The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-01-10

figure was terrible enough to frighter
any little girl. But it was not at the ar
NOR that He1ie screamed; the iron man
was an old friend OF the children's
Many O game Of hide-and.seek had they
played around, and behind, and even
inside him; for Humphrey had contrived
a cunning way by which the figure
could be taken to pieces and put TO-
gether again and more THAI once Rate
had been popped inside, and had lain
shaking with laughter while Hexie
vainly searched for him all through the
gallery. This had not happened lately,
for Rafe was hardly strong enough to
manage by himself the screws and hinges
which opened the armor; but he knew
the iron man too well to scream at him,
and so did Hexie. The object which
excited her terror was something diff
ferent, and 80 strange and surprising
that it is no wonder she screamed.
Close by the armor, half hidden by a
curtain of heavy tapestry, was an open
door, where never door had been known
to be. It stood ajar, and dimly visible
inside was a narrow staircase winding
upward.
"The hole OF tho Bogie!" gasped
He1ie, clutching at Rates. arm. He
started aud felt for the sword. It rat
tied fearfully, and the sound completed
He1ie's terror. She burst away, flew
like a scared lapwing down the gallery,
along the passages, and never st pped
till she reached the nursery and her own
bed, where, with two pillows and the
quilt drawn over her head, she lay sob
bing bitterly at the thought of Ralph
left behind, to be eaten perhaps by the
Bogie Poor little Hexie!
Rllph, meanwhile, stood his ground
His heart beat very fast, but he would
not run away-that was for girls. 1t
must be owned, however, that when a
moment later the sound of muf1ed voices
became audible down stairs, he trembled
extremely, and was guilty of the unman-
like act of hiding behind the curtain.
He was only ten years old, which must
plead his excuse with bigger boys who
are confident that they could never, IN
der any circumstances, hide themselves
or be afraid.
The voices drew nearer, steps sounded,
and two figures came ont of the narrow
doorway. Gould there be two Bogies!
No wonder they ate so much. But IN
another minute all thought of Bogies
vanished from Ralph's mind, for in one
of the figures lie recognized his own Sis
ter Wiuitred.
Her companion was a man. There
Was something familiar in his form. It
moved forward, and Ralph jumped SO
that the big sword ratified again. Bogio
number two was his brother Humphrey,
mourned as dead ever since the summer
before when 80 many brave gentlemen
gave up their lives for King Charles at
the battle of Naseby.
"What noise was that ?" whispered
Winifred, fear!ully.
"Some >ound from below" replied
Humphrey, after listening q moment,
"Must you &c, Winnie3'
III must, dear Humphrey. Fdare not
absent myself longer lest I be missed
and suspected. Oh, if to morrow were
but over, and you safe on the French
luggcr aud over thn sea :! l cannot
breathe while this hiding and danger go
on"
81 suppose I ought to be glad also, "
said Humphrey, rucfully; I" but to me
that French lugger means exile and
loneliness and poverty, for the rest OF
my life, perhaps. Better have laid
down my life with the rest at Nassby, in
striking ono last blow for the king"
"Don't you speak sol" protested
Winifred, tearfully. You nro alive,
thank God +; and once these wars are
over We may reioiu you, and have a
happy home somewhere, if not in the
land of our fathers. Now, dear Humph-
rey, have you all you need for the
night?"
"Christmas cheer" said Humphrey,
in wauld-be cheerful voice. "Beef
and ale-what better fare could be ?
You are gallant provilcr, my Winnie,
and there is need, for since / have lain
in that hole with nothing else to do,. my
appetite has ragged like wolf. That
sleeps head WAS wonGrous savory. I
say though, WinIie, what do the ser
wants think of the famine I create in the
larder2"
"Oh, the stupid creatures fancy that
a Bogie has taken up his residence here.
A very hungry Bcgie, Joyce calls the
creature |"
The brother and sister laughed; then
they kissed each other:
Goodnight, dearest Winitred.
"Good-night, brother" and Humph-
rey vanished up the stairs. Winifred
fingered moment; then, as if remen-
boring something, opened the door again
and ran after him. R.lph marked that
she laid her hand on l. particular boss in
tho carved wainscot and pressed it in
hard, wlereon the door sprung open.
ae stole out. laid his hand on the came
boss, and felt the spring give way un-
der his touch. Some underlined idea of
stealing in later, to make Humph-
rey q visit, was in his head but he
heard Wirifred returning, and hurried
out Of the gallery. Putting back the
sword in its place, he entered the
nursery. No He1ie was visible, but a
sobbiug sound drew his attention to a
tumbled heap cn the bed.
"Is that you, Heyie? Why, what
are you crying about Z" pulling away
the pillow which she held tight.
ooh, Rafol Then the Bogie didn't
cat you, after ALI" And Hexie buried
her tear-stained face on his shoulder.
"Bogie! Nonsense There are no
such things as Bogies !"
"What was it, then, that lived up
that dreadful stairs ?"
81 can't tell you, only it was nothing
at all dreadful. And, Hexie, don't say
a word about that door to any one, will
youa 1t might mako great trouble if
you did"
"I did tell Deborah, when she fetch
ed the candle and asked why I cried,
that I saw strange door in the gallery u
faltered Hexie, truthful, though peni-
tent.
"Ohl He1ie, how could you9
don't like Deborah, and her father is q
knave. Humphrey said 80 one day.
How could you talk to her about the
door, Be1ie9"
"I-don't know. T was frightened,
and she asked me-" sobbed Hexie
"Will it do any harm, Rafe?"
cit may" said Rsfe, gloomily. "Bu'
don't cry, Hexie. You meant no harm,
a. all events"
"Oh, don't speak 30 gravely and &C
S,S I. k~nSst~fa1