Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-05-24
CHAPTER VI.

Il
and moving quickly aside struck a match
and peered around. BY its light could
discern the form of O man standing near the
edge of the thicket. Rising to my feet
took down the lantern and lighted 1T.
There standing before me was the grinniDg
mute who had admitted me to the house.
My uncle, who was still kneellng,. rose
feebly to his feet, his eyes wet with tears.
Good friend" said he, taking the Ian
tern from me and handing 1t to the mute.
"He always comes for me here"
We followed the old servant in silence
through the thick boughs of cedar until
we came TO the door of O low-rooted
wooden building that stood by itself in
the thicket. The mute opened the door,
ushering us into q small room containing
bed and some simple furniture. A COM
Portable wood fire was burning in large
open stove, and we both sat down ia front
of il shiverinG from exposure to the chilly
air of the night. My uncle handed key
TO the mute, who unlocked cupboard,
taking from it decsnter of whiskey,
which he set before us with glasses.
1T will warm you," said my uncle,
mourning out the spirits. Il have seen my
wife. She always comes 10 me there
when the light goes out. She knows your
heart better than l. We shall leave Rayel
TO your care. II is the last time shall
come here. My work is nearly finished"
We emptied our glasses In silence, but
nv mind was busy thinking on those i'm
pressive words: She always comes to me
there-when the light goes out"
1t was strange-this going out OF the
light Just at that moment. Was 1t not pos
sible, | asked myself, that the lantern.
being always hung on the same projec-
ton, was thus in the way OF current OF
air passing down the trunk of the tree when
a INST of wind struck its lofty branchesi II
so the knot would naturally conduct the
current into the opening at the top of the
lantern. Ny reflections were interrupted
by my uncle, who rose, and, taking cam
die. asked me to accompany BIN. fol-
lowed into cellar filed with casks and
barrels containing, as / supposed, wine and
provisions fo2 future use. Returning we
passed through O large room In one end OF
which many boxes and barrels were stored.
I afterward learned that there was q large
garden and poultry-yard in this lonely
nook where my uncle's only servant was
seauestered.
/ was glad when we started back through
the thicket, for the hour was late and felt
the need of sleep.
"He gives us our food" said my uncle,
when we were at length in the courtyard.
"We have enough of everything needfui-
but little meat. 1t destroys mental power.
Ii is fools food"
Next day my uncle was unable TO leave
his bed. determined to go to the hotel
for nv baggage and to post some letters,
one of which gave Mr.. Earl an account of
my experiences since the October night
when / became an inmate of that house.
II was midwinter now and the long
stretches of pasturage and meadow Iaud
outside the walls were blasted and sere.
when the old mute whom had seen twice
before let me out of the big gate. When l
returned he was there to open the gate for
me and help ME with my baggage,
/ found Rayel at his fathers bedside.
The sick man was asleep and / went at once
20 the library. where Rayel soon came, as
was his custom in the afternoon, for les
son in talking. Both my uncle and myself
had taken great pains to teach him this ac-
| compllshment, and his progress had been
even more rapid than we thought possible.
He caught the significance of words with
astonishing ease, but found some difficulty
In producing their sound. Hewent about it
| with great patience. however. repeating the
hardest words after me until he was able to
| pronounce them correctly. But although
the work was often tedious we both got
much fun out of II. | had never heard the
| sound OF laughter in that house. One day
broke its solemn spell by laughing hearth
~ at the grotesque distortion OF my
cousins lace Incidental TO the production
OF difficult sound. He stopped suddenly
and looked at me, half alarmed. This
made me laugh the heartier, aud be grasped
my hand with the serious air OF piysi-
clan feeling the pulse of his patient. Being
assured there was no danger he INDUCED
| in little of-hsnd cachination hlmself.
and was. judged, well pleased with the
| trial. for he repeated IL frequently after
ward and greatly TO his amusement.
The word woman and others related
TO II puzzled him not little, for no had
never seen woman. except through the
medium Of my own mind and that of his
father. The subject interested HIN and
no gave much serious thought TO II, aues-
/ tioninR me closely at some Of our inter-
views. AZ II dissatisfied with the idea con-
yeyed 10 him. Our discussions, however,
had reached some numbering chord In
him, which once touched stirred bis blood
With It's vibrations. ! do not think hia
! isolation could have lasted much longer,
tor be became restless and eager to see the
| world.