Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1898-12-03
CHAPTER XVIII.
THE SECOND NIGHT.

cannot say that l looked forward to
the night with any very cheerful anticl-
pations. The locksmith having failed to
keep his appointment, was likely to
have no more Pr otection against intru-
sion than l had had the night before,
and while cannot say that / especially
feared any unwelcome entrance into
my apartment l would have gone to
my rest with a greater sense of satisfac-
tion if key had been in the lock and
that key had been turned by my own
hand on my own side Of the door.
The atmosphere Of gloom which set
tied down over the household after the
evening meal seemed like the warning
note Of something strange and evil
awaiting u.s. So marked was this that
many in my situation would have fur
ther disturbed these girls by some allu-
sion to the fact. But that was not the
role l had set myself to play at this cri-
sis. remembered what Mr.. Gryce had
said about winning their confidence,
and though the turmoil evident in Lu-
cetta's mind and the distraction visible
even in the careful Miss Knollys led me
to expect elimination CT some kind be-
fore the night was over l not only hid
my recognition of this fact, but succeed
cd in sufficiently impressing them with
which my own petty en-
ployments afforded me Il am never idle
even in other persons houses) or them
to spare me the harassment Of their al
ternate and forced visits which in their
present mood and mine promised little
in the way of increased knowledge OF
their purposes and much IN the way OF
distraction and the loss of that nerve
upon which / calculated for successful
issue out of the possible difficulties OF
this night.
Had 1 been like most women / would
have sounded three premonitory notes
upon my whistle before blowing out my
candle, but while l am not lacking, l
hope, in many of the finer feminine
qualities which link me to my sex l
have but few of its weaknesses and
none of its instructive reliance upon
others which leads it so often to
neglect its own resources. Till saw
good reason to summon the police
should not summon them, premature
alarm being in their eyes, as knew
from my many talks with Mr.. Gryce,
the one thing suggestive of a timid and
inexperienced mind.
Hannah had brought ME delicious
cup of tea at 10, the influence of which
was to make me very drowsy at il, but
l shook the weakness off and began my
nights watch in state of stern COM
posure which l verify believe would
have awakened Mr.. Gryce's admiration
had it been consonant with the proprie-
ties for him to have seen it. Indeed the
very seriousness Of the occasion was
such that could not have trembled if
I would, every nerve and faculty being
strained to its utmost to make the
most of every sound which might arise
in the now silent and discreetly dark
ened house.
The precaution which took the night
before of pushing my bed against the
door of my room l omitted, being anx-
ious to find myself in position to cross
it's threshold at the least alarm. That
this would come felt positive, for Han
nah in leaving my room had taken pains
to say, in unconscious imitation Of what
Miss Knollys had remarked the night
before:
Don't let any queer sounds you may
hear disturb you, Miss Butterworth
There's nothing to hurt you i'll this
house; nothing at all. An admonitiol
which l am sure that her young mis-
tresses, after all that had passed between
us this day, would not have allowed hel
to utter if they had been made acquaint
ed with her intention
But though in state of high expec
tation and listening, as supposed. will
every faculty alert, the sounds l appre
hended delayed so long that began att