The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1902-12-31

Louise, recovering her consciousness,
which she had lost through the beat
ing the old woman had given her. 10
force ha- to remain in the garret.
pusbcI with all her feeble strength
against the door Of her prison. and. as
Pierre had lOOSened the screws, 1t
yielded to her pressure, and she was
freed from her place Of torture.
For a moment she stood at the head
of the stairs, with her ear Stralneo 70
the utmost tension to catch any soHno
that would betoken the presence OF
any one in the hut.
But ali was still. and she commenc-
ed to descend the stairs, tee!lng ner
way carefully, lest she should Stumole
on some Of the decayed boards.
''They are all gone" she murmUred.
pierre told me the truth. the lock
would not hold. Yes, willfoIloW ms
advice. III can find my way to the
street through that long passage.
will ask the first paSser-by to take me
to that good doctor at the Hospital st.
Louis"
Trembling with excitement. she felt
her wav to thefect Of the stairs. where
one step farther in the same direction
would have brought her in contact
with the insensible body of her sister:
and then cropping for the wall. she
reached the door.
With cry Of JOY she reached It, ana
felt, with eager, feverlSh hanaS, lor
the rude latch.
Eagerly she tried to open it, but it
resisted all her efforts: and as the truth
flashed over her mind, her hands drop
ped by her side, and she sunk to the
floor, like one smitten with the palsy.
'.Locked-Locked! What shall
do?'
The sudden change from hope that
was almost a certainty. to deep oes-
pair, overpowere6 her for the moment.
But at last she remembered what
she should have thought Of before.
Pierre told me he had made anoth-
er key for it, and starting, she groped
her way across the room toward her
bed, almost brushing the garments Of
that sister she was so anxious to meet
as she passed.
With hands trembling 50 that she
could hardly control them. Louise felt
for the precious key that should assure
her Of freedom.
a CRY Of JOY burst from her pallid,
ouivering lips, as her fingers came IN
contact with the precious object.
ssGood, brave Pierce she exclaimed,
thankfully. Now will go at once"
She arose to her feet, and made two
or three attempts in the right direc-
tion, when her foot came in contact
with the clothing Of Henriette.
Hastily she stopped down. ana felt
of the inanimate body.
"a woman she exclaimed, IN &C
cents Of deepest terror. "She is cold
she is dead.'
Terribly alarmed at what she could
not see, the poor girl, believing herself
to be in the presence Of death. covered
her face with her hands, and croucned
close to the floor.
"Oh, Heavens" she cried, they have
committed some terrible crime and
fed.'
She timidly stretched out her hand,
and passed it once more over TIE still
form. In so doing she felt the heart
beat and with a glad cry she raised the
head Of the person before her
''She is not dead, madame, madame,
speak, speak to me. She does not
=
leave her thus"
Dear as was her liberty to the poor
blind child, she could not leave a fel-
low creature in distress, and she tried
by every means in her power to awake
the insensible girl.
While she was thus engaged Mother
Frochard and Jacques entered.
For single instant they stood
transf1e6 with surprise, and then.
with a single thought, they rushed to-
ward the two girls.
Separate them at once-Qulck."
shouted Jacques to his mother. who
was few steps in advance.
La Frochard did not need this warn
ing CRY to induce her to rush toward
Louise, and grasp her roughly by the
arm.
"What are you doing?" she cried.
CHOW. did you get out?'
Louise clung to the body OF Hen
riette, to prevent the old woman from
carrying her away: but her slight
strength was Of no avail against the
old hag'S determination, and she was
rudely flung against the staircase.
AS if reused by the noise, Henrlette
opened her eyes, and showed signs OF
returning consciousness.
'iQuick." shouted Jacques, as he saw
this movement Of Henriette's, get
her out Of the way-Quick, l tell you
the other one is coming to-
''Get back with you-at once" cried
the old woman, at the same time
dragging Louise up the stairs, and ac-
ompanying each word with d cruel
blow.
Just at this moment Pierre entered,
and seeing Henriette lying upon the
floor, and Louise struggling upon the
stairs. he understood at once that it
vas the sister whom Louise had so
earnestly prayed to meet.
But the woman who IS lying there?
cried Louise to the old woman
:'That'S our business, and none OF
yours. Get along with YOU"
AS La Frochard got Louise to the
head Of the stairs, Henriette. who had
risen to her feet, saw the blind girl.
and running toward her, She exclaim-
ed:
''Ah, Louise-Louise."
Jacques seized her instantly, and
putting bis hand over her mouth, pre-
vented her from speaking again, rad
vancing any further. But the blind
girl had caught the sound of her sisters
voice, and that lent her additional
strength.
Offering cry of surprise and Joy. !
she endeavored to escape from the old !
wretch who was nearly choking l:er 10
death.
go in-I tell you; get in with YOU" |
cried La Frochard, as she pushed !.
Louise in the room. and released her
hold OF her throat in order to shut the !:
door. I
Just then Henriette had succeeded .
in pushing Jacques hand from her
mouth, and running to the foot Of the /
stairs, cried, in loud voice: !
Louise. Sister
The cry gave Louise the strength OF
a lionesS for a moment. and pushing
hn old back i.a down rho 3