Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1898-11-19
CHAPTER K
SECRET INSTRUCTIONS


For a moment William and myself
stood looking at each other over this
frail and PROSTATE figure, Then he stoop-
ed and with an unexpected show OF
kindness raised her up and began carry
ing her toward the house
"Lucetta is fool" he cried sudden
Iy, stopping and giving me a quick
glance over his shoulder. because
folks are terrified Of this road and come
to see us but seldom, she has got to feel
a most unreasonable dread Of visitors
She was even afraid of you coming till
we showed her what folly it was for
her to think we could always live here
like hermits. Then she doesn't like Mr..
Trohm; thinks he is altogether too
friendly to meas if that was any Of her
business. Am an idiot? Have I no
sense? Cannot I be trusted to take care
of my own affairs and keep my own Sc
crets? She's weak, silly chit, to go
and flop over like this when, d-n it,
we have enough to look after without
nursing her up and-I mean," he said,
tripping himself up with an air of po-
lite consideration so out Of keeping with
his usual churlishness as to be more
than noticeable, that it cannot add
much to the pleasure Of your visit to
have such things happen as this.
"Oh, don't worry about Inc" cried
CURLY. "Get the poor girl in. I'll look
after her,
But as if she heard these words and
was startled by them Lucetta reused
in her brothers. arms and struggled pas
sionately to her feet "Oh, what has
happened to me?" she cried "Have !
said anything? William, have said
anything?" she asked wildly. clinging
to her brother in terror.
He gave her look and pushed her
off.
"What are you talking about?" he
cried. lone would think you had some
thing to conceal"
She steadied herself up in an instant
~ am the weakest of the family" 1"
said she, walking straight up to me and
taking me affectionately by the arm.
"All my life 1 have been delicate and
these turns are nothing new to me-
Sometimes l think l will die in one Of
them; but l am quite restored now, "
she hastily added, as could not help
showing my concern. "See! | can walk
quite alone. And she ran, rather than
walked, up the few short steps of the
porch, at which we had now arrived
"Don't tell Loreen," she begged, as I
followed her into the house. "She wor-
ries so about me and it will do no
good"
William had stalked OFF toward the
stables We were therefore alone.
turned and laid finger on her arm.
"My dear, said l, II never make
promises of this kind. but l can be
trusted never to heedlessly slight any
ones wishes. If I see no good reason
why should tell your sister of this
fainting fit. shall certainly hold my
peace"
She seemed moved by my manner, If
not by my words.
"Oh," she cried, seizing my hand and
pressing it. IF I dared to tell you OF
my troubles! But it is impossible, quite
impossible" And before I could urge a
plea for her confidence she was gone,
leaving ME in the company Of Hannah,
who at this moment was busying her
self with something at the other end OF
the hall.
had no wish to interfere with Han
nah just then. had my letter to read
and wished to do it undisturbed. So
slipped into the sitting room and care
fully closed the door. Then opened
my letter.
Itwas, as supposed. from Mr.. Gryce,
and ran thus:
DEAR MISS BUTTERwoRTH-I am astonished
Mt your determination, but since your desire
to visit your friends is such as to lead you to
brave the dangers Of Lost Mans lane, allow
me to suggest certain precautions which 1t Is
for our credit as we'll as your own that you
regard.
First.-Do not trust anybody.
Second.-Do not proceed anywhere alone OF
on foot.
Third.-R the dangers come to you and you
find yourself in condition Of real peril, blow
once shrilly on the whistle I inclose with this
II, however, the danger is slight or you wish
merely to call the attention Of those who will
be set to watch over you, let the blast b
short, sharp and repeated-twice to summon
assistance, three times to call attention.
| advise you to fasten this whistle about
your neck in a way to lake 1t easily obtatna
BILE
have advised you to trust nobody. should
have excepted Mr.. Trohm, but do not thinl
you will be given an opportunity to speak K
him. Remember that all depends upon you
not awakening suspicion. II, however, yor
wish advice or desire to make any communt
cation to me or the man secretly holding
charge over this affair in x, seek the first op
portunity of riding into town and 60 at ono'
to the hotel where you will ask for room & Il