The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1847-02-04

"'' Wv ''D JA'N'4 SET q al ~. lie .e.-
lows no ca'Uta ou a cuatsaLa1d trade or
ihs part Q! The coast ae'daa uhe#f secret
meeting 10 satHc concealed Place On -
rocky Shores aud Guiding, q. sal.aa- ar.
ullces the pursuits o. jos Gee. " stih u
fellow like this, had Guiii more tHa4 auce
seen D,nildson engaged ia close and aanaf.
emily confidential discourse. This suspfts-
&c him the more as tie knew the present
lord OF Eckar place, held himself greatly
aloof from those whom ne now considered
his interiors in rank aud wealth.
Griffin aud his sister were noa On he
eve OF departure, and al lhIn.s we're ia
readiness Tor their removal, 81 ten the nj PHI
preceding their setting cut rumor pre-.
vailed IN The i,hborbood that Mrs Eek.
ar bad given birth TO son, lta survive!
his birth bat few hours, and tie maJau-
nate mother was so NJ, thai her recovery
seemed very improbable.
Grleyed TO the heart at this rews. which
seemrd to wrhcr every hope Which paor
Griffith had cherished almos. uakaoan ~
himself Of yet seeing some de.aet daut OF
ms former master re established ii Iii. d..
mans; he determined TO make one last et
tort TO gam admission to be mansion, Tor
the purpose Of Obtaining information more
satisfactory than could be afforded b, mere
village report. His sister opposed ii, de-
sign, which she assured him would end IN
d sapPolulmeni: but Gniii Il conunued un-
changed in his purpose.
OF all the domesics formerly in tic
employ Of the Eckar family, the porter IA.
lone had continued steady al his post. Gtn.
an aud himself had once been on the most
friendly terms, and the former hoped, should
gan ron Elm IN tf5P44At III fsas hs Jmsh!
The night was dark AID the wind blew
from the hills, that arose 10 black masses
IN the distance, scarcely dstlnguishable
from the clouds which rolled over their
summls. Not star was 10 be seen, and
some scattered drops Of rain torctoI the
approach OF storm. Griffith, wrapping
large aud comfortable oyercoat with which
he was provided, closely around HIN, and
dropping his bat over his brows, ths. beter
TO defend Lis face from the weather, walked
s,oIty forward.
A dusky pile, which lie knew to be tho
mansion house, and which was hardly dis
ce'nabIe through the gloom, 4! lenglh ap.
peared before hin, and he gained the out
ward enclosure of brick wall Of consider
able eXtent. The point al Inch lie meant
to try for admliance, was 4 small door in
an angle Of the wall A sort Of private
entrance, used chiefly By the fanny, and
seldom resorted to BY strangers who sought
ln-ress TO the grounds This, Griffith
purpose'y .h' as likely to afford greater
facility of entrance: and being acquainted
with It's lastenings, he trusted lie should
be able 10 open 1t without difficulty. In
this hope he was disappointed. The took
Tor which he had provided himself a key
that he had been accustomed to make use
OF 10 former times, resisted his efforts, and
be had the modification to hnd his exeE-
tons vain. Nhle he still fingered uuwll.
ling to depart, aad revolving what would
be the mex, best course 10 pursue, he thol'
he heard steps within the gate. They
were light though rspid, He listened, and
became convinced that he was not msta,
ken. They approached nearer, aud paus.
ed be then heard voices couyersing IN
low tone, as If fearful oI being overheard.
Presently bolts were lowly updrawn, and
Gutt.h uuwtllIeg to be surprised SO near
the gate, not knowing what construction
might be placed On his appearance there at
that hour Ietrcated behind large tree
that grew near the wall, all he should be
enabled 10 decide on the character oil those
who might appear trom the Quite. Scarce.
I,. b,, ! T.,
ed he shou be undiscovered, when he vas
startled by figure emerging from thick
OF near by, IN which he appeared 10 have
lain concealed. Darkness prevented him
from discerning who thus new conner might
be. As well as could be distinguished, he
was athletic in form, but not tall, and enyel.
oped IN q cloak of ample dimensions. He
advanced with a steaIthy pace ull he came
within u few yards Of the spot already oc-
cuPled by Griffith; and the latter began
to fear abrups and probably unceremouIous
introduction to the stranger, when suddenly
he paused, regarding atteutlveIy the gate 50
lately The object OF Gutfith's interest.
At this moment the small portal opened,
and Two persons appeared, one only came
forward, the other upon few words spo-
f ken 10 a low tone, relieated within the gate.
=, The person who continued to advance, car
red d lantern, the light from which he sut-
I tered to be only partially disclosed; and as
ITS red CLEAN sbOne on the boes of the
4 trees and fell on the low shrubs and wet
. faded heritage, it also revealed, though III.
+ distinctly, the person Of the strangers,
, whose proximity to Griffith a few mo-
meuts before, had gwen him such alarm ;
and who now approached the scene OF ac-
ton like one who had interest therein
, The bearer of the lantern, turned is dark
side outward, aud the parties beng met,
, began discourslug in low buried tones,
, from which Griffith could only occasionally
r CLEAN a word or Two. Presently the man
in the cloak seemingly dissatisfied by some
i, observation or proposition made by his
!. companion, dropped his tone Of caution,