The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-06-03
CHAPTER XVII.
MRS. BEANIE

JaSper Qt, lenGtQ came TO steep aQ u
narrow lane, which as he entered it grad
ually led him down behind the rear walls
of gardens that fronted on the main street
of residences.
He thus presently reached the rear of
Lawyer Croak's garden, which ran down
steeply from the spot in it to which the
reader has been introduced, forming q
sort of unkempt, overgrown esca,pment
to the low wall edging on the secluded
lane or rustic a.ley-way. Here he posted
himself under small tree opposite to q
narrow gate in the wall, and waited ex-
pectantly.
In about twenty minutes the gate was
cautiously opened, and an old woman
peeped out, beckoning to him. 1t was the
lawyers housekeeper, and it was not with
the air Of first rendezvous that Jasper
approached her and was admitted inside
the gate, where he remained standing with
her under the steep bank.
From what you said this morning,
looked for you earlier, said Mrs. Beane, q
little snappishly. But it is, maybe. best
as it is. Master has had his MONDAY
meal, and Wormer left word that he would
not be home to dinner.
II was unavoidably detained" said JOS
per. Ever since my speaking with you
at sunrise, have been on the watch and
move. Well, have You turned in your
mind the matter / spoke Of
Yes; but I haven't decided yet, sir, 1"
said the woman, uneasily. DO you think,
sir-could it look any way like tetraying
my master, if I we're to render you the
service you have begged of me?"
In no way whatever. since 1t does not
concern him in the least. But cannot
understand your wonderful scrupulous-
ness in regard to your master. He is o
notorious old villain, and you have ac-
knowledged that he treats you like q Dog"
-T:ue-I work and slave here early and
late, and have Tor years, with no more
thanks for the most part than curses, and
sometimes blows. He has, besides, never
given me any wages-only small coins
occasionally tossed to me, as to beggar
barely enough to keep ms in the rags I
wear.
Truly o noble mester,"
But cannot forget what owed hin
in the past: I vas on deaths hrlnS.-l
woald have been hahged but for him!"
She said this in hushed, solemn waJ.
and the strange, lurid look stood out tor
an instant from the asben background Of
her wrinkled face.
And now, if I should betr.y his conf
dence. in revenge for both his brutality
and Wormer's," she went on, after q
pause, he might place me back there
again in that horrible position. Oh! only
to recall 1.-THE loathsome condemned
cell in Newgate-the ever-present sem
tence hanging over me. crushing me
down-the turkeys yisits-the swiftly
lessening time-the live minutes OF the
hurrying hours! Ha! the recollection Of
this is the ceaseless nightmare of nv
life. And the idea of being thrust back
into the reality of it! My master is pow
erful and revengeful. He says that I
was saved ty q mere oversight-by a
bubble of the law-that he cen have Inc
hanged yet, even after all these years, if
he wants to. He often taunts me by say
ing So, just to see me tremble and
whiten."
He lies moDstrously! He plays upon
with needless terrorS!" exclaimed Jasper.
much affected by the intensity Of her
smotion. In tracking you to this place
{ necessarily informed myself, while in
London, of that dark passage in your
SuiceI-Ol SOuI SiiaiSB souA sAt"At } SNNA
conviction and sentence. Croak did moth
ing more than secure you a new trial. 1t
uas effected. with scarcely any e1ertion
on his part, through the effort and sym.
pathy Of an acquaintance of his-a great
ind philanthropic London barrister named
6sltwell At the new trial you were clear
y proven to have killed the man solely in
self defense"
I'D have done it anyway don't re-
gret the smothering, not bit Of itl'
| burst out the woman in half-stiaed, crack
ling tones. like mufled flames. and with
40 wIld light again rlckerlng through
her rugged features. Nevertheless, if
was all Eer doing-curses upon her head!
He, my husband, was younger than I, but
he would not have become drunken and
lazy with dreaming and moaning Of things
beyond his st tion-ho would not have
trampled me under foot, but for her!
Youns as she was-a mere girl she turned
b head AID perverted his heart by Eer
be.uty, her witcberies, her laughing con-
descension!
Does it help matters to suppose that
ihs did so care!ess,y. unconscionsl5f No.