The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1904-01-20
CONTINUED
CHAPTER XY.
WBAT HAPPENED At THE DUKES BATE

NEAT GAPPENEO IA 1Sac OoNc . SkAAI-
Ruric Nevel could keep no ae-
count Of time. Darkness, and dark
ness only, dwelt with him in his pris-
on house-darkness SO utter that
fhe only effect of opening the eyes
was the nervous reality Of the mo-
lion. In fact, twas lighter with
the eyes closed than with them
opened, for when tightly closed
there we're peculiar fantastic shapes
floating in the Imagination, and
even this was relief. And then
there was a sort of kaleidoscope
succession of colors when the lids
were tightly pressed that seemed
grateful to the nerves and gave yaE-
ely to the mind. But when the
eyes we're open only cold, impene-
frable blackness was present, within
which there we're no shapes, no
forms save the one form of utter
chaos.
Rurie felt sure he had been there
four DAYS, and at times it appeared
longer than that. Food and drink
had been brought TO him thrice, and
he was now without both. His
strength mad not yet left him,
though there were pains in his limbs
and a chilling sensation about the
heart. He had broken the rope
from his arms on the first day of his
confinement, and he had hoped to
overcome The man who brought him
food and drink and thus make his
escape, but no human being had yet
come in to him His food had been
passed IN through small wicket.
sand this is the end Of life' he
nurmured to himself as he paced
( slowly to and fro across the dun
geon. a1hus ends all the hopes OF
youth, and here the prayers OF a life
time must close in one last hope
one hope Of heaven when earth has
passed away. My mother, no fare
well can reach thee from the lips Of
thy sen. He will lie down in tho
dark slumber Of death. and tho2
shalt not know his resting place!
And thou, loved one-ofa, tlloa
fondly cherished, wildly worshiped
being-thy smiles can shine no more
for ne! Oh, Rosaliad, would that |
could see thee but once-tkat oace
more I might press thee to NY bos-
ON and bid thee remember ne when
am gone. Had I never seen thee !
might not be here nos, AID yet,
@ God, Cor life itself | would not
wipe away the written story of that
holy love from my heart" !"
The thought Of Rosalind came
heavily upon him. All else he coald
give up in higher hope than thas
Of earth, but for her he held u
strange fear. She would be ano;h )
er's.
And must it be so he contln-
ned after some minutes of painful
reflection. "lAlas, she will be nothing
10 me hereafter! Ny mother will
know her son, but Rosaiind will
know another. And yet she may
carry the old love with her always.
She NAV never forget it. Oh, could
] but once
He stopped suddenly, for he
heard a football in the low passage
close by the dungeon. He listened,
and he heard more There were sew
eral feet, and soon he heard voices.
He moved back to the extremity OF
the vault and listened The feet
stopped. and the sound Of grating
iron, like the drawing Of bok, was
heard. Soon afterward the door
vas opened, and the light from a
lantern flashed into the place. For
a few moments the prisoner was
blind by the sudden transition, but
BY degrees he overcame the difficult
ty and was able to look up.
The first object upon which his
eyes fell was the humpbacked priest
Savotano. There were four Others
behind him, but Ruric noticed them
not yet. He saw before him the
man whom he believed to De the in
strument of his suffering, and with
one bound ne reached him and fellec
hin 10 the floor.
"IIoldi::'' cried one Of the others
one who held the lantern. "Wt
have come to conduct thee out from
here %
~Ha! Say ye so
eMost surely We have"
s'Then stand aside and let me CO.
sJust as you say. The doors arr
open, and you may go. You may fol
low US, OF you may go in advance"
s'Then lead on" returned Ruric