Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1874-04-16

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1 have drawn at Sir Johns dictation since my
arrival here yesterday in reference to which
I may say he has been very uneasy-refusine
to eat or sleep until they we're completed
hence my great anxiety. And after that bus
mess is over, my dear"-he added, turning te
Jenny-"sir John is specially desirous of see
ing you again. Meanwhile, I think see Mrs
Harold, yonder, waiting to welcome you to
her comfortable fire after your cold ride"
And as he spoke, he bowed with old time
statelness, to tall old-fashioned lady, in
suit of faded black, who had made her ap
pearance from one of the side entrances ol
the great hail.
Resuming all his hard, business manner
if he could be said, for moment, to have
laid it aside, while in his daughters spresence-
my uncle drew my arm within his own and
led me, unceremoniously, up two successive
flights of stairs, through narrow passages, and
wide corridors, where the dusky light, thick
carpetings, and ancient hangings, made me
feel as if single burst of cheerful laughter
would cause pent-up echoes to come tumbline
down loaded with the dust and ashes of hall
century Of silence.
Pausing only for moment before high
arched doorway, to remove, at the old lawyers
suggestion, some of my outer wraps, which
still retained, 1 followed him through small
ante-room into a spacious chamber beyond
A fire was burning in the open hearth dissem
mating a cheerful warmth throug hout the
room, its Pickering flashes flaming in ruddy
reflections upon the quantity carved and mas
sive furniture and lighting up quite clearly a
huge old bookcase of strange design and
workmanship--evident relic of a by-gone
age-that stood exactly opposite the fireplace,
more than half filling that side of the apart,
ment
The sunlight, if it ever penetrated this re-
mote part of the building, which to me seemed
doubtful, had been entirely excluded, and
shaded lamp upon small table hearing parch'
ments, papers and writing materials, near the
head of the bed, which occupied one corner OF
the room, afforded the only light, save that Of
the fire.
The heavy hangings of the bed concealed
its occupant from our view on entering; but,
with a restraining motion Of his hand to me,
the old lawyer moved noiselessly across the
chamber to the bedside, and after minutes
conversation, in low tone, the purport of
wlch to me was undistinguishable, he turned
and beckoned me to approach.
I would never have known the thin, ghastly
face that, following the feeble hand, came out
from behind the curtains; but the voice |
should have recognized anywhere. In the
few words he addressed to me it was clear,
sharp, and peculiarly resonant, as had no.
ticed on the few occasions when it had been
my fate or fortune to meet him elsewhere.
"Young man," he said, fixing his wild,
piercing eyes upon my face, as if he would
read my very soul-"do you know who l am
Can you swear to my identity as Sir John
Harrington, should it ever become necessary
hereafter to do so2"
replied, of course, in the affirmative.
He continued to eye me with that iuquring,
scrutinizing gaze for some moments, which in
a younger man or under other circumstances
might have been deemed an inpertinence ;
then letting 60 of the hand he had retained
in his cold grasp, he resumed as if he had not
spoken
II see that you do know me, and am glad
of it, for that knowledge may at some future
period be demanded. Were Sir John Hart
ington anything but what he is-a blind, un-
reasoning skeptic-he would say that kind
Providence had sent you, Henry Macintosh ;
I say nothing on that point, young man, but
accept the fortunate chance, happy fatality
what you will-that has sent you here. The
actual fact of your presence is sufficient for
me. Your uncle, Danforth-I have under
stood that my friend and legal adviser stands
in such relationship to you-has, | suppose,
informed you why your presence here was de-
sirable at this time one more witness is re-
quired to attest my acknowledgment of these
documents-the last I shall ever, [ hope, be
required to execute"
He stretched out his hand toward the papers
on the table, as he spoke; and signing by a
gesture to the old lawyer to proceed, sank
back on his pillow in paroxysm Of coughing,
1pb;ob lootod como n,inutes
The signing and sealing of the documents
was soon completed-and it was with some
surprise, I confess, that I saw how much uncle
Danforth looked relieved. Even more so-it
seemed to me than did Sir John. His hard,
business manner quite relaxed after he had
gathered up the papers.
Going to the ancient bookcase, he began
cropping about for the key, with the evident
intention of opening q drawer and locking
the documents therein, when his movements
suddenly attracted the attention of Sir John,
who, half:rising from the bed, called out in
accents which conveyed to my mind an inde-
scribable sense of terror:
"Not there! not there, Danforth The
key is lost! Keep the papers on your person
until you get back to town. Don't let them
be out of your reach moment, until you can
deposit them in your own safe !"
The old lawyer made some soothing reply
in acquiescence, in his usual tone, but as he
turned toward me I saw plainly reflected
through his legal mask, a plying expression
for friend whose physical weaknesses we're
fast proving superior to his mental powers.
His last effort at speaking and the accom-.
panying excitement brought on Sir John an