Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1873-01-30
gu 0riginal sturg.
Written for the Yorkville Enquirer.
THE MYSTERY OF M0SSGR0vE
AROMANCE OF THE 10TH CENTURY.
BY MRS. HENRY DEAS.
CHAPTER VIII.
,rr orrlnnvU nEEpEEG

THE SHADOW DEEPENs.
AS Lucy was walking out in the grounds
one or two mornings after the occurrence
which had so excited Melissa's alarm and hel
own fears, she was suddenly startled by hear
ing low, deep growl.
She turned, and, with cry of alright, be
held an enormous bulldog within few yards
of her.
She did not perceive that the creature was
chained, and as he made spring toward hel
she shrieked aloud, and was hurrying Oft as
fast as her-trembling limbs would carry her
when she suddenly encountered her husband
who was just coming around the corner of the
house.
"My dear Lucy" he cried, taking her in
his arms, "what on earth is the matter?"
"Oh! the dog-the dreadful dog! she
painted, scarcely able to artculate, as she hid
her face on his shoulder
"What! Medor-my splendid pet, my new
household guardian ?" he rejoined, smilingly
"Silly child! Did not you see that he was fast
ened to his kennel? 1t would take more
strength than is in his big body to burst his
heavy chain. Why did you 60 so near
him ?"
"I did not see him." faltered Lucy, suRi'
ciently regaining her courage to raise her
head, though she glanced fearfully around as
she spoke, as if to assure herself of her safety
"Oh! Alfred, why do you have such a hor,
rible animal here? Where did he come
from p
"I purchas ID him yesterday, from one Of
Mr.. More's negroes" replied her husband
"He is what I have long needed, an excellent
watch dog. He is somewhat fierce in his dis
position, confess, and would consider it an
easy lob to make mince-meat of any one
whom he considered as an intruder. But
that is requisite in an animal used for such q
purpose. See here; he knows mel have &C.
customed him to me already" and approach
ing the brute, who was still growing, glaring
and tugging at his chain in savage manner
he spoke to him in loud, authoritative tone
"Quiet, Medor-quiet, sir! lie down this
Instant"
The dog crouched down, still keeping his
eyes on Lucy, who was standing at safe dis
tance, and uttering low, ominous growls.
"Quiet, sirw reiterated Stanley, and taking
upa huge stick from the ground, he advanced
still nearer to him.
"Oh! don't strike him." pleaded Lucy, pity
now taking the place of fear. ut is only be-
cause he doesn't know me-"
Stanley smiled and threw away the stick
81 shall not strike him." he said as the dog
retreated to his kennel "but he must learn
that if he does not instantly obey me, he must
be punished. And do you remember, my
love- not to approach him too closely in fu-
ture and above all, be careful not to come
out of doors after nightfall, or you may suffer
fatally from your imprudence. You had best
warn the servants, too-especially Melissa,
your sentimental temme-de-chambre who seems
to have predilection for moonlight rambles. u
With this Parthian shot, Stanley quietly
walked of.
Lucy stood where he had left her, revolv,
ing many singular and uneasy thoughts in her
mind.
He was evidently cognizant of the fact that
Melissa had walked in the direction of the
"west wing" few nights previously, though
whether he also knew that she had accompa'
MED her on her second expedition, she could
not tell
He had been absent from home on that oc.
casion, and therefore must have been told Of
it by some person who had seen or heard her
at the time
This person, Lucy decided, could be none
other than Mrs. Ford, whose chamber was
situated in that part of the house, and over
looked the dark shrubbery.
His object was, doubtless, to prevent repe'
tition of the occurrence, and for this reason
he had provided fierce watch dog, to terrify
and keep away all intruders from that por-
tion of the grounds.
What was his object in providing so care
fully against such intrusion?
Was there some secret connected with the
"west wing" and the chambers it contained,
that needed such strict guardianship?
Was he, in fact, desirous of keeping this Sc,
cret, whatever its nature, from her knowledge
and was Mrs Ford his accomplice ?
A thrill Unnatural indignation agitated her
mind at this idea.
She recalled the mysterious circumstance Of
the light in the haunted room, which Melissa
so positively asserted that she had seen, and
began to wonder whether her maids imagi
nation alone had been excited, as she had al
first supposed, or whether there had really
been any truth in her account.
That Melissa really believed her own state
ment, and meant to be perfectly truthful, she
did not doubt. Could her eyes have played
her so false as to mistake light in some other
room for one in that chamber, or was there
truly candle burning there at that time?
If 80, how could she account for such 8
mystery?
Was the room, after all, not boarded up, a:
she had been informed, and did it still afford
means of ingress?
If this was the case, what object was there
in not allowing her to be apprised Of it?
Or was the light, if there at all, produced
there by some supernatural agency?
For once, her natural good sense rebelled
strongly against this version of the matter
The more she pondered it, the more strongly
was she persuaded that there was some plo
ahoat the agent of which was most anxiou!