, and Mrs.
Forney was, in truth, consumed with
curiosity, and this feeling on her part
she at once communicated to her son.
You wish for an explanation, mother,
dear. and you shall have it so far as |
have the power to give it to you. But
must begin by telling you that all this
affair is almost as mysterious to me as
to you. know the young lady-that is
nearly all I can say by way of crafty
ing your very natural desire for knowl-
edge. She is the ssep-daughter of the
German gentleman from whom l was
taking lessons in that language last
spring. Her name is Gertrude Stein
metz. Having seen her it will not sur.
prise you to know that I was, and still
am. passionately attached to her. l had
hoped to make her my wife before now,
and proceeded so far as to tell her so,
and to win her consent. ! went the
next day to arrange with her as to when
might bring you to call on her. when.
instead of being met by the lovely and
blushing girl who had the day before
promised to be my wife, & note from her
was placed in my hand containing these
words:
We meet no more IN this world. Ask no cx
planasion Do not attempt to see eRTR16s me; Fare
..Of course did not obey. I did ask
for explanations. did seek to see her
again and again. But all in vain.
From that hour until tonight I never
set eyes upon her; and the events of this
night-the attempt upon her life, her
presence here, her teror-are all part
Of the mystery which has surrounded
her since 1 received that note, and
which is as incomprehensible to me as
to YOU"
Mrs. Forney warmly pressed her sons
hand Her sympathies, both as a wo-
man and q mother, were thoroughly
reused, and for Williams sake she de-
termined to penetrate the mystery.
But this was far more difficult mat
ter than she anticipated, and had not
circumstances favored her there is little
reason to suppose that she would have
ever overcome Gertrude's obstinate ST.
lence.
The girl was, however, completely
prostrated by the nervous shock and
unable on the next day to leave her
room.
Mrs. Forney, therefore, felt herself
justified in sending for Gertrude S moth
er, who came as rapidly as the train
could bring her, for she had been quite
terrified BY Gertrude's disappearance,
and only needed clew to her where
abouts in order to fly to her. An evil
fate, she seemed to think, had overtaken
her household, for her husbands son
had been drowned the night before, and
his dead body had just been brought
home a few minutes before she received
the telegram from the Forneys.
..Albrecht dead!' exclaimed Gertrude,
ioyously. Then I am released. My
oath binds me no longer. All! do not
think me heartless, Wilhelm-mother;
am only so overjoyed from the pressure
of silent dread now removed. Albrccht
was terrible man. I do think he was
not in his right mind. He loved me,
and strove to marry me, and when he
knew that loved Wilhelm his rage was
too fearful. He made me swear 3 terri
bic oath never to marry while he lived,
and he swore that he would kill Will
helm if ever spoke to him or let him
see me.
''Oh, was horribly frightened!
could not resist his rage, his wildness. ]
was sure he would kill Wilhelm, and
that only gave me strength to keep my
oath Last night he was in a fearful
rage. He threatened L score of times to
kin Wilhelm, and when at late hour
he left the house followed him. Hither
and thithcr he led me, till at last he
took the train that brought US here;
and still followed, not daring to let
him out OF my sight. Just us we entered