The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1888-04-25
LOCKEDI IN.

LOOhED ilN.
Lacy Hutton turned pale. she was
lockinr the school room door when, un-
der the shade Of the tree outside, she
saw man stand watching her.
She turned pale, but showed no other
sign ofcmo;ion. Without turning to look
again at this man, she drew her shawl
abou; her. turned, carae down the steps,
aud walked homeward.
Her home WAS but temporary one.
Lucy Hutton had come from a little farm
in the country to take charge Of a parish
free school. She was staying a, board
ing house where almost all were strangers
10 her
She was very pretty, with long golden
hair. which she wore free upon her
shoulders. Few persons had ever seen
more beautiful hair
Lucy turned pale because she had
learned 10 he afraid Of this person who
was watching her. She knew his APP
pearaace we'll. For time he had sat
opposite 10 her at table, an emaciated,
pallid. carefully dressed man, with long
black hair parted in the middle Of a very
high. narrow forehead. and falling long
upon his coat collar Her first uneasiness
was caused by observing that he constant
ly watched her out Of pair of small
black ewes. lis observation was SO close
as to be annoying. She had at length
avoided it by changing her seat at the
table.
He never spoke to her. She did not
know his name, and none of the few
persons she knew we're acquainted with
him. Having placed herself beyond
his notice at table, she congratulated
herself on having escaped him, when, TO
her CONSERVATION and serious uneasiness,
she discovered that he followed her to
and from school.
She chose to ignore this. She did not
even speak Of it TO anyone. Though a
slight, golden-haired girl, Lucy Hutton
WAS courageous, and a natural delicacy
prevented her from making fuss about
the matter For, at last, she began to be
ANNOYED with notes. expressing his mans
iafatuaion. lie desired to make her ac-
guaintance--tO marry her.
Lucy's immediate impulse was to send
his first note to her lover, Henry Gray
son. and ask his assistance. Then she
resisted what seemed to her too be a
weakness.
Il shall avoid this strange lover Of
mine he cannot do me any HARM" she
thought
But she could not forget him. His
eyes. his gait, the cut of his garments, be
came horribly familiar to her. She felt
that she was constantly under his sur.
VIGILANCE. IL she walked alone, lac bold.
ly followed her at distance. If she en-
tered a crowd. she found him at her el
bow. Once, as she stood at shop win
dow looking at some lace. he Missed in
her ear, love you" and slipped in
s,anily out of sight in the evening dark
ness After this she never allowed her
self TO be abroad after the evenings early
dusk At the mans approach she had
felt him so physically powerful as TO FL
her with terror.
The day previous to the evening o
which write had brought new Incl
dent A note had been lefl at the schoo
room addressed to her, which ran as fol.
lows:
BEAUTIFUL LUCY: must speak to YOU
YOU must hear me- Meet me tonight al
the lower end OF Redmond's bridge re-
meinber, you must come.
There was no signature, but there
could be no dolb. from whence it came.
Lacys cheeks flushed with Indignation
but a thrill of fear went through hel
heart. Her pursuer's audacity seemed &c
have approached a crisis
She crushed the note in her hand. fol
the observant eyes of her little pupils
were upon her, and she forced herself tC
90 on with her lessons but her cheek.
burned redly-her mind wandered in
spite Of herself.
OF fcourse she didn't m ean to meet thii
man and what would be the consequen
ces II she did not? She began to feel des
pciately the need Of and in this strang,
matter. She wished that Henry Graysor
were there she wished most of all that
she were at home.
WheR she locked the school room doc
that night she SAW, as ] have said. thii
gaunt, black haired man watching be
under the trces. With a quick. firm stel
she walked down the street At least h,
should not see that she WAS afraid of him
But sine heard step behind her il wa
his. He came TO her side: his detestabl,
voice said over her shoulder. "To-nigh
al s O'Clock forgot to tel, you tn
time
She never turned her head or made III
slightest response, as if she had hear
him lie made an effort to look into he
eyes-and then he fell back and disaI
peared.
Lucy reached hcrroom. locked the doc
and sat down. trembling and eryin,
This last encounter had been too muc
for her nerves. She WAS full Of excit,
ment and dread. Unconsciously to he
self this constant pursuit had worn upo
her. Her strehgth seemed suddenly
give way. She SAT, sobbing. almos: uni
BILE te sir, when them was a knock
the door
She started ~ the sound a. II ss1ae ne
summons Of evsi were at hand ba a
person who appeared Tas only youl
lady boarding in the koxse. with who
Lucy had a slight &C luaintaaoe-
A note had been left at the house hi
Lucy was at school. 1t was her mother
handwriting
Come home Immediately. Your faith
is very i'll.
Miss Burton delivered the note, b
fingered; drawn to pitying solicitude