The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1907-06-26

What am I to do?" cried jean
nette. despairingly.
What is the matter?" whispered
Stevie, looking out from his place OF
concealment.
"Lor', Master Stevie, I quite forgot
you were there" said Jeanette
growing very white; you gave me
quite a turn"
But what is the matter?"
The waiting-maid was too we'll &C.
quainted with the importantly Of
youth to attempt to evade the ques-
ton. why, my poor mistress want
ed to have a few words with DR.. New
ton alone; and I am afraid that she
will never get them. Hush! be quiet,
listen"
The others had gone into the draw
ing-room and closed the door. Moth
ing was heard save the ticking of the
clock upon the m%antelpiece, and the
occasional dropping of a coal from
the crate. Fatigued' with the doc
tors investigation, and lulled to rest
by the silence, Willie sank into a
deep slumber.
Presently there was a getlle knock
at the door. MY mistress wants you
downstairs, Jeanette" said one OF
the maids. Shall I stay with the
child"
mo, it is unnecessary; she is
asleep"
Then, in a hushed whisper, Keep
where you are, Master Stevie, unless
Willie cries." said Jeanette, and
noiselessly left the room.
One minute, two minutes, and then
there was a cautious click Of the
door-handle. Stevie lay close, with
a presentiment of something about
to happen; to his horror Adair stole
quietly in. The boys heart beat fast;
but fascinated, rather than curious,
he kept his eye at the loophole.
What could have brought the master
of the house back to that room
alone? No affection for the child,
that was certain. He stepped lightly
to the foot of the bed, and gazed
earnestly at the little occupant; then,
having, as it seemed, convinced him.
self that she was asleep, he took up
the vial that stood upon the table,
marked we'll how far it was filled,
and emptied it's contents into some
vessel he had brought with him.
Next, going on tiptoe to the cup.
board, he took out a bottle, and filled
a vial from it to the same height as
before. Then, replacing bottle and
vial where he had found them, he
glided n~oiselessly from the room.
Stevie stood petrifed as he
watched all this, and when it was
over began to tremble. 1t seemed to
him that he had been on the verge
Of crying out something horrible
perhaps NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. knowing
exactly why. He did not comprehend
what had occurred, but he felt that
if the man had attempted to give
Willie what was now in the vial he
would have rushed out and stopped
him at all hazards. But now his
nerve had left him and almost con-
seriousness itself. The contemplation
of a crime by an innocent person is
almost as shocking as the first COM
mission of one.
Even when Jeanette returned,
the boy still remained where he was,
You may come out now, Master
Stevie," she said, c%heerfully. "Mr.
Adair has gone away with the doctor,
but not before my mistress had a
private word with him; why master
left US alone together, though it was
only five minutes, / can't imagine
IT can" said Stevie, putting back
the curtain and disclosing a white
face and staring eyes. He left you
to come up here"
Here! Good heavens! He didn't
do anything to the. child?"
mo; he left you to do it."
Then he told her what had hap
pened from beginning to end.
Jeanette listened, with Mortified
lace. SuS tOOh up 'ldS VIGIL
medicine was az colorless as the wa
ter with which it should have been
mixed, but she took out the cork and
smelled it.. .-,~
That would have gone nigh to
kill her." she said, solemnly. She
poured back the contents of the vial
into the bottle, and, mixing more
medicine with the water in the proper
proportions, replaced the vial as be-
fore.
Now, as you love little Willie,
Master Stevie," she said, earnestly.
mot a word of this to my mistress
or to any one else. I will answer for
it that it snail never occur again, but
nothing must be done in a hurry. II
he thought we knew Of this, my mas
ter would kill US both and the child
and my mistress, too"
1t is probable that Jeanette did
not in reality apprehend this whole
sale slaughter; her object was to
make sure of the boys silence.
To be Continued.