Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-03-18

II
She arose from her tall chair, and
with one white hand, clutching its
carving for support, she turned to take
! leave Of him. .......
It was the last time that those two
husband and wife, were ever to look In
each others faces. ~. .
Goodnight" she said, listlessly.
Goodnight, madame. May you
sleep we'll" , .,.a r.
He watched her go out through the
heavy door, into the darkness Of the
passage beyond, feeling no throb of
compassion, no change in his relent-
LESS purpose. Her beauty, her help
lessness. moved him not whit.
CHAPTER xxXII.
That Night. '
The countess bedchamber was a
lonely, dark room in the second story
Of the chateau, with q !, bare, slippery
floor, spread here and there with pieces
Of old tapestry, and furniture Of moth
eaten plush. From 1t opened a square
closet, in which stood small couch
for Finette. Dismal brown curtains
draped the high bed; tall candles burn
ed feebly on the mantel
"A dreary den-eh, madame" said
Finette, in disgust.
"The whole place Is like tomb. Do
4 not remove my clothing. I have let
ters to write to my friends in Ameri-
ca. At last I am determined to tell
them everything. They may be able
to advise, If not help, me; and IL
need advice, for know not what to
| do" ..r .
Finette removed the candles to the
toilet table, and saw her mistress seat
/ "a - har 90 ha than n lnnlr
the door for the night, and straight
way discovered that the key was miss
ing. Who but the old woman In charge
Of the house ought to know about the
keys?
She ran to the kitchen and found it
dark and deserted. She called; but
the old creature was gone. The sound
Of her voice in the stone passage
brought the count to the door Of the
salon. ....u .u..u
what do you want?" he demanded
sternly.
She had never seen him look 30
cruel and sinister. The red freight
in the room beyond made q lurid back
ground for his tall figure and bald,
blond head. ...
The woman in the kitchen has gone
home with her husband" said the
count. "She lives in neighboring
L COIIdk6. II Is SCdTCcly lic W
pursue her upon such an errand. The
chateau is securely locked. Assure
madame that she need have no fears
when I am near. And as for you, crea-
ture, be careful that you do not dis
turb me again." 4r#a ..
Finette returned to the countess's
chamber. The latter sat at her toilet
table, pouring out her full heart in two
letters-one to Bee. one to her mother.
A clock somewhere at hand struck ten
before her last word was penned. She
was nervous, depressed and full Of
dark forebodings. She would not al
low Finette to remove any article Of
her dress, but wrapped simply In
shawl, she lay down upon the bed un-
der the dismal, brown curtains and
fell quickly into an exhausted and un-
easy sleep. ...s. .,...
Leaving the candles burning on the
mantel, Finette retired to her closet.
Heavy hangings Of moreen draped its
walls. Being Of an inquisitive turn Of
mind, Finette pulled these aside, and
discovered small, square window,
hidden behind their secretive folds.
She examined it curiously. The dia-
mond panes were set in lead, and 1t
opened from within; but the fasten-
ings were 30 rusty from long disuse
that she found 1t impossible to move
them. After repeated efforts, however,
her strong fingers triumphed. The lat
tice yielded. She thrust her head out
into the pitch black night, and saw
nothing. She listened. A heavy, CUR
Cling sound saluted her ears. She ex-
tended her arm, and, cropping about
for a moment or two, suddenly grasp
ed a water-spout, which fell from the
i steep roof above into some neighbor-
ing angle Of the wall. The rain was
pouring through it violently.
No other investigation being possi-
BILE in that darkness, Finette closed the
window, drew the hangings over 1t
again, and betook herself to her pill
low. In spite Of great uneasiness of
mind, she soon fell asleep, even as the
countess had done.
The wind screamed through the
lcourtyard Of the chateau, the storm
beat on the stone gables: but in the
chamber of the countess allSwas as 81
lent as the grave. Was she dreaming
of her home across the sea? Of her
dead, bankrupt father? Of the Ameri-
can lover, who had begged her so vain
ly not to marry the count?
Suddenly the door unclosed, and a
figure, stealthy as a cat, crept across
the threshold. 1t drew near to the bed,
and glanced once at the white, uncon-
/ SClOuS ldCS upou PlilOWb ohSS ~
ward the adjoining closet-a furtive,
apprehensive look; but Finette was
sleeping, the countess was sleeping
only the candles were wide awake.
Moving noiselessly to the mantel, the
figure seized the nearest one In its an
tique brass candlestick, crept a few
PAGES across the floor, then bent quick
ly, and held its red flame to the edge
of the moth-eaten hangings.
A squirt of hot crimson flashed out
on the faded brown cloth. The candle
was borne forward, and applied q sec
ond and third spot, then silently drop
ped. The figure retreated to the door.
and there, like an evil phantom, van
ished.
Finette, wandering In a maze of
troubled dreams, turned uneasily on
her couch in the closet. A heavy hand
seemed clinched on her throat; roar,
as of many waters, filled her ears. She
struggled-with a great effort she
| awoke, and opened her eyes. Upon
what? A sea Of putting, gray smoke
pierced and Redeemed everywhere by
tongues of hot flame.
She sprang into the countess cham
ber.
The chateau is on fire!" she cried.
: Instantly Ethel was upon her feet,
| gasping for breath In that smotnerlne
smoke, and clinging helplessly to Fin
cite, who dragged her forward across
: the hot, cracking floor.
1.-The door," she cried: 1.-The door
madame!"
They reached it with much Difficult
ty. Finette shook 1t in her frantic
] hands-it was fast! Who had locked
: It while maid and mistress slept? Some
one, surely, who knew where the lost
key was to be found.
/ "Oh, saints Of heaven!" groaned FL
: nette, 1T Is the counts work, and we
: are lost"
She ran to the closet. Ethel follow
ed. 1t was full Of hot, suffocatine
smoke. Fortunately, F1nette remem-
: bered the window-thank God that she
{ had discovered 1t before sleeping! She
r tugged at the rusty fastenings, and il
r opened, and the rain and fresh air
/ rushed in. Finette grasped her mis-
traas' hand