Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-02-22
EContlnned from first PACE


sure's you lib. seed light cross de
ribber. right 'bove de place whar Miss
Dempton must come down de night she
got drowned" He was afraid TO move al
first. aud started at the light, expecting
he did moi know what. There was no stir,
however, and he soon saw that ii was
higher up aud further back than the bank,
and came from the top of the
house itself His childish alarm changed
to chld's curiosity, aud he stood Tor
some minutes watching the shadow OF
the person who was holding the candle.
At last il seemed to be set down on the
floor. and the person who had it-appar-
entity Dempton himself-crossed the win
dow, aud opened what Nep was certain
was door, for he saw its dark substance
come before the light. and noticed also
the edge of its shadow drawn up and
down the window. Dempton presently
came back, closing the door behind
him, and bringing his own shadow
full against the window as he stopped to
take the candle up. All this must have
been noted by Nep with simple pleasure
at the idea of seeing so much OF what
Dempton was doing when he thought him
self unobserved. IL seq to myseli-gness
Masr Dempton would bowed dat light
out it he fought see 'um" Nep then
thought no more about it, but made his
way 10 the skiff, and crossed the stream.
did you never speak OF it ?"
.'Oh yes, mas'r-told de old woman
when ! got home. and some of the boys
de mex day. but dar wasn't muffin in it
and soon forgot all about it, till l came
hy'ar dis norma
We'll, what scared you so to-day when
you came in here ?'' Ii is not strange, for
such OBJ useness occasionally happens to
us at critical moments. But not one OF
his hearers seemed to catch as yet the
point of his story, of which the negro him
sell had only dim idea.
Dunno. mars; made me feel mighty
to come by ar whar seed Mars Dempton
all by hisself. 1t kind cum back to me.
and 'membered de candle on the floor,
ard de shadow OF de door; and when |
didn't see no door tall, seemed AS il dc
debbil must II been at work"
Il don't see that this nig's story goes
for much,n said Spicer;'' there's closet
10 the next room with u door 10 it SUP
pose it's there Demplon was"
$50 there is,' replied Atkins; 81 no.
ticed il when Demplon showed his wife 5
clothes hanging there. Now think OF it,"
continued Atkins. half to himself, rs if
Studying out the point, Il noticed. too,
in what clumsy way the door was hung,
SO that i. opened right back agains; the
window. and shut it up. Spicer that
door would have shut in all the light OF
the candle. and not let Nep see half of it,"
The three men stared al each other for
moment in silence.
Good heavens y exclaimed the plan
ter, who had hitherto said nothing: do
you suppose he could have hid the body
there" pointing to where the door, by
the negroes account. should have been.
land then walled it upP'
Spcer was leaning with his hands be-
hind him against the very spot, and shot
from it with convulsive spring. Atkins
raised his hands and eyes to heaven. Con-
viction came like flash with the words
just spoken. Nep disappeared, with how
much or little oi noise no one OF them
noticed till loud cry rose out of doors,
and, as those who saw him said, the ne
gro went tearing down the path. like a
crazy creature, crying. "Dey's foun' de
body !" and then suddenly the poor fell
low fell down in tit.
CoNTISUED TOMORROW.