Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-03-16
THE SHADOW OF THE DOOR.



preparing for his proposed journey. III
simply did what was absolutely necessary
arranging with one Of his nearest negbbors
10 look ailer his small crops, and disposine
of his live stock among two or three others
A special readiness to oblige was found on
all sides. The result was, that without lis
taking that form distinctly, he virtually
distributed pledges of his good faith
throughout the neigborhood, and insured
the utmost possible patience should his ab.
sence be prolonged. No one thing conduc.
ed more to this than his leaving his house
as it was, simply fastening down the wiH.
dows, and giving the key to Atkins. There
was no danger, he said, that any white
man would disturb 1t Cramps were un-
known in those days; and as for the clark
les" they wouldn't venture it in the day
time, and no one OF them would dare GO
near the house at night.
On the morning of his departure Atkins,
whom he had asked to be present, received
the door-key from his hand, and was the
only one 10 see him throw his saddle. bags
across his horse, and take the lonely road
among the bills toward Wilkesville and
Virginia.
Under ordinary circumstances, had a Sec
ond month followed the first without bring
ing news from the traveller, it would not
have caused much comment beyond the
remark that he was "taking ii mighty easy"
He had told Atkins that the limit of his
journey would he a town which he named
in the interior of Pennsylvania, and that
he would there communicate its result.
When four weeks went by, quite a lively
expectation showed itself that the fifth
would bring word from Dempton. At the
sixth, the whole neighborhood was conf
dent, and looked blank when the post 2
produced nothing. Here the part Demp-
ton had played so well told powerfully.
Caught badly once in yielding over readily
TO suspicion, their minds were slow TO turn
that way again. Every squeal OF Dempton's
pig, and mooing of his COW, was an appeal
in his favor. The key of his house would
have burned Atkins's fingers had he han
died it suspectingly.
Still, it was generosity, not stupidity,
that was enlisted on his side. All at once
the idea awoke in almost every mind that
such a mystery could not be left to sleep
out its third month, while they waited for
what some of them began to think might
never come. Where people act under such
circumstances they are apt TO make up for
lost time by an eXaggerstion OF vigor.
Their patience swung over 10 the opposite
extreme. Their quietness became clamor.
The stir throughout the community was
unparalleled. A demonstration of some
kind was inevitable. A spark would have
kindled it, and cry live coal was sudden
ly thrown into the imflammable heap.
The Postmaster had remembered that the
letter mentioned already as having been
received by Dempton was in answer TO one
of his own addressed TO "Sprague Tomp-
kins, Esq.," in the town 10 which he told
Atkins he was going. To this person Atkins
bad written, stating the circumstances OF
Dempton's departure, and inquiring about
his movements. The reply disclaimed all
knowledge on the subject, and sharply add
ed, that by a slowness which seemed to the
writer extraordinary, they had probably
given a crafty criminal who counted upon
II, ample time to escape. There was large
gathering at the store, in expectation Of
news, when this letter arrived and the
moment it was read aloud, as it was called
for, the whole thing seemed as clear as day.
They were made very mad by such suub-
bing from a yankee lawyer" but the
deeper feeling was Of indignation at being
the dupes of Dempton. In two or three
hours time, the whole community had
risen en- mdSSe, and lighted down on Dsmp-
toms pla lace-ransacking it TO the very in
side of an old tin kettle.
The negroes, of course, were there, but
trod gingerly and hunted in groups. Even
il it were broad daylight, not a "chile'
among them was going TO catch, or be
caught by, ''spook" unawares. They
peered, with Nep, nostrils dilated and spe-
clally intent, over the bank beneath which
he shifted the first suspicion of this new
excited history. Nep himself, with a COM
panion or two, ventured into the house and
up stairs. "Whar you gwine, Nep?" said
one of them as he led the way. "Why you
go up dsr fur?" But Nep persisted, with
a shake of his head, as ii he had at last
made up his mind; and up they went, re-
lieved 10 find they were not alone. Spicer,
the storekeeper, Atkins, and another re-
spectacle planter were in one of the back
rooms. engaged in earnest conversation
over the affair. swell, boysW said one OF
them, "there's nothing to be seen here;
you'd better go down again." "Yes,
mas'r," replied Nep, but still protruding
his head through the doorway, and staring
round with a peculiar expression that
a0r ha
fool" said Spicer, "the walls aren't going
to jump at you; what are you looking for3"
Nep fairly caught his breath as he answer
ed: "I-I-I don't see it, mas'r." "See
whatH what did you expect TO seer" "On-
ly door, mas'r; fought there was a door
hy'ar."
"Nep," said Atkins quietly, "come in
here" Nep obeyed, his skin getting a
Grayish tinge, and his eyes glancing round
rapidly. A tremendous scuttllng on the
stairway told what had become of his COM
panions.
Snow, Nep," said Atkins, "you've got
something to tell, and don't be scared about
it. Were you ever in here beioreH' "Neb-
ber, mas'r, so help me''-"There," inter-
rupted Atkins, "you needn't take your
oath just yet. Only tell us the truth and
all you know about it. If you were never
here before, what made you think there
was a door here 2'
I could not do justice to Nep's reply
without so large an infusion OF that ire
sistibly comic element which marks the
unsophisticatedl negro in his most serious
moments-and the more so on account of
his seriousness-as would hardly agree
with the tragic interest of the facts in volved.
Nep's part therein was, in itself, very
trihlng-but on what trlfles do the gravest
h