Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1867-01-24
gu Original 9uarelettte'
Written for the Yorkville Enquirer.
II H Z
SPECTRE OF THE FIRESIDE.
By JOHN w1THERsPooN ERWIN.
CHAPTER V,
II H Z


Thechamber into which Guiscard entered was in
theupper story of the northwestwing quite retired
from the rest of the building The mansion like
many at the South in the present day-contalned
MANY apartments seldom or ever used by the taml-
", and only brought into requsition upon rare oc
casions of festivity when many guests partook OF
the hospitality of its masters. The chamber OF
which we are speaking overlooked the delightful
pleasure garden of which we spoke in preceding
CHAPTER The furniture was all of an antique pat
tern and seemed t. belong to past generation
There were four or FIVE heavy oaken chairs, the
high backs of which, rising foot at least above the
head of one seated in them, consisted of a number
of archesinthe gothic style, surmounted yacurved
head-board, exquistely carved into fruits and now
ers They were thickly cushioned with red velvet,
somewhat faded, but otherwise seemingly IN state
of good preservation. Near the middle OF the a.
partment, against the wall and Immediately oppo-
site the fireplace, was bedstead Of solid and mas
sye mahogany, curiously carved and wrought, to
the heavy posts of which were looped the full folds
of rose-colored silk curtains The high but narrow
windows were shaded by curtains Of the same color
and texture. The floor was covered by thick
carpet of antique pattern, the ground color being
of dark brown interspersed with lveher colors
representing combats between Crusaders and Sara
Gems To the left of the fireplace, hung upon
brackets, an ancient frelock, and by its side hung
long heavy sword in it's steel scabbard, its hilt
blazing with starry diamonds as the light from the
lamp which Guiscard carried, fell upon it.
Over the mantle board was hung painting so
Ife-ike that no one could pass it by with a hasty
glance. 1t was that of man apparently in the
sere and yellow leaf" and, from his DRESS evidently
belonging to past generation His sandal shoon
and cookie SHE'LL" as well as hepalmers staff that
he bore, seemed to point him out as one who had
sought ease of conscience by weeks OF weary pill
primage. but the expression Of his eye seemed to
tell of pennance done and pilgrimage performed In
vain. Alas! of what avaiis it to one whose heart
IS itself a sepulchre of ruined hopes and blasted
opportunities, to make weary pIgrimages to Sc
nnlchre in far off land? Peace for troubled
conscience and desolated heart comes not from
bowng before holy relics in distant land but from
holy thoughts that spring up in the ruined heart
and cluster around it ivy around the broken altar
Though the dress and Insignia were badges OF a
nalmer. the attitude and stern but melancholy brow
BELONGED to one who had lived in the camp rather
than in the cloister. The portrait bore striking
resemblance to one in the gallery below, but there
WAS the resemblance that one traces between no
BILE edice in it's newness and splendor, and that Of
the same when it has become dllapldated and
tottering ruin, where the owl boots at midnight
and the ivy clings to the broken wall. 1t was, IL
truth. picture of Count Robert, the founder Of
his family, taken at period when the joy OF lite
had become ashes and dust.
Guiscard placed his lamp upon table at the foo
of the bedstead, and his eye fell sadly perhap!
accusingly-on the portrait Of his ancestor Ht
sighed aloud and the hollow echo of the walls gave
it back as if repeated by some unearthly being.
Guiscard's nerves were strong and steady, yet
gloom came over him, and he felt strangely dis
ouieted as he entered the large and sombre chamber
where the darkness seemed to retire from his lamp
rather than to be dissipated by it. The strange
story to which he had just listened confirmed the
lifelong impression that similar narratives hac
made upon his mind, that peculiar fate followed
all of his family and that in few brief hours hi
would stand face to face with his destiny. 1t Wa!
hard to give up the love and companionship Of the
beautiful creature whom he loved as only the un
fortunate and isolated can love, yet harder still wa:
it to subject her to the fate which seemed to attach
to all who intermarried with his family. Without
her there could be no happiness or content, and ye
if she were doomed to die as others had died, what
was left for him but broken heart and lifetime
of poignant but unavailing regret? He was tot
firm Deliver in the fate that relentlessly pursued
all Of his blood to hope for an exemption from the
sad lot that had attended them all. No wonde
that he sighed as he disrobed himself Where OF
earth could he look for happiness or rather hov
fortify himself to bear his fate?
He drew up the table by the side of his bed, ant
leaving his lamp still burning, committed himsel
to his couch, with many sad thought erowdin
upon his mind Every slight noise dlsqueted ant
disturbed him. The settling of the timbers OF tn
old mansion, the starting of board, or the nols
Of the rats in the wanscot, came to him with start
ling distinctness The chimes of the old tamll
clock. in lower chamber, telling the hours OF tn