The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1875-08-19
THE MYSTERY AT THE FARM,

One morning Uncle Vernon said to
his nephew Geol1ry I" You have been
studying too hard, my boy. You must
go into the country for a few weeks and
rccupcratc."
\ few days after this Uncle Venom re-
ceived a letter in a cramped and strag-
Cling hand from Abraham Knolls, say.
ing that he would receive tho boy at his
farmhouse and take good care of him.
Soon after Geoffry was on his way up
the Hudson, landed at long wharf,
1lanked by u wooden building, village
on the hill beyond, a group of idlers in
muddy boots, watching the steamboat
disgorgc her cargo. In the foreground
stood an old man carrying a whip, and
poering about with keen eyes beneath
bushy brows. Geoffry Vernon heard
this remark
80 you've took to summer board
crs, heys" from a clerk.
"Why, yes; my old woman thinks
she'd like to try em a spell, " replied the
old man, rubbing his horny palms to-
gether.
Then Geoffry knew by intuition that
he was no other than Mr.. Abraham
Knolls, and vague sense of homesick-
ness stole over him.
They were soon on their way to the
farmhouse, and the village and lake were
left far behind. The way became. more
lonely and wild they had crossed
bridge, and the horses paused, ,as if from
habit, at spring brimming into a
trough. A man emerged from the
thicket, looking down the valley, and
whistled a peculiar clear note. Then he
o,,,NrnonLnI tho Tho
pricked their ears the yellow dog skunk
beneath the vohicloapprehensively. Mr.
Knolls was evidently disconnected by
this addition to the party.
"You back, Matthew? Is'pose there
ain no use in askin' where you've been
last"
Wandering up and down the earth,
daddy" was the growing response.
"ThiS is my only son, Mr.. Matthew
Knolls," continued the old man, turning
to Geutlry.
The latter stared at the intruder, and
decided that the son was a rough, surly
person, with the bushiest beard and
funniest hair he had ever seen, nor was
his appearance improved by cast in
one eye. This scrutiny seemed displeas-
ing to the object, who, scowling at
Gooflry, inquired, abruptly
"What are you dom with him? ?"
"a young gentleman from York,
Matthew. Your mother wants to take
summer boarders. The winters been
uucommonly hard ON us here," said tho
old man, i'll wheedling, deprecating
tone.
Through the cleaning the farmhouse
lights appeared, shedding dim ray
among the black trees. A matron stood
i'll the door, large woman with
quorulous smile, and behind her a
slender girl, pale as lily, with golden
hair, blue eyes that dilated as her
brother Matthew emerged to view, and a
small, obstinate mouth. Homesickness
pursued Geofiry from the close sitting
room, when supper was spread, to the
parlor, stiff and angular apartment
smelling of varnish and dried leaves. In
the chamber above the parlor, which
was assigned him, low, plain, and clean,
our traveller gazcd dismally at the lamp
on the table, and then out the window
on the almost palpable darkness of night,
where the stiffness was rendered only the
more lonely by the hooting of an owl or
the trilling note of some insect.
81 am afraid it will prove an awful
BORE" soliloquizod Geoffry, with
yawn. The door had a lock but no key.
He extinguished the lamp, and sank into
depths of feather bed, which almost
suffocated him by its luxuriousness.
Sleep succeeded, deep and dreamless.
He awoke with start, his heart throb
bing wildly. Hark Was it the very
silence, an oppressive influence, which
had awakened him? He lay still and
listened. The hooting of an owl was
again audible the curtain of the win
dow tapped in the breeze. That was
all. No; some object was moving
slowly in the small room. For the first
time in his life, fear, in mysterious
form, smote him, and the exclamation
framed by his lips died away unuttered.
The shape approached, bent over and
touched him. Geoffry held his breath.
Was it ghost or robber2 Like CLEAN
of light the remembrance of Mr..
Matthew Knolls and the yellow dog
sinking under the wagon came to his