Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1867-01-17
Au Original 9oarelette.
Written for the Yorkville Enquirer.
II III Z
SPECTRE OF THE FIRESIDE.
RY John wITHERsPooN ERWIN.
CHAPTER ".

suange is the you have 'pd old man nan blood
ChIs at thy words, as though ghost were here
Letting the secret out of other worlds" OLD PLAY
Immediately upon reaching his home, without
encounterng any one Guiscard ascended TO his
chamber and laid aside his wet and soied garments.
On leaving his apartment, he found Philippe
Agatha's husband standing at the foot OF the
staircase ready to light him into the supper room
Gniscard greeted the old man kindly, as was his
wont, and as they were passing through the picture
gallery, Guiscard paused, and taking the hght from
the hands of the old man, halted and gazed upon
the family portraits with feelings Of interest, such
as had scarcely ever before been excited by their
familiar features
Old PHILIPPE stood respectfully silent, as though
he almost OWNED the thoughts that were busy
about the heart of his young master His face,
hard and passonless in expression, was embrowned
and wrinked by age, and his hooked nose and quick
but steady eye, black as ebony and flashing with
the light of a polished sword blade, seemed to be-
long to hero of the olden time. His white NOUS
tache was thick but closely trimmed, and his beard
and hair frowsy and thin with age, were as white
as new fallen snow. PHILIPPE was in fact an octo-
penarian, and his shoulders were bent with the
wears that rested upon them but his step was rapid
and regular, and his small jet-black, rat-hke eyes,
still retained the vivacity of early youth. Standing
with his arms folded and his eyes fixed upon the
floor he now and then glanced up, and his face
seemed full Of pity and troubled thoughts, when his
glance rested upon the young man, who passed from
portrait to portrait, scanning each with an earnest
ness unusual and strange in one to whom they were
so familiar The old man glance followed the gaze
of Guscard as he turned to one portrait after anoth
er and his look at last became troubled and the VI
vacity of youth faded from his eyes, Unconsciousy
he uttered deep prolonged sigh, which sounded
most startlingy in the empty hall.
'tMy good PHILIPPE, you take no pleasure In ga
zinp upon these old portraits said Gulscard, turn
ing to him. -,
The old man shook his head in reply, while sad
and painful expression stole over his features
eItmakesme sad tolook anthem, master Robert,
said he. 1T almost freezes my old blood at times,
when I look up to them and remember how beauti-
full and good they were, and how soon they were
gone. 1t seems but only yesterday that held the
bride of your great grandmother patrey tor her
tomount. Twas but little boy then of nine years.
There's your grandmother, too that fair lady with
the soft blue eyes and the haxen curls falling around
beralabaster shoulders. All! me- master Robert,
was a strong. hale man, when she came into the
family There's your mother too; you never knew
her-she died too early for that. 1t makes me sad
-sad-sad They were all so beautiful, so good,
and I knew them, too, so well They are strangers
to YOU. master Robert, but knew every smile Of
their rosy cheeks every look of their soft eyes, had
many comforting word from their sweet lips, and
Il makes me shudder to think so much beauty is
nownothinr but dust-dust Butyoursup-
per is waiting, master Robert; should only spoil
your appetite if I were to talk more"
'sBut, my good PHILIPPE" returned Guiscard, Il
would wish to hear more of those who are SO near
to me, and whose histories you know so well.
Twill tell you you wish 20 know, master Robert,
after YOU have supped," said PHILIPPE 1T is a
sad story for me to TELL but shall await you here
Your tea, l fear, will be getting cold"
T will return in few minutes, and l hope to
hear from you something of my female ancestors
I know their story is a sad one, and, therefore,
have never spoken of it before" Thus saying
Guiscard took his way to the teatable, leaving old
PHILIPPE in the picture gallery, shaking his head and
muttering to himself
Agatha had already poured out the tea when
Guiscard took his seat at the teatable The choice
dainties which the aged house-keeper ever took
care to set before him, failed to provoke his appe-
tite. His thoughts were absent, and even the gar
rlous and kind hearted Agatha, failed to divert his
mind from the subjects of thought that pre-occu-
MED his attention. Aftera light and hasty repast,
he called for glass of generous Burgundy, which,
after the fatigues of the day. quite refreshing
It helped too, in some degree to dispel the gloomy
thoughts that oppressed him. Filling up capa-
cious Aagon for old PHILIPPE, who was awaiting him
in the picture gallery, Guiscard took up light and
at once proceeded thither.
tHere, my good PHILIPPE" said Guiscard, pre-
senting him the goblet, "ths draught Of wine will
not be amiss to one who has painful things to
speake Of
''You may we'll say that, master Robert, said
the old man, receiving the glass with alacrty; and
painful you well may call it, for one to speak Of old
friends long in the grave, when their faces are
staring down on him just as they looked years ago
when in the flesh There are no wrinkled faces
here. 1t was the fate of the wives of them whose
bread have eaten nigh on to eighty years, not to
grow old like Agatha and myself I must speak of
YOUR great-grandmother- first I must take a
sip of this old wine for cannot speak of her with
out a trembling of the nerves." The old man
bowed profoundly to Guiscard and half emptying
the goblet, set it by him and proceeded with his
"reminiscences:
''She was, as you may see from her portrait, as
beautfula as an angel was scarcely nine years old
when Louis Guiscard your great-grand father,
made her his wife That was seventy-one years
ago! All! me, was happy child then. 1t was
INV business to wait upon her about the house and
to lead her pafrey up to the door when she would
ride; and many time, when she was lonely, at
her bidding would place her harp by her side,