The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-07-19

CHAPTER Ill.
Continued.

wrong to kill people, because, as she
illogically added, you would get hanged
for it. The killing business was there
fore set aside, the consequences being
too awful to contemplate, and We de-
cided instead that we would run away
tomorrow when the clock struck II.
Where we should run to was not de-
cided; why we should take our flight IN
broad daylight was not explained; now
we should exist was not considered.
We were placidly satisfied that the
mere fact of running away when the
clock struck - would be a crushing
blow to the hard-bearted stepmother
and from that moment Elsie'S life and
mine would be a life Of happiness.
On that night it was that my little
S%weetheart's cries pierced my MIND
while 1 was sleeping, and L uncon-
xciously rose with the intention OF 60
ing to her rescue. 1t happened that
those about me were less watchful
than usual, and thus 1 succeeded in
creeping unobserved to the top of our
house, where a short ladder reaching
to a trap door In the roof enabled me
to reach q similar door in the adjoin-
ing house, which / found unlocked.
1t was a dark night and my enterprise
was full of dangers, but sieep-walkers
are like cats and can walk safely on
the edge of a precipice. l succeeded
in raising the door in the roof and in
total darkness felt my way down the
stairs, guided doubtless by the little
maids cries for help and mercy. Dash
dng into the room in which the torture
was being inflicted, I sprang upon the
cruel woman and tore at her n beat
he so that she in turn. probably more
frightened than hurt, screamed loudly
for assistance. BY this time my own
people were aroused, and, obtaining
entrance into the adjoining house, bore
me away TO my room.
When I awoke in the morning / had
no knowledge or recollection of what
had occurred, and l gathered the par
ticulars from those who were interest
ed in them. Ny bedroom door was
found open and l not in bed; the two
trap doors in the roof were open, pro-
claiming the means by which I left
one house and obtained entrance to the
other; Elsie drew vivid pictures of my
actions when I rushed mo her bedroom
and sprang upon her stepmother; and
my own people supplied the rest. The
adventure made a great impression and
was long remembered and spoken Of,
and from the day Of its occurrence L
Mas more carefully watched at home.
When 1 asked the good woman l
married to become my wife, l related
this incident of my child-life to her.
She made light of it, and l think it was
chiefly through her encouragement that
the adventure was known in my house
hold. My daughter, it appears, de-
scribed it to Mile. Rosalie as 4 divert
ing incident, and the woman Of multi
farious accomplishments treasured it
in her mind. During manhood my SOM
nambulistic propensitics occasionally
broke out, but they were always of the
most harmless kind, and l grew to re-
gard them as of small moment. Short
", however, after tie engagement of
Eunice and Harry / was greatly dis
turbed by an incident to which l could
attach no satisfactory explanation. My
wife told me that she woke in the night
and I was not by her side. She was
about to rise and seek me, when l en-
tered the room, undresSed myself and
lay down in bed, being all the time in
a sound sleep.
81 have no remembrance" / said, "of
going anywhere or doing anything"
"You never have" remarked my wife.
at is very annoying / observed. II
wish to Heaven they had thrown a
bucket Of cold water over me when 1
was a child. 1t might have cured me-"
at might have killed you," said my
wife, gravely. 1T is too late now to
fret over it, Richard
II should not mind I said, IF l
could remember where 1 go to, or what
/ 90; but it is ell a blank"
We spoke of other matters, and went
down tt breakfast. After the meal
my wife and l strolied IN the garden
and spent an idle hour there. My
daughter and Mile. Rosalie were in the
grounds, and Samuel Fleetwood made
his appearance to give me a report Of
some task I had set him to do. When
he ame toward me l was conversing
with Mile. Rosalie, my wife and Eu-
nice being at a little distance, and /
left my daughters governess to join
him. Certainly my mood was a pc
euliar one on this morning, for the
short conversation / had with Mile.
R0salie left an uncomfortable impress
sion upon me. And yet nothing was
spoken by her or mt to account for it,;
we had conversed on ordinary matters,
but there was in her manner a confid-
ing te%nderness-I can think U: nc other
words in which 10 describe it-whicE
was new and strange to ME.
After hearing F~leetwood's report I
deferred to something l had observed
RS he approached me and Mile. Rosalie.
She had nodded to him, with q pleas
ant smile on her lips. and lie had re-
turned neither the nod nor The smile.
I inquired the reason.
II do not like her, Sir" he said. after
q pause.
For any particular reason?" 1 asked.
"No, sir" he replied. after another
short pause. My feelings toward Eer
gay spring from prejudice
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