Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1888-07-25
The Sturp Teller.
THE MINUET.

We were all sitting around the CRATE fire
that cold August afternoon-Mattie with
her book, Cora and Jack in the corner near
the window, mildly flirting over game
of "patience," and crocheting, and occa-
sionally looking over Richards shoulder
at our house plans, which promised to be
unwieldy enough for State capitol by the
time they were fully elaborated.
GA cheerful group" said the doctor,
coming in with rush of chilly air, and,
stopping before the CRATE, he lighted his
cigar with look of great contentment..
.'7sIt makes me perfectly seasick to see the
sky so dark and those great trees waving
in the wind" said Cora. "Mr. Haywood,
would you mind changing places with me
and letting me sit with my back to the
window"
"But cannot see you so well"
ssBut can see you so much better
please do-thank you very much. Mrs.
Ames, doesn't it give you a creepy feeling
to hear the wind signing in the chimney
like that?"
"Why, no; it only makes me feel how
what / do mind though, Cora; the creak.
ing of those boards in the floor upstairs"
TsWe will not have any creaky boards
when we get our new house built" mur-
INJURED Richard, dreamily.)
'Yes, I know; just like ghosts foot
steps. So much for the delights of house
in the country" said Cora.
ssOh, come now," interposed Jack;
"ghosts, have no footsteps. They glide
around, don't you know, in perfectly i'm
possible eerie manner and never were
known to make noise. You may have
seen ghost, but you never heard one"
81 have" said the doctor, unexpectedly.
"Really? Oh! do tell US when," ex-
claimed Cora, looking up with wide open,
startled eyes.
"Shall /? Do you want to hear the
story 90 asked the doctor. He spoke to US
all. but he looked at Matte. She smiled.
Matte never wasted any words, but he
seemed quite satisfied, and, leaning against
a corner of the mantel, he began.
ut was when was in Germany, hve
wears ago. I had got through with my
hospital work in New York, and went
abroad early in April, intending to stay
in Germany about six months. was al
most stranger in B., but for few let
tiers had to scientific men in the city, and
, since knew so little German determln-
ed to live with German family tor time
and cram the language. l liked this plan
extremely, so far as the German itself was
concerned, but was not especially charmed
with the German fashion OF sleeping De-
tween two feather beds, which my land
lady instructed me were to be shaken up
into the middle on cold nights, and on
warm nights to each side, SO as to leave
me nothing but the ticking for covering.
also had difficulty in procuring gener-
Gus supply of towels, and was still debat-
ing in my own mind whether to stay or
leave, when one of my German acquaint-
ances, a very jolly fellow by the name of
Albert, came to me one day after lecture
we had both attended. >.
'''My friend,' he said, for l made him
talk English with me, what say you to
taking bachelor quarters with me for
month 2"
"'When, Alberti?' asked. And then
he told me his plan. Some TRENDS OF ms
named Hoffman, were going unexpected
ly to one of the baths, servants and all, and
being quiet people, not much given to
iourneying, they were a little anxious
about their house, and had asked Alberti
ifhe would occupy it, as if it were his own,
until their return. So he proposed that
we should room together and dine where
we liked. do not know why he should
have chosen me Of all his friends to room
with him, but I liked him, and caught
eagerly at his proposal. We settled our
selves there the following week. It was
very old house and rather small one,
wedged in between two more pretentious
establishments, on quiet, pleasant side
street. 1t was prettily and quantity fur
nished; had modern upright piano IN
the parlor, and an antique porcelain stove.
All the little knick-knacks were packed
away, Albert said, for he had told his
friends, that he would not be responsible
for ANYTHING breakable, so the rooms had
comfortable airy look which man en-
Joys. We got our meals at a restaurant,
or cooked them ourselves, attended our
lectures or concerts, studied and walked
together, and nothing unusual happened
until Alberti came in one Friday night
saying:
"'My friend, have to 60 home to-mor-
row. hear my sister is sick. Shall you
mind being left alone night or two?
II assured him / should not mind IT.,
and helped him off the following day.
''It was the next night, Sunday night,
that came home o'clock from long,
solitary stroll and sat down in my window
upstairs to smoke pipe. 1t was beau
tiful, moonlight evening, and the air was
very still. Suddenly heard the tones OF a
piano, and put my head out of the window
to listen, but the sound did not seem to
come from the street, but from below me.
l listened intently, but it had ceased.
Presently it began again in the same way,
just note or two then over again. 1t was
Enthusiastically from down stairs. Next l
heard low chord, followed Immediately
by very sweet and charming melody
quite unfamiliar to me. 1t seemed to me
to be in a minuet time, and was played
ho CTR IalirQov
but in an old fashioned style, and with
scarcely any use Of the pedal.
II had locked the house when came in.
No one could have come in since. What,
then, was played down stairs? I deter
mined to 90 down stairs and see. The
house was so full of moonlight that did
not need candle to see my way. L de-
scended the staircase, still hearing the
sweet, full tones of the German piano, and
noiselessly throwing open the parlor door,
stood for moment upon the threshold:
"By the bright light which flooded that
part of the room, leaving the rest IN great
er obscurity, I could see that the piano
stool was empty, and yet the melody
went on. The air was full of it, and as |
accidently touched the piano case felt the
vibration.
II stood still a moment, beWlldered ;
then, going forward, I stretched out my
hand above the piano stool, little above
it. Instantly drew it back, tingling as
if had received and electric shock.
81 will not deny that 1 was frightened.
There was something so unaccountable in
the whole affair that l felt as if l must be
dreaming, especially since the music had
abruptly ceased.
"Alberti and l had number of specula-
tive conversations over our pipes. He