Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1866-10-11

to penetrate the mystery greatly preponder-
ated over any feelings Of alarm. The noise
subsided, the laughter became fainter, un'
til at length it died away, seemingly lost in
the distance. After the lapse of short
interval, this was again broken by a noise
resembling the rattliug and clankiug of a
chain dragged heavily along, which seemed
to approach her apartment, and as gradual.
ly receded; and so on several times coming
nearer than before, until at length it paused
beside that door of her room which Anna
had been unable to open. Anna eDdeavor
ed, with strained look to pierce the dark
ness in which that part of the room was
enveloped. But though she could not dis
tipguisb anything, and though no sound
was made, she became, with thrill more
nearly approaching terror than she had
before experienced, iustinctivey conscious
that she was no longer alone. Resolutely
determined, however, not to yield to feel
iugs of alarm, Anna said iu firm unfalter-
ing VOICE.
"Whoever, or whatever you are, show
yourself and name your erraud, if you want
anything from me; if not, be gone, for your
attempts to terrify me are vain. fear you
not"
The only answer returned was low
laugh; and where the moonlight streamed
in through the partly drawn curtain, there
stood frightfully grotesque figure. The
sight of this creature, far from increasing
Annals alarm, considerably diminished it.,
and she lay perfectly quiet, watching its
movements, until it came within arms
length of her, when suddenly springing for.
ward, she seized hold of it with firm grasp
excIaiming, "this is no spirit, for here is
flesh and bone like myself" Apparently,
the ghost being composed of too solid ma
terials to melt into air, had no other resource
than to oppose strength, for it struggled
vigorously, and with some difficulty sue
ceeded in freeing itself from Anua's hold.
No sooner was it at liberty than it made for
the door, and Auna, forgetting all pruden.
tial considerations, in the excitement of the
moment, hastily put 90 few articles of
clothing, and throwing her cloak around her
seized her lantern and followed. The ghost
had, however, gained so much in advance
of her, that it was with some difficulty she
could decide which way to turn, but, guided
by the clankiug of the chain, she went
boldly along a wide stone passage, and
through several rooms, opening one out of
another, until Anna, in her eagerness,
springing quickly forward, was precipitated
through an opening in the floor, in her fall
breaking her lantern Fortunately she a.
lighted on a heap of straw, or the conse.
quences might have been fatal As it was,
though bruised and stunned by her sudden
descent, she did not entirely lose conscious.
ness, but was sensible of confused mur
mur of voices near her; and as her percep.
tions became clearer, she was aware that the
tones, though low, we're earnest and angry,
and that she, herself, was the subject of
conversation.
81 tell you tits the only thing to be done;
so what's the use of talking about it, you
fool ?" were the first words she distin.
guished.
"But," interrupted another voice, evil
dently woman's, "would it not be better
to wait and see 2"
"Wait and see what ?" fercely exclaim.
ed the first speaker. eff she's dead, it'll
do her no harm; and if she isn't, the soon,
er a stopper is put in her mouth the better
Completely reused from her stupor by the
danger with which she was threatened, An
ma opened her eyes, and perceived that she
was in large, vaulted cellar, at one end of
which was small heated furnace. Scat
tered about the floor, and on rudely con-
structed work benches, as though the per-
sons using them had hastily abandoned their
employment, were many curious looking
tools and machines, together with heaps Of
metal of different sizes, aud in different
stages of manufacture, from the merely
moulded shape to the finished shilling or
guinea. Some half dozen or eight men
and women were grouped together, amongst
whom she recognized the ghost, not quite
divested of his masquerade dress. In a
single glance Anna perceived this, and it
needed no coDjurer to tell her that she had
fallen into the hands of gang of coiners.
Fully sensible of the peril of her situa-
tion, her extraordinary courage did not for
sake her for Anna, at this awful moment,
felt unshaken confidence in the protecting
care of Providence. With a calm and
steady gaze she met the eye of the rufian,
who brandished his weapon before her, and
said, 81 pray you do not commit this great
wickedness, nor shed the blood Of a helpless
woman, who has never injured you"
80 come," interrupted the man, in a
surly tone, "let's have none of that Cannon
for it'll be of 20 use. If folks will medde
in other folks concerns, they must take the
consequences we are not such fools as to
put the rope around our own necks, [ can
tell you"
"Nay, but hear what I have to say" re-
peated Anna, "my coming here was no fault
of my own, and I promise not to betray
you"
30, ay, a likely tale" said the man, with
a brutal laugh. "We're all for ourselves
in this world, and no mistake; so we will
just put you where you can tell no tales, old