The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1869-11-17
THE HOUSE ON THE MOOR.

Ihen, ''Dont stay iate tonight.
90 THE HOUSE ON THE MOOR.
There was tnmble-down: deserted
look abont the entire premises. Taken
altogether, it was the last place hungry
and weary traveller. would have stopped
st; but night was coming on, and tho sky
shlfeaasened lsa o severe storm; so there was
no choice. Riding directly up to tho
door. i dismounted, and entered without
ceremony. But il the surroundings were
uninyitipg and dismal, how much more
An old woman sat in o broken chair on
one eide OF the Fireplace; another of
about half her age, probably thirty-fiv
|aa seatsG !n the other corner; and two
children, q girl Of about twelve, and a
boy about ten years of age, were hud-
died together on the floor CLOSE to her
who was evidently their mother, all wear
ing pinched and squalid look, terri
fed. DIR as IL in mortal fear.
Scan stay here to-night2" I asked.
sYes, yes, I fancy so,'' was the hesi-
tating answer Of the younger woman,
after looking first at me, and then ut the
old one. ..Yes,, I fancy so. But there
is q house three miles further on, where
you'd be better Off"
"Three milesl The storm would catch
me before I had got half the distance
Harki You can hear the rain on the roof
now.'n,lji Ii .&,stt.:,TU,.
81 know'd it was going to be a terrible
night, for
Here she stopped suddenly, and in ap-
parent confusion.
"Would your little boy be kind enough
to show me where to put my horse? I
wodld NOT like to leave him out in the
rain.
SEQ, Willie, and show the stranger -
~ dursent," was the reply; and the
child crept still more closely to his mo-
ther, and hid his face in her skirt.
eff you will direct me, I will wait upon
myself.
'"There is the stable, such as it is, she
answered, pointing to the shell I had
already noticed; .'and il you will look
about, you will find some hay and corn.
I would go with you. myself, but"
And again she stopped in confusion.
'There is no need of it," replied.
That there was some mystery connect
ed with the family I was certain. The
restrained, terrified manner of all in the
house, and the expression OF the little
boy, were enough to convince any one of
that. Determined to be on the watch,
returned, and gladly accepted an invita-
tion to the supper which had been pre-
pared. ,sfl.'
ST thought you'd be hungry, sir, said
the mother.
Eyes, long ride over yon moors
makes one so."
"We haven't much to offer you. But
you are welcome to it, such ns it isl
The frugal meal of bacon, eggs, and
hrnvr hraod xuoo opnN fpiof,oI ooI r
took my place in the circle gathered
about the hearth-stone, and tried to in
duce conversation. All my attempts,
however, were futile. A very short nn-
swer was all that L could gain; and, as
one and all were constantly looking
around as for the coming of some one
whom they expected, yet dreaded, 1
could not refrain from asking, "Are You
looking for company to night?"
''No, no, but"
Still the same confusion and sudden
breaking of.
"Perhaps your husband is
"No-oh | no." And che shuddered
terribly.
"If there ia any one you fear," con-
tinued, ST will protect you" And I dis
played my pisto! rather ostentatiously.
SIT isn't no mortal" mumbled the
grand-mother,s speaking for the first time.
1T isn't no mortal; its spirits"
"Spirits Pshaw you arc not afraid
of spiritsl"
May be you don't know nothing about
them, sir?"
had to confess, not only my igno-
rance, but disbelief. and was attempting
to prove logically that such things could
not exist, when the storm that had been
long gathering. burst in fury, shaking the
house to the very foundations.
There! I told you soi" whispered
the old woman. 81 knew he was com.
ing"
"He? Who is hep"
was going to ask again for the father
OF the children; but the pleading look OF
the poor woman restrained me. could
not believe her guilty of any crime, and
so waited for further developments. And
come they did, with q vengeance.
First, the rocking, jarring of the house
was renewed, although the storm had
lnlled for a moment; then dog appeared
to howl directly under the window; then
the shutters were slammed, and the doors
opened and shnt violently; then there