Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1894-12-16
ECHOES AMONG TIE HILLS.
A STORY OF WEST VIRGINIA.
[Copmiahtea bu ne Aulhor.l
TCONTINUED.
CHAPTER V.
vIeILANcE I'D REsULTs.

their demeanOr proving decidedly oI-
fsrent from what was anticipated. The
one who had inquired about Mrs. Levoy
and whose daily appearance on the
premises had been so OdiOuS 70 all hau
ceased 20 come about aud In conse-
ouence Mrs. Sevoy had resumed her
walks about the yard, but they were OF
less frequency than before, and 10 was
always unusually circUmspective, sell
dom being outOf q position com mandlng
an unObstrueted view OF the path IRE
ouented by the soldiers; and Richie was
allowed, with some restrictions, TO play
upon the porch and near the house, out
not TO visit the soldiers, although he oc-
casionally begged TO do so.
When, the morning after his vigil
lance, Moke Informed his mistress and
his mother OF bis failure TO see anything
of suspicious character their anxiety
was greatly relieved, and greatly more
so when several subsequent vigil
lances terminated rs favoraoly;
but their relief was destined 10
receive a damper from a wholly unex-
pected incident that Mandy Glanced TO
witness.
She had started TO the well and on
stepping from the porch she saw the
detested soldier with BUCKET IN eacn
hand coming through the yard, and the
dread of being again accOsted 0Y him
caused her 20 return at once 70 the
Kitchen where she remained until be
had filed mis- buckets from the we'll and
disappeared around the house. After
allowing him sufficient time 20 get out
o. the ward she went TO the we'll, and as
she pumDed she glanced abOnt TO see II
he could be seen and was surprised 10
see him seated upon bench M the
shade OF clump of lilacs some distance
Oft. she slightly changed her position
that she might ses more distinctly, aud
then she beheld something that caused
her 20 throw up her hands aud give
low cry Of anguish. BeS de the man
and apparently iu an ali-aOsOrbing con-
versation with him sat Mrs. SevOy. a
sense of confusion and mys,ihcation
nearly overCame the old uegresS, but she
shortly grew more composed and listen
ed attentively with the hope Of over
hearing a part Of the conversation, but
lust then the two arose and the man
took up his buckets aud continued
toward the camp while Mrs. Sevoy hur-
ried into the house evidently under the
been witnessed by any one.
A few minutes later Mandy and
her mistress were busiy dis
russing the mysterious affair,
but the longer they discussed IL the
more puzzled they became. What the
ladV meant by Clandestine meeting
with man whose presence she had Tor
weeks given them every reason 20 be-
al . rs So HrrrUrl 20
avoid, wys mystery far TOO profound
for them TO arrive al anything IKE
plausible solution.
The following night Moke, not
altogether satisfied with his former
nocturnal watches, had concluded 70
keen another, besides a bird had early
that morning flown into his cabin, ana
tbis be we'll knew presaged evil within
the following tWentY-tour honrs, aud be
was confident that IL would come some
time during the night. lie promptly
took his seat at his cabin window, and
during the short intervals that he did
not sleep looked cautiously out, his gun
being conveniently at hand charged
with a silver bullet, be having always
understood that no other than missiles
Of such metal would be of avail In
ghostly encounters, aud 10 conseQ
had moulded one OF dime that he had
earned In some manner from a soldier.
At about the same hour that he had
previously seen the spectre like object
that had so greatly puzzled and alarmed
himself aud the others, similar appari-
tion was Observed Fastening across the
yard In q direction Of the house.
There was'not the slightest nOise-Only
a shadOwy something resembling a wo
man moving rapidly along among the
the trees. Quickly as possible, without
taking time TO think, the excited negro
thrust his guh through a broken pane
of the window and discharged IL. The
report swOke Mandy, VINO was sleeping
I'm the kitchen, and arising hurriedly
and opening the door, she discovered
Moke aud LOOP standing before their
cabin talking )and pointing about ex-
cltedly.
'.It wa dat s8mething ag'in, NANNY
shouted MOke tn response 70 Mandy's
INQUIRY 10 reference 20 the shooting.
Loop declare4 that what Moke had
seen vas nothing but a eat, but Moke
ridiculed the idea, for he was convinced
what 10 was fhis time. IL was
no cat nor ghostAbuJ a real woman.
MANDY remained at the door while
her sons searched the yard, hoping to
discover the singular being, but their
efforts we're vain( A strange feeling
was much aggravated by one of the
hounIs creeping upl TO her and looking
I'm her face with glowing eyes and whin-
ing piteOusly, his &anner suggesting
familiarity with thu mystery Of that
NIGHT and that be waPted only speech
In order 20 divulge IT, \ She babe him
begone 70 the kennel
The following morningl MOke, as was
mis- custom, appeared at the kitchen 70
assist his mother 10 her matin duties.
He carried a sulicientQuantitG Of wood
and water, then sitting on st6ol placed
his feet upon the window sill a bd gazed
pensIvely into the Yard.
"Yah said wat yuh seed lasN night
wa de same thing dat yuh seed t'Pthah
time. an dat it wa a woman, his
mother presently remarked.
eyes. lt wa jiS de same thing; In it
wa a woman, a iC0mQR,' responded
Moke. arising and pacing the toor4 his
appearance and action suggesting 3hat
he possessed information which Would
he rainful and yet a relief for hiuf to
reveal NANNY. / wish l hadn't iaRed
At n beca'ss the minute l done itl /
seed 40 wa woman an no ghost-yels,
a woman. an dat woman wa MiSreSs
Sevoy, shoe!
This positive assertion shocked MANI
DIV so violently that she staggered and
L.