Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1898-11-16
CHAPTER VIII
ON THE STAIRS.


ON THE STAIRS.
I did not wake up till morning. The
room was so dark that l do not know as
should have wakened then if my hab-
its of exact punctuality had not been
aided by a gentle knock at my door.
"Who's there?" | called, for could
not say "Come in" till had moved my
bed and made way for the door to open.
Hannah with warm water" said q
voice, at which made haste to rise.
Hannah was the woman who had wait
ed on us at dinner.
The sight Of her pleasant countenance,
which nevertheless looked trif1e hag-
gard l thought, was welcome relief
after the somber features Of the night.
Addressing her with my usual brusque-
ness, but with quite my usual kindness,
asked how the young ladies were feel
ing this morning.
Her answer made a great show Of
frankness
"Oh, they are much as usual, " said
she. "Miss Loreen is in the kitchen and
Miss Lucetta will soon be here to in
quire how you are. hope you passed a
good night yourself, ma'am."
had slept more than ought to per-
haps and made haste to reassure her as
to my own condition. Then seeing that
little talk would not be unwelcome to
this hearty woman, tired to death posi-
bly with life in this dreary house, l
made some excuse for keeping her few
minutes, saying as did so:
"What an immense dwelling this is
for four persons to live in, or have you
another inmate which have not seen?'
I thought her buxom color showed a
momentary sign of failing, but it all
came back with her answer, which was
given in round, hearty voice.
"Oh, I'm the only maid. madam. |
cook and sweep and all l couldn' t
abide another near me Even Mr.. Sims
bury, who tends the COW and horse and
who only comes in for his dinner, wor-
rits me by spells like to have my
own way in the kitchen, except when
the young ladies choose to come in. Is
there anything more you want, ma am,
and will you have tea or coffee for
breakfast?'
l told her that ! always drank coffee
in the morning and would have liked
to have added another question or two,
but she gave me no chance AS she
went out saw her glance at my candle
stick. There was only half burned end
in it. She is calculating, too, how long
sat up, thought l.
Lucetta stood at the head Of the stairs
as / went down.
"Will you excuse me for a few mo-
ments?" said she Il am not quite
ready to follow you, but will be soon. y
II will take look at the grounds
I thought she hesitated for a mo-
ment; then her face lighted up "Be
sure you don't encounter the dog" she
cried and slipped hastily down a side
hall I had not noticed the night before.
"Ah, good way to keep me in,
thought L "ButI shall see the grounds
yet if 1 have to poison that dog" Not
withstanding, made no haste to leave
the house. Some might think that Lu'
cetta had got the better Of me, but
that is not a good reason for placing
myself in uncalled for danger. 1 don't
believe in tempting Providence, espe
cially where dog is concerned
Instead of that stood still and look
ed up and down the halls, endeavorine
to get some idea of their plan and o1
the location of my own room in refer
ence to the rest.
I found that the main hall ran a,
right angles to the long corridor dowr
which I had just come, and noting thai
the doors opening into it were of SIZE
and finish vastly superior to those hac
passed in the corridor just mentioned
Judged that the best bedrooms all lay
front and that had been quartered a
the end of what had once been consid
cred as the servants hall. At my right
as looked down the stairs ran wal
with a break beyond which was wha
looked like an opening into another cor
ridor, and indeed | afterward learned
that the long series of rooms of which
mlQe WAS puc ltiSI udO lIS COuulCl peaA
on the other side Of this enormou
dwelling, giving to the house the shap
of a long, square U.
Twas looking in some wonderment a
this opening and marveling over tn
extravagant hospitality Of those day
which necessitated such a number o
rooms in a private gentleman's hom
when heard a door open beyond it ant
two voices speaking. One was rougl
and careless, Enthusiastically that of Viii
liam Knollys. The other was slow ant
timid and was just as unmistakabl,
that of the man who had driven me t.
this house the day before. They wer
talking of some elderly person and ha'
good sense enough not to allow my in
dignation to blind me to the fact tina