Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1893-02-01
CHAPTER XVI.
A SOUTH CAROLINA GEOLOGIST.
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When the trap door of the attic had
closed over Laura Fain after her inter
view with Mark he stood for q few
minutes pondering on her strange treat
ment of him. Then he turned to the
breakfast. He had eaten nothing since
the evening before and the sight of the
greater part of q fried chicken Gt had
been killed by Laura's orders for him
only that morning) was especially CRATE
full. Mark applied himself to his meal,
and while he ate he went over the scenes
through which he had passed since he
SET out on his mission. Surely he must
have been gone a month. He counted
the days. He had reached Jasper on the
evening of the twentieth of August;
Chattanooga on the morning of the
twenty.second, tried on the twenty
fourth, was to have been hanged on the
twenty-seventh, escaped on the twenty
sixth. That was only the evening be-
fore. It was now the twenty-seventh-
only week. Never had he passed such
week before, and he hoped he never
would again.
Soon after he had finished his break
fast hand was extended through the
trap, pitcher of water and toilet arti-
cles were left and the dishes taken. At
noon meal was handed in by the same
fair hand.
Though but two meals had been thus
left, Laura began to perceive that she
could not thus feed her charge without
soon being discovered. When she took
Marks dinner to him she entered the
attic and had him close the trap after
her.
1T will not do for you to stay here
much longer" she said. "My mother
has already become suspicious that l
have something on my mind, and l fear
being detected carrying these meals. l
dare not tell her all, and l dare not risk
her discovering that you are here"
II will 60 tonight"
"It will be sure capture for you to 60.
The negroes tell me that the country
people are all out looking for the-the
spy"
II can't stay here and compromise
you"
II have a plan. This evening I will
watch for an opportunity for you to 60
down stairs. You can introduce your
self as guest, and though you will be
every minute in danger you will be
safer than here"
"And, in case l am discovered, will
not be caught like rat in trap"
"You can appear as traveller. You
must have hat. will bring you one.
At the first opportunity after dark I'll
come to the trap and knock. Follow me
down stairs. don't think any one will
recognize you in these clothes. They
have been packed away sincemy brother
went to Virginia year ago. Mamma
only saw you, when you were here be-
fore. after dark on the veranda. and
well, think there will be very good
rhance for you to play guest without
detection"
sThe servants?"
"Thev would mover betray Yankee.
They think you are ail coming down to
free them, and they'll have nothing to
do but lie in the sum-"
"Not an unpleasant occupation on a
pleasant day." said Mark irrelevantly.
"Should anything happen, only fear
mamma. And, after all, she is wom-
an" she added significantly.
(Which you pretend not to be-"
IF all goes well you will be assigned
a room-the guest chamber perhaIs s.
and if it is not safe for you to be down
stairs, you may feign to be i'll and keep
your apartment"
Mark was better pleased with the plan
than remaining where he was. He did
not expect to remain in the house longer
than till the next night, when he hoped
those who were seeking for him would
become tired of the hunt and give him q
chance for his life.
"I'll do all you suggest" he said to
Laura, land whether you wish it or not
am very grateful"
She lowered her eyes under his look of
gratitude and then went below.
AS soon as it grew dark Mark listened
for the signal. 1t came few minutes
before nine o'clock. Mrs. Fain had re-
mained in the parlor up to that moment,
when she went up stairs to get some arti-
Gle necessary to piece Of work she was
doing. Laura followed her, turning out
the lights by the way and keeping on up
to the attic.
Within a few seconds after her knock
Mark was descending the stairs and in a
twinklins was in the parlor. Not half
minute elapsed between the signal and
his arrival there.
1t was not long before Mrs. Fain was
heard cropping about up stairs in the dark,
wanting to know who had turned out
the lights and calling on servant to re-
light them. When she entered the par
lor she was surprised to see her daughter
in company with stranger, who was
standing, hat in hand, as though he had
just come in from without.
Mamma" said Laura, with her heart
in her throat, but with the most assured
of innocent tones, "this is gentleman
who-Mr."-
"Rhett," supplied Mark.
"Mr. Rhett, off,
"South Carolina"
Any old Virginia or South Carolina
name was quite enough to insure well
come from Mrs. Fain. Without waiting
to hear what he might say further or an
account of how he came to be there so
suddenly, she said:
"Im pleased to see you, sir; are you
related to the Rhetts, of South Caro-
lima"
1--WE all came of the same main stem,
madam" said Mark, assuming the tone
of southern gentleman.
sMr. Rhett is travelling, mamma. He
says that-that"
II am looking for mines, madam.
You may not know it, but you are in
the center of a rich mineral region"
It is pleasant to hear that fortune
may come soon, and Mrs. Fain was
evidently much pleased at the informa-
ton.
':Indeed" she said calmly.
eyes, madam, l have been looking
for ore. l presume l need not say
whether in government interest or not;
we must have cannons, you know"
"Governlnent officers are not bound
to disclose their identity or their objects,
SIR
81 have been prospecting, madam, and
am separated from my party owing to
the stupidity of the driver of the vehicle
which contains my crucibles and chem
icals. Iappeared at your door and your
daughter was kind enough to ask me
in-not surprising, considering your far
famed Tennessee hospitality"
"You are quite welcome, sir"
Mark bowed low. with his hand on bis