Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1857-11-12

The body OF girl, young and surprising
ly fair, robed in white linen, lay before him
There was death upon her brow, and eternal
slumber upon her lips! Her long chestnut
hair swept bright and glistening on her wax
white neck, and the lids over her half-closed
blue eyes seemed but dropping before the
fixed gaze of him who bent over her. En-
tranced, enraptured, fascinated, Horace gazed
upon the corpse
Speech, motion, everything seemed gone
out from him-all his faculties were concen.
trated into one sense-that of seeing!
The striking of distant clock, the hour
of one, aroused him to sense of his condi-
ton. His thoughts came back, and rushed
through lis brain with the rapidity of light
ming.
Wall up this beautiful creature in cellar,
amid the dampness and everlasting gloom
Who knew what fearful secret might be bu-
ried with her? Who could tell the story Of
her death? What might not those lips
unsealed from their cold silence-reveal OF
foul crime and base villainy?
Could he bury her up from sight forever
with that dreadful mystery hanging around
her? Would he do the deed? Never!-
God helping him, never!
Immediately he set about an examination
of the walls of the cellar, and by careful
sounding he was enabled to detect the outer
wall He brought some Of his tools to the
side of the masonry, and in fifteen minutes
he made an aperture the size of mans
body through the brick work. Fresh air,
from heavens outer courts, famed his brow,
and the heavy plunge of rushing water could
be distinctly heard. Evidently the building
into which he had been so strangely convey
ed, was situated in the vicinity of some river,
if not upon its very banks.
A wild, romantic plan-possible from its
very impossibility-swept through his mind.
Why not remove the body to the shore of
the river, from whence he could, he felt con-
vinced, subsequently discover and take it
away to, at least, Christian burial He could
brick up the recess, as his employer required,
and who would be the wiser?
This plan once conceived, was carried into
effect without hesitation. By diligent labor
he soon enlarged the cavity in the wall suttl.
ciently for his purpose, and letting himself
carefully out he reconnoitered the premises,
The night was black as Erebus and he could
ascertain but little beyond the fact that he
stood in a deep drain which surrounded the
mansion The ascent from this drain was
steep and precipitous, but Horace felt within
himself the power to do great things: and
he returned at once to the cellar.
Replacing the cover upon the box, and
lightly fastening the screws, he sprang
through the aperture and drew it after him
With the greatest difficulty he succeeded in
raising the heavy oaken box to the surface
of the ground, for the sides of the drain
were wet and slippery. The gush of water
could be very plainly distinguished at but a
little distance off, and close upon the man.
sion, evidently between him and the river,
rose black copsewood of low alders. Into
these he at once dashed, bearing his load,
and in fifteen minutes he stood upon the
borders of great rivera river which he
felt assured was none other than the Des
P.
He deposited his burden for he had not q
moments time to lose, in dense tbicket
close to the rivers edge, and marking the
spot by suspending his white pocket hand,
kerchief from an overhangipg branch, he
hastily retraced his way and arrived in safety
at the vault. Drawing forth his watch--the
little silver watch which had been his dead
sisters, and which no earthly need could in
duce him to part with-he saw that it was
near two clock But "a brief period remain
ed for the performance of his task, and nev-
er did mortal man labor with greater assidu-
ity than did Horace Flintwood. At the end
of eighteen minutes, the torn wall was mend
ed in so skilful manner that it would have
de6ed the scrutiny of the closest observer.
This done, he commenced upon the recess.
Tier after tier of brick rose up, and at length
the aperture was closed. 1t only remained
to add another tier of brick, and over all
the thick coat of plaster, as the unknown
had intimated. Flintwood was just putting
the finishing touch to the plastering, when
the great door (Which he had previously un-
fastened) swung slowly open, and his mys-
terious employer entered the room.
A sardonic smile cleaned from his black,
fiery eyes, for no other feature Of his face
was visible.
$50 you are punctual to the time, my
friend He approached and layed his hand
upon Flintwood's shoulder, well, I admire
punctuality. And now, as we are about to
60 forth from hence, require you to swear
eternal silence on the events of this night
silence as unbroken as the darkness Of the
tomb y sS
The wild eyes flashed savagely down into
Horace's face, and though his voice did not
tremble, his cheek became paler as he spoke,
Il swear'
Enough a man like you will keep an
oath Your work is done we'll
i am happy to have pleased you! 1t
was thoughtful in you to select such a place