The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-06-22

suppose little somernlng happen
ed to him one Of these last nights
suppuse ne slipped or his horse took
fright SUPPOSE
Perhaps had taken step uncon-
sciously, don't know, but Maggie
gave little cry and a rush and
stood there against the door, white
and trembling.
"Stand still" recollect her
whispering. You are mad-you
will not go out again tonight.
There, there, now you are calmer.
Why, Wilfred, whatever were you
thinking ofs'
That night did not close my
eyes. lay staring up Mt the ceiling.
Did hate himf No, moi But that
dreadful thought had come into my
head, and it would not CO. To think
that, should the little accident hap
pen, l might be able to take his
place. if Only for the oncei The
oncei 1t made my poor brain reel.
felt l must get up and rush away
from it or something would hap.
pen. could see the blazing foot
lights and the blurred row upon row
Of pale faces, hear the shouts, feel
myself drunk with tho triumph, so
great the play had proved. You
see, 80 long ! had dwelt on the
thought could not realize it was
not a possible reality And Maggie
lin her sleep she seemed to know.
Several times heard her sob.
All that next day, too. she hung by
me like my own shadow. The least
movement on my part seemed to
frighten her. But did not realize
that days doings till afterward. He
lived at Hampstead. in big, lonely
house. l had been to look at it.
There was gravel sweep from the
door between two rows of tall ever.
green's down to the gate. He always
stepped into his hrongham. they
SAID, at about quarter to 2. Sup.
posing that this very evening a man
ran out from between the ever
greens-a man with knife or some
thingi Who would be able to play
Julian thenf
dared not look into Maggie's
eyes. ! knew vaguely, although !
tried to disbelieve it. that ] only
waited for her to turn her back one
moment l was mad. Four o'clock
came-5 o'clock. 1t had grown dusk.
She had been sewing while lay on
the couch.
Presently she put aside her work,
tiptoed across and looked down at
me. My eyes were closed, but
knew-I breathed hard.
Hes asleep" l heard her whis-
per. THANK heaven!" and she
orept out of the room.
Was it to beG 1t seemed 80. re.
member that sat Up. Doth hands
to my head. afraid G7 myself Next
minute. holding my breath, had
taken my hat and slipped out of the
house. To do whats did not know
Afterwafd it all seemed like o
dream. "Hampsteadi" A hand
seemed drawing me ON, and that one
word beat in and out OF my brain.
must have obeyed both without
attempting to realize. Hampstead
was two miles away, but just before
the clock struck found myself
standing outside Franklin Hyde's
house.
His housei All silent, but soon
5,is carriage would drive out to .szz
ry him to the scene Of his nightly
triumph. Measured steps-a police
Loan coming. Hot all over, / crouch
ed back among those evergreens.
What was I doingq God knows.
tried to drag myself away from the
fascination, but suddenly light
shot out from a window on the left.
All, there was balcony running
along that wall Of the house, and q
shadow kept wavering across the
patch of light Never pausing to
think, ! went up the steps. tiptoed
along and was peering between
aome ivy boughs into the xoom.
The shadow-
1t was Hyde himself-and alone.
A billiard table ran the length Of
tho room, and he was leaning over
the far end, his cue tip feeling the
way for some stroke. All, tlat was
a minutel AS If it were only yester.
day, ! can see that picture now-the
green baize. the pointed stick and
Hyde'B impassive face craned for
ward, his wide eyes unconsciously
staring straight toward me. Spell
bound, without knowing why, 1
hung braathlessly on the stroke OF
his cue-and it never came.
He turned suddenly half round,
them Strengthened up. The door be.
hind him had opened, and servant
was saying something. Next mo-
ment a woman was standing in the
doorway one hand put ont as If she
were frightened. She pulled the
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