The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1890-04-02


! of horrible possibilities. This room
would be nothing without its myster-
ious lock"
At this moment Dora's eyes turn
slowly toward Arthur Dynecourt. She
herself hardly knows why, at this par
tic,Iar time. she should look at him.
Yet she feels that some unaccountable
Fascination is compelling her gaze to
encounter his. Their eyes meet. AS
thcv do so. Dora ShudderS and turns
deadly pale. There is that in Arthur
Dvuccolrt dark and sullen eyes that
! strikes her cold with terror and vague
forebodings of evil 1t is a wicked look
that overSpreads the mans face-a
cruel. implacable look that seems to
freeze her as she gaZes at him spell
| bound. Slowly. even while she watches
him. she sees him turn his glance from
! her to Sir Adrian in Il meaning man
| ner. as though to let her know that the
vile thought that is working in his
brain and is betraying itself on his face
is intended for him, not her. And yet,
with this too. he gives her silently to
understand that. if she shows any
treachery toward him, he will not leave
it unrewarded.
Cowed. frightened. trembling at
what she knows not. Dora staggerS
backward, and. laying Il hand upon
the wall beside her. tries to regain self
possession. The others are all talking
together. she is therefore unobserved.
| She stands. still painting and pallld,
trying to collect her thoughts:
Only one thing comes clearly to her,
filling her with loathing CT herself and
an unnamed dread-it is that, by her
own double-dealing and falseneSs to-
ward Florence. she has seemed to enter
into compact with this man to be
companion in whatever crime he may
decide upon His very look seems to
fmplicate her. to drag her down with
him to his level She feels herself
chained to him-hiS partner in a vile
conspiracy. And what further adds to
the horror of the situation is the knoWl-
edge that she knows herself to re blind
" ignorant of whatever plan" he may
be forming.
After a few seconds she rouses her
self. and wins back some degree OF
compoSure. 1t is OF course mere
weakness to believe herself III the pow
| er of Arthur Dynec0urt. she tres 10
convince herself. He is no more than
any other ordinary acquaintance. II
lllQttU Has ll0IpSli liiLAl III tASSAS
| efforts tC secure the love OF Florence,
there was no great harm in that,
though of course it served her own pur-
! pose also.
How pale You are, Mrs. Talbot" re-
marks sir \ drian suddenly. wheeling
round 70 look at her more closely:
HAS this damp old place really affected
your nerves. Gene. let us go down
again. and forget in the sunshine that
bloo>.t deeds were ever committed here
| or elsewhere.
Il am nervous. crntaSS.' responds
| Dora. in L low tone. g. NtS-le5 Us
| leave this tcrr. - rrom tGr'Ter-
SO iac IT," says Sir Adrian gayly.
For MY part: feel no desire TO re-en-
1T is very high art, I suppose" OBJ
serves Ethel EillierS, glanclng round
the walls. Uncomfortable places al
ways are. 1t would be quite treasure
to Lady Betty Trefeld. who raves over
the early Britons. 1t seems rather
thrown away upon us. Captain hing
wood, YOU look as if you had been sud-
denly turned into stone. Let me pass,
plssRe;" 81 was uncommonlv friendly of
RingWood not to have let the door
slam, and so imprisoned US tor llte,"
says Sir Adrian, with laugh. Il am
sure we owe him debt Of gratitude"
II hope you'll all pay it." laughs
Ringwood 1T will be nice new eX-
perience for you to give a creditor
sor ething for once. l never pay my
own debts; but that doesn't count. l
feel sure you are all going to give me
something for my services aS DOOR
keeper"
What shall l give you?" asks Ethel
coquettishly.
'Ill tell you by and by" he replies,
with such an expressive lock That for
! once the saucy girl has no answer
ready, but, blushing crimson, hurrles
past him down the stone. stairs, Where
she waits at the bottom fer the others.
AS Florence reaches the door, she
pauses and StoopS to examine the lock.
Il wish" she says to Sir Adrian, a
| strange subdued excitement in her
tone. you would remove this lock.
Do"
But Why" he asks, IMPRESSED IN
spite of himself. by her manner.
Il hardly know myself: it is fancy
an unaccountable ona, perhaps-but
still powerful one. DO be guided by
me and have it removed"
"What-the fancy?" he asks laugh
ing :: 49,; ,
she pleads earnestly. far more earnest
" than the occasion seems to warrant.
| Call it silly preSentiment. If :ou like,
but honestly think that lock will work
YOU evil some day. Therefore 1t IS that
I ask you to do away with 1t"
you ask me?" he queries.
Eyes, if only to please me-for my
sake"
She has evidently forgotten her late
distrust in him, for she speaks now IN
the old sweet tone, and with tears IN
her ewes. Sir Adrian tluShes warmly.
For your sake" he whispers. What
is there I would not do, if thus re-
quested?"
A bitter sneer contracts Arthur
Dynecourt's lips as he listens to tho
first part of this conversation and guess
es at the latter half. He notes cor
rectly the kindling of their eyes, the
quick breath that comes and goes like
happy sighs from the breast of Flor
ence. He hears the whisper. sees the
warm DIlish. ana gIances eSpresslyely
at Dora. Meeting her eyes he lays his
finger on his lips to caution her silence,
and then, when passing by her, whls-
pers:
Meet me in half al hour in the low
er gallery"
Bowing her acquaintance in this ar
rangement. fearing indeed to refuse,
Dora follows the others from the
| haunted chamber.
At the foot of the small stone stair
case--before they go through the first
iron-bound door that leads to the cor
rider without-they find Ethel Villiers
awaiting them. She had been looking
round her in the dimly lighted stone
passage, and has discovered another
door fixed mysteriously in a corner,
where does this lead to, Sir Ad-
rian?" she asks now, pointing to it.
SC al ontaH