Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1898-11-12
CHAPTER VI.

SOMBER EVENING.
The evening, like the afternoon, was
spent in the sitting room with one of
the sisters One event alone is worth
recording l had become excessively
tired of conversation that always Ian
guished, no matter on what topic it
was started, and, observing an old piano
in one corner-I once played very well
Il sat down before it and impulsively
struck few chords from the yellow
keys. Instantly Lucetta-it was Lucet-
ia who was with me then-bounded to
my side with a look Of horror on her
face.
Don't do that" she cried, laying
her hand OH mine to stop me. Then, see-
ing my look of dignified astonishment,
she added with an appealing smile, Il
beg pardon, but every sound goes
through me tonight. "
"Are you not well?'' asked.
"I am never very well," she return
ed, and we went back to the sofa and
renewed our forced and pitiful attempts
at conversation.
Promptly at 9 o'clock Miss Knollys
came in. She was very pale and cast, as
usual, a sad and uneasy look at her Sis
ter before she spoke to me. Immediate
" Lucetta rose, and, becoming very pale
herself, was hurrying toward the door
when her sister stopped her.
"You have forgotten, she said, ito
sr,kt f> ~
Instantly Lucetta turned, and, with
q sudden, uncomfortable impulse seized
my hand and pressed it convulsively.
"Good night" she cried. II hope
you will sleep we'll, and was gone be-
fore could say word in response.
"Why does Lucetta go out of the
room when you come in?'' l asked, de-
termined to know the reason for this
peculiar conduct. Have you any other
guests in the house?"
The reply came with unexpected ve-
hemence No." she cried, why
should you think so? There is no one
here but the family And she turned
away with a dignity she must have in
herited from her father, for Althea Bur
roughs had every other interesting
quality but that You must be very
tired" she said If you please. we
will 60 now to your room. "
rose at once, glad of the prospect of
seeing the upper portion of the house.
She took my wraps on her arm, and we
passed Immediately into the hall AS
we did so heard voices, one Of them
shrill and full of distress, but the sound
was so quickly smothered by closing
door that I failed to discover whether
that tone of suffering proceeded from
man or woman.
Miss Knollys, who was preceding me,
glanced back in some alarm, but as l
gave no token of having noticed any
thing out of the ordinary she speedily
resumed her way up stairs. AS the
sounds had heard had proceeded from
above | followed her with alacrity, but
felt my enthusiasm diminish somewhat
when l found myself passing door after
door down a long hall to room as re-
mote as possible from what seemed to
be the living portion of the house.
''Is it necessary to put me off quite so
far?' asked as my young hostess paused
and waited for me to join her en- the
threshold of the most forbidding room
it had ever been my fortune to enter.
The blush which mounted to her brow
showed that she felt the situation keen
~.
81 am sure," she said, THAT it is a
matter of great regret to me to be obliged
to offer you so mean lodging, but all
our other rooms are-are out Of order,
she explained firmly, land I cannot do
otherwise tonight.
but isn't there some spot nearer
you?' I urged "A couch in the same
room with you would be more accept
able to me than this distant room."
IL hope you are not timid," she
began, but | FASTENED to disabuse her
mind of this at once.
81 am not afraid" said l, "of any
earthly thing but dogs, but do not like
solitude. l came here for companion
ship, my dear. really would like to
sleep with one of you"
This, to see how she would meet such
urgency She met it as might have
known she would by rebuff.
liam very sorry" she again repeated,
but it is quite impossible If 1 could
give you the comforts you are !accus-
toned to, should be glad, but we are
unfortunate, we girls, and"- She said
no more, but began to busy herself about
the room, which held but one object that
had the least look of comfort in it That