The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-11-08

it that keeps s=711 Evidently it refers to-.
the Evil One, to whom she belongs.
And the friend you know but cannot
see.' Who would that be but the author
of all evil? will always provide for
YOU Is not that full testimony to her
league with the devil? He whom she
cannot see will provide"
While the minister was making these
running comments the Squire read the
note through, holding it at arms length.
What shall you do with it2" he asked
when the min ster had finished.
That is just what wished to consult
you about. Shall I preserve it as evi.
dence against this-person, or shall
burn itf I must confess that I was
strongly tempted to do. the latter. think
ing only OF Ine sarery OF my ramiiy.
But perchance l had better keep it," con-
cluded the min lister, with sigh.
by no means, beg of you, my dear
SIR" responded the Squire, earnestly.
He who holds the devils writing will
soon have the writer in his house. 1t is
by Gods grace that he has not come to
claim his own ere now
But just as the minister was about to
drop the piece of bark into the fire. the
study door opened, his eldest daughter
entered, and the minister, instead,
dropped it upon the table near him.
Achsah was clad in white from head to
foot, and to the two men, whose imagina-
tion was excited with thoughts of witch
craft. she appeared like specter. And,
indeed, the appearance of the girl at such
q moment ana Ill SUCH manner was
startling. She was now tall and slender.
and her height was greatly increased by
the long robe of white; her face was pale
and would have appeared deathlike had
it not been for the piercing black eyes,
which seemed to CLEAN with an unholy
light, as she stood in silence and gszed
inio the fire. A log upon the hearth
broke in two and fell between the and
irons and blazed up afresh. As the flames
sprang up and illuminated her face with
their rosy light, the imagination OF tho
Squire saw plainly the traces of some
strange power which was working upon
her. and he felt as if be were indeed in
the presence of an unfortunate one over
whom the evil one was lowering. He
shivered and involuntarily passed his
hand over his eyes.
"Achsah, what do you want2" asked the
minister anxiously.
Il came in for that" said the girl,
pointing to the birch bark. The two men
looked at each other in silence. Achsah
reached out her hand and took the note,
walked stifay across the room and laid it
upon the open desk by the window. This
done, she returned, sat down upon a
stool st her fathers feet and became ab-
sorbed in watching the flames in the fire.
place as they leaped up from the burn
ing wood.
Horror-stricken, the minister and the
Squire sat in silence also, watching her.
Soon the door opened and Ashubah, the
younger child, came quietly in. and, with.
out needing the group by the fire, walked
directly to the desk and took up the
birch bark. which she gazed at as il
charmed and unable to turn her eyes
away.
Achsah arose from her seat, went owe,
to her sister and without uttering word,
took the note from her and laid it back
upon the desk
Ashubah made no protest but returned
with her sister and sat down on the op.
posite side Of the fire.
Neither uttered word or appeared con.
scious Of the Squire's presence. Both
seemed to be in trance, 30 still were
they, and so supernatural was their still.
ness Tor ones so young.
The Squire watched Achsah, who was
seated in the shadow of the fireplace near
him, the more closely. For about five
minutes, but which 10 the excited. man
seemeI ike an hour, she sat perfectly
motionless.' Her first emotion was =
shudder, and then the Squire saw o look
Of fear pass over her face and transform
her features. Her eyes turned to the
window. In looking around to follow
her gaze. he saw that her sister was af.
fected in the same way, and that the
minister was pale and trembling.
Our enemy is near!" he gasped, IS he
net the Squire's eye.
Looking then towards the window, to
see what had 30 terrified the girls, he saw
q black fantastic face peering into the
room from the outer darkness. The light
from the fire fell upon the window and
made the sight most ghastly. It was a
large head, surmounted with fantastic
cap, from which the Squire could see two
small horns protruding. The face was
d rk, except in places where touches OF
paint illuminated it, and wore malis-
nart sneer as it's sharp black eyes watch
ed the covering minister and his daugh-
tiers.
Did YOU see that face?" asked the
Suuire in o low voice which trembled
with fear.
NO, but knew it was near. You see
the effect. o, God have mercyl" And the
minister bowed down and hid his face IN
his hands.
The girls, however, never took their
eyes from the particular pane of glass at
which the face had appeared. And it was
curious to note the different effect this
apparition had upon the two. Ashubah,
after the first shudder, recovered her
calm manner and placid face, while
Achsah, from trembling passed into an
exulting state and sat smiling and re-
turning grimace for grimace with the
head outside.
If tie Squire for moment supected
this face to be that of some boy bent
upon a frolic, the suspicion was soon
d spelled, when, after the minister had
hid his face in his hands. he saw his eyes
bent intently upon an object lying upon
the desk. It was watching the note which
Achsah had placed there. She also, 1t
seemed. had observed the look, for she
arose and started toward it. But before
she could reach the desk pane of glass
was dashed in, a black, hairy arm thrust
Quickly through the aperture and hand
prasped the note. Achsah uttered cry.
The whole was done SO quickly that
when the minister looked up, startled by
the sound of breaking glass and Achsa6~
cry, the arm had been withdrawn 100
piece of bark had disappeared. The cry
Of the girl was answered by a harsh,
grating laugh, which Was echoed from
the woods around, and for half an hour
peals of diabolical merriment were heard
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