Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1888-06-08
LOCKED IN.

Lucy Huttoa .urncd pllc. She was
locking the school room door, whom,
under the shade of the trees outside,
'hc saw mSn stand watching her.
She turned pile, Int showed no other
ign Of emotion Without turning to
look again a. this MAJ, she drew her
shaw about her turned. came down
the steps, and walked homoward.
Her home was but temporary one.
Lucy Hutton had come from little
farm ia the country to take charge Of a
parish free school. She was staying at
a boardi g house where nearly all were
stranger.
She was very pretty, with long golden
hair, which sh9 wore free upon her
shou ders. Few persons had ever seen
more beautiful hair
Lucy turned pale because she had
.earaed to be afrail Of this person who
vas watching her SIZE knew his az
pcarance well. For a time he had
opposite to her at table, an emac8
pallid, carefully dressed man, witAs q.
black hair, parted ia tbs mildl
high, narrow forehead, and fallit %s
upon his coat collar Her II froA
oasiness was caused By observia6re, Nd
constantly watched her out
sdsalt i,las!s sy77---->-IIis, --A'.is1 l.sa'-a.
length avoided II by changing her S at
at the table.
lie never spoke to her. She did not
know his name, aud mono of the few
persons she know were acquainted viii
him. Hving placed herself beyond his
notice at table, she congratulated herself
on having escaped him, when, to her
CONSERVATION and serious upeasiness, she
discovered that he followed her to and
from the school,
She chose to ignore this. She did not
even speak of it to aay one. Though a
slight, golden-hairod girl, Lucy Hutton
was courageous, and a natural delicacy
prevented her from milking fuss about
the matter Bur, at last, she began to
be annoyed by notes, expressing this
u1n's infatuation. He desired to make
er acquaintance-to marry her.
Lucy's immodiate impulse was to send
! j, first note to her lover, Henry Gray
son, and ask hi, assistance. Then she
resisted what seemed 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,
became horribly familiar to her. She
felt that she was constantly under his
surveillance. Il she walked alone, he
boldly followed her at distance. If
she entered a crowd, she found him at
her elbow. Once as she stood at shop
window looking at some lace, h3 Kissed
in her ear: 81 love you," and slipped
instantly out Of 81 hit in the evening
darkness. After this she never allowed
herself to be abroad after the evening" s
early dusk. At the mans approach she
had felt him 50 physically powerful as
to fill her with terror.
The day previous to tho evening Of
which | write had brought now Incl.
dent. A note had been left at the
school room addressed to her which
read as follows;
BEAUTIFUL LUCY-I must sre k to you
you must hear me. Meet me tonight at the
lower end of Redmonl's bridge; remember,
you must come.
There was no Signature, but there
could be no doubt from whence it came.
Lucy's checks flushed with indignation
but thrill Of f.ar weat throu5h her
heart, Her pu.sue,'s audacity seemed
to have approached a crisis.
She crushed the note in her hand, foI
the obscrvant eyes Of her little pupils
were upon her and she forced herself to
90 on with their lessons; Lut her cheek
burned rcdly-her mind wandered il
spite Of herself.
o. course s ~ ot mean to meet
~ ~ ; w-.t would be the con
soq- aces if sho did notl She began te
feel desperately the need of aid IN thi
strlngo matter She wished that He j.
~ G7ayson were there; he wi he'd mos
Of all that she were at heme.
When she locked the school-roon
door that nj hit she saw, rs have said,
This gaunt, black haired man watehin
her under the trees. With a quick
firm step she walked down the street
At least he should not sec that she Wa
afraid Of him. But she heard a step be
hind her; it was his He came to he
side; his detestab.c voice said over h.
shoulder: Tonight at . clock. for
got to tell you tn tIm'.
! She never turned her head or mad