The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-01-17
Dr. Blf6nsteiil' Mission
4 Remarkable Romance.
BY EMILY THORNTON.
CHAPTER XIII.
THE EVENING TASK.

CHAPTER Kill
THE EVENING TASK.
As an elegant clock, with old cathedral
chimes, struck the hour Of ten, Ethel,
With pale face, and trembling hand,
lighted candle, possessed herself OF the
strange-looking knife, then opening the
wardrobe, and drawing back the bolt,
stepped into the passage and from thence
through the small door in the opposite
wall.
AS this opened, she looked timidly
around for the entrance to the ruined
rooms in which she was to find the
basket of food.
She found herself as soop as the small
passage was left, in a long, straight,
dark gallery or corridor, that led d.
rectly to what Sir Reginald assured her
was the Haunted Tower. At the end
where she stood, however, on the left
hand side, was door, fastened with an
old-fashioned iron hook. This led to
ruin, and with o beating heart she
opened it.
Close by the door she found small
covered basket that she knew must con-
tain what she sought.
Grasping it quickly she again fastened
the door, as Sir Reginald had instructed
her to do, and passed down the corridor.
f There she found the entrance to the
tower, and resolving to take some
bright, sunshiny day to visit this spot,
she turned, as she had been directed, to
count out the number of panels on the
1eft-band wall and Immediately discoy-
erod the faint crack that she knew must
be what she sought. Inserting the point
of the knife, she turned three times,
when the panels parted and there lay the
shelves.
! Opening then the basket, she found
food in small pieces, consisting Of broken
biscuits, bits Of chicken, potatoes, and
quite quantity Of meat cut in mouth
fu]s. This sho placed on the shelves
upon the wooden plate upon which it
was heaped. Then gently showing the
shelves, they slowly wh1rled around, and
when the same side returned to her the
plate stood upon it empty, ready to be
placed again in the basket.
~That ape must have been trained"
she thought, "to empty the plate and
return IT,"
Thcn she inwardly smiled at his in
telligence.
She listened for moment, but all was
still. Showing to the panels, she found
that they relocked themselves, so taking
up candlestick, knife and basket, she
placed the lattefagainst the outside door,
fastened 1t securely, and reached her
own room in safety.
Once bolted in, the poor girl gave
sigh Of relief, and dropped into q chair
to calm herself before she could proceed
80 ..eturn tho candle and knife to their
places.
- Tie task required of her had been a
singularly unpleasant one. She was 3
brave young girl, and had endured but
few feelings Of fear, but she had trem-
blcd, because the thing required so much
secrecy.
She disliked mysteries Of all kinds, and
her honest, open nature revolted from
the whole work.
Had she not solemnly promised her
aunt to assist the baronet in any serv-
ice he might require, in order thus to
secure safe home and just guardian
ship, she would never have consented to
the task she had now formed.
~However," she reflected, "there is
certainly nothing wrong in a mans
keeping secret his possession OF valua-
BILE animal as long as he could attend
to his wants himself" But when he
could not, she thought his best mode
would have been to send for its owner.
But where was the owner?
Probably so far off that the creature
would die unless cared for, therefore
there really seemed no other way.
All this did not distress her so much as
the words Sir Reginald had said about
the Haunted Tower. This duty was
easy and simple, and, as far as she could
zee, silly, but not wicked; but pretend
ing place haunted, and using strange
lights and machinery to keep up the evil
appearance therein, she felt was deceit
Yul and wrong, and she shuddered as she
thought of his words, that after awhile
he should require this assistance at her
hands.
She did not fancy, as has been said,
sny part of her evening tasks, but that
was almost more than she could under
take.
But how could she avoid it now, when
her word had been pledged? how refuse
at the time, when urged by nervous,
suffering, and unstrung human being
Just terribly wounded. whose life almost
depended on being kept perfectly quietf
In view of his fearful situation, she
felt that she could do no less than under
take to relieve hin Of his intense ankle
ties on the subject, and could see no way
of Sinking the obligations laiG upon
her.
One thing, however, she decided to do
she should take some morning hour tc
explore the ruins, and that Haunted
Tower, 50 that she might become accus-
toned to all the dangers and pecuiaritles
of the place before other Offices were re-
quired at her hands.
With this resolution still in her mind
she restored the candle and knife TO the
secret drawer, and then sought the lux
urious bed that awaited awaited her, ant
there fell at once into q pleasant sleep
from when she never aroused until th'
bright rays Of another morning sun stol
into her room.
Springing up, she dressed as soon q
possible, and opening her door found, b
questioning o maid that the family O