Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1899-02-11

note was brought to me with my shaw.
ing water. 1t twas from my sister and
had evidently been written the previous
evening:
SOUTH KENsINeToN, Monday Evening.
DEAR OLD GEoRGE-I have succeeded in In.
ducing Allie and Mrs. Barker to prolong their
visit to me until Saturday. On Wednesday
evening we hope to witness the new play at
Drury Lane. Allie, you know, has never seen
q spectacular melodrama. We shall OF course
want gentleman to escort US. Would you care
for the position, or must we look elsewherei
On that occasion we dine at ESQ., and, unless
hear from you 10 the contrary, shall lay q
place for you. In haste. Your affectionate sis
ter, JANET.
Need it be said that l accepted, or
that on Wednesday evening I was proud
of my charges as they took their seats in
the box Janet had been at some pains to
secure?
The house was packed from pit to gal
lery, and l noticed that more than one
glass was leveled at the beautiful girl
who took her place at Janet's side in the
front of the box. Allie herself, however,
seemed quite unconscious Of the admira'
tion she excited and throughout the
piece kept her eyes fixed upon the stage
with never failing earnestness- What
the play was I have not the very vaguest
recollection.
In the middle of the first act noticed
that three gentlemen entered the box
opposite us and from the vooiferous ma.
ture of their applause gathered that
they had evidently been dining not
wisely, but too we'll. After awhile their
glasses were so continually brought to
bear on our box that began to feel my
self, foolishly enough, becoming excess
lively annoyed. The face of one of them
struck me as familiar and during the
next interval, seeing that they had left
their box, / made an excuse and went
out to endeavor to discover who he was
and where l had seen his face before.
For little while was unsuccessful in
my SEARCH then, just as the next act
was commencing, turned corner and
almost ran into their arms. The man
whose face ! had been puzzling about
was farthest from me, but I knew him
instantly. 1t was Barkmausworth My
heart seemed to stand still with terror,
and when I recovered my wits he was
gone
What was \ to do2 I dared not tell
Allie before my sister and Mrs Barker,
and yet knew, if Barkmansworth had
recognized her, not an instant must be
lost in getting her out of harms way.
For moment stood in the vestibule
feeling more sick and giddy than l have
ever felt before or since, and all the
time trying vainly to think how to act.
Then, when took my seat again and
saw that the occupants of the box oppo'
site had gone, l resolved to put off all
consideration of the matter for that
evening and to call and tell Allie first
thing in the morning. Oh, that little
bit of indecision! How fatal were its
consequences!
When l had conveyed my fair charges
home, made severe headache an ex.
cuse, and bidding them good night SET
off on foot for my own abode. But my
brain was too full of anxiety to enter.
tain any idea of bed, so turning off from
the direct route wandered down to the
Green park and on to the embankment,
thence through Lincoln's s Inn Fields to
Oxford street, and so round to Caven'
dish square. By the time let myself
into my house it was nearly O'Clock
and beautiful morning. Passing along
the hall, l went into my consulting
room and lit the gas. A letter lay upon
the table. addressed in my sisters hand
writing and marked Immediate. y
With a sickening fear in my heart
tore it open and read:
DEAR GEoRGE-Come to me at once, without
an instant's delay. Allie has been arrested
| Your frantic sister JANET.
The blow had fallen. My little shirk
ing of an unpleasant duty had ruined
the woman loved. Oh, how bitterly
reproached myself for my delay in re-
porting my discovery But if I had hes