Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1898-11-19

gan; but, feeling that this was a prevari-
cation not only unworthy Of me, but
one that he was entirely too sharp to
accept, I added stifly: lit is for my
door. l am not accustomed even at
home to sleep with my room unlocked. "
"Oh," he murmured, totally uncon-
vinced, II thought you might have got
scare. Folks somehow are afraid Of
that old place, it's so big and ghostlika
don't think you would find any one in
this village that would sleep there all
night"
"a pleasing preparation for my rest
there tonight" I grimly laughed
Dangers on the road and ghosts in
the house. Happily I don't believe in
the latter"
The gesture he made showed incredu-
lity. He had ceased rapping with the
key or even to show any wish to join
his assistant. All his thoughts for the
moment seemed to be concentrated on
me.
"You don't know little Rob-" he in
quired. 1.-THE crippled lad who lives at
the head Of the lane"
"No," I said; II haven't been in
town a day yet, but mean to know
Rob and his sister too. Two cripples in
one family rouse my interest,"
He did not say why he had spoken Of
him, but began tapping with his key
again.
"And you are sure you saw nothing"
he whispered. Lots of things can hap
pen in lonely road like that.
"Not if everybody is as afraid to en-
ter it as you say your villagers are." 1
retorted.
But he didn't yield jot
"Some folks don't mind present dan.
gers, =" said he. "Spirits''-
But he received no encouragement in
his return to this topic. "You don't be-
lieve in spirits?'' said he. "Well, they
are doubtful sort Of folks, but when
honest and respectable people such as
live in this town, when children even,
see what answers to nothing but phan-
toms, then I remember what wiser man
than any Of us once said But perhaps
you don't read Shakespeare, MADAME"
Nonplused for the moment, but In.
terested in the mans talk more than
was consistent with my need Of haste, I
said with some spirit, for it struck me
as very ridiculous that this country me-
chanic should question my knowledge
of the greatest dramatist Of all time,
Shakespeare and the Bible form the
staple Of my reading" At which he
gave me little nod Of apology and has
tened to remark:
"Then you know what mean-Hsm-
let's remark to Horatio, madam, There
are more things, etc. Your memory
will readily supply you with the words. !"
signified my satisfaction and perfect
comprehension of his meaning, and feel.
ing that something more important lay
behind his words than had yet appeared
endeavored to make him speak more
explicitly.
1.-THE Misses Knollys show no terror
Of their home," observed. "They can
not believe in spirits either"
"Miss Knollys is woman OF great
deal Of character" said he. . "But look
at Lucetta. There is face for you, for
girl not yet ont Of her twenties, and
such a round checked lass as she was
once! Now what has made the changer
The sights and sounds Of that old house,
say. Nothing else would give her that
scared look-nothing merely mortal, !
mean"
This was going a step too far. could
not discuss Lucetta with this stranger,
much as I would like to have known
just what he had to say about her.
II don't know" I demonstrated, tax
ing up my black satin bag, without
which I never stir. Zone would think
the terrors Of the lane Sis lives In might
account for some appearance OF fear ON
her part. I"
Eyes," said he, but with no very
hearty admittance, 80 1t might But
Lucetta has never spoken Of those dan
gers. The people in the lane do not
seem to fear thsm at all It Is We out.
siders who don't know what to make Of
the thing. Even Deacon Spear says that,
set aside the wickedness Of the thing,
he rather enjoys the quiet which the III
repute Of the lane gives him. I don't
understand this myself. I have no rel
ish for mysteries like that or for ghosts
either.
"You won't forget the key" I said,
preparing to walk out, in my dread lest
he would introduce again the subject Of
Lucetta.
"No," said he, II won't forget It. I"
But there was something not quite
hearty in his voice which should have
warned me that I need not expect to
have locked door that night