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

II think not, replied the girl; "nay,
good madam, am sure not" steadily
raising her arm; "but look" and she
shook back the loose sleeve, "you sec ]
had narrow escape; and in fact the
sleeve was pierced and torn by some
sharp instrument.
81 was so frightened" the girl went
| on, "when he struck at mo with the
knife that l thought was killed. Oh,
dear! what trouble must be giving to
you ALL"
Mrs. Formey disciaimed all idea of
trouble and led tho young girl upstairs
| to her own room.
when wo arc all alone she will
doubtless explain all this mystery"
thought the good lady, for she guessed
at once that there was something unus-
uaf between her son and this stranger,
| Judging from their glances and excla-
| nations.
But she was disappointed in her ex-
| pectatlons. 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 of
her sudden and extraordinary entrance
ton OF the looks and words which had
Passcd between her and William For
ncy, and Mrs. Forncy began to think
that she was not treated with proper
degree of confidence by either of these
young people.
After making the young stranger as
comfortable rs possible for the night she
bade her a rather cold "adicu,n and
added:
You shall tell me who you are and
where I 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 Il
harder heart than gentle Mrs. Forncy's
might have been touched with pity for
her. But it was not in human nature
not to wonder at these things, and Mrs.
Forncy 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 rs l
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 can say by way of gratify-
ing your very natural desire for knowl-
edge. She is the stcp-daughtcr of the
German gentleman from whom / was
taking lessons i'll that language last
spring. Her name is Gertrude Stein
metz Having seen her it will not sur
prise you to know that was, and still
am, passionately attached to her. had
hoped TO make her my wife before now,
and proceeded so far as to tell her so,
and to win her consent. l went tho
next day to arrange with her us 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 moro in this world, Ask no cx.
PamnaItlon: Pnam lion DO not attempt to sec me Fore
"Of course | did not obey. l did ask
for explanations. / did seek to see her
again and again. But all in vain.
From that hour until tonight / never
set eyes upon her; and the events of this
night-the attempt upon her life, her
presence here, her tcrror-arc all part
| of the mystery which has surrounded
| her since | received that note, and
which is as incomprehensiblc to mo as
| to YOU"
Mrs. Forney warmly pressed her sons
hand. Her sympathics, both as n wo-
man and q mother. were thoroughly
reused, and for Williams sake she de-
tcrmincd 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 Gertrudc's obstinate 81
lencc.
The girl was, however, completely
Frustrated 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
or, who came as rapidly as the train
could bring her, for she had been quite
terrified by Gertrudc's disappearance,
and only needed a clew to her where
abouts in order to fly to her An evil
fate, she seemed to think, had overtakcn
her household, for her husbands son
had been drowned the night before, and
ms dead body had just been brought
nome Il few minutes before she received
the telegram from the Forncys.
'Albrecht dcad?' exclaimed Gertrude,
Joyocusly., "Then am released. NV
oath binds mo no longer. All! do moi
think me heartlcss, Wilhelm-mother:
am only SO overjoyed from the pressure
or silent dread now removed. Albrccht
was terrible man. do think he was
not in his right mind He loved me-
and strovc t6 marry me, and when ho
knew that loved Wilhelm his rage was
too fearful. He made me swear q terri.
bic oath never to marry while he lived,
and he swore that he would kill vii.
helm if ever spoke to him or let him
sec me.
ooh, l was horribly frightened! I
could not resist his rage, his wildncss. I
was sure he would kill Wilhelm, and
that only gave me strength to keep my
oath. Last night he was in q fearful
rage. He threatened Il score of times to
kill Wilhelm, and when at late hour
he left the house followed him. Hither
and thither he led me, till at last he
| took the train that BROUGHT rs hero.