The Holly chieftain., 1898-07-01

le8ulng 10 the street small trnnSOm.
Through the dust and moisture-be-
grimed glass few rays of light pene.
trated. producing a twilight gloom in
the apartment, but not SO deep that we
were unable to see.
One of the old counters still reniained,
and scattered over the floor were a
few empty boxes and barrels. Thought
of the white-haired old man whose form
had been SO familiarly associated with
the room. and glanced over to the
corner with a fancy that he was here
still. seated behind the desk.
why. where's de door gomez" Sarah
cried out, in tones Of excitement.
"What door. Sarah?"
"Nel, you know, you remember. Der
used to be door to de store cellar,
and now dere amt any"
Sarah was right. There had been a
doorway. through which I had stolen
many times for the purpose Of filling
my pockets with raisins and dried fruit.
There was none now. The wall Of solid
masonry confronted US.
1t really seemed . matter Of very
little Importance, but Sarah kent up
excited exclamations about 1t, until I
finally stopped her.
why. Sarah. I don't see anything very
strange in the walling up Of cellar
doorway. No doubt Mr.. Sonntag, nv
lawyer, had 1t done. I remember the
place was dark, damp and unhealthy.
He thought it best to have It closed
up. perhaps. There was another door
from that cellar leading outside. was
there not?"
Eyes, right unter your bedroom vim
dow" Sarah answered.
We'll, that can be easily broken down
II you want to get in the place. But
what would be the use of all that
trouble? don't want to use the cell
lar"
But then I remembered the noise
which had seemed to come from be-
meath my bedroom, and the cause of
which was unable to discover through
out the rest of the house.
I'VE might take look at the other
door," finally said, refectively.
We ascended the stairway and went
around the house. Thick vines, reach
Ing to my bedroom window, completely
hid the outside cellar door.
parted the vines, and found again
the solid foundation wall. This door
way had also been walled up.
Sarah was 30 greatly impressed by
this new discovery that her excited ex-
clamations broke out anew, and she
again began to plead with me to leave
the place.
Again / sought to quiet her fears by
laughing Mt her, although it did seem
trife strange that my agent should
have walled up the doorways. l was sat
isficd he had had it done, and won
dered what his reasons could have been.
Perhaps, after all, Mrs. Snyder was
right in affirming that there were mys-
teries about the old house. Perhaps
this walled-up cellar was the seat OF
supernatural demonstrations, and my
agent had sealed It up for that reason.
II do not intend to lose any sleep
over It," said, lightly. "Sonntag must
have had good reasons for doing this,
and can easily find out what they were
by driving over and seeing him. Iwant
to have talk with him, anyhow"
Here the rumble Of wheels reached
my ear: Al 1 glanced down the road
why and saw the approaching turnout,
why did my heart beat faster and .
dimness cloud my sight?
Mrs. Snyder had also glanced in that
direction. well. now look, MFR. Nel,"
she began. excitedly. "You can see
yourself how dey look. Dey is coming.
Dat is de Morleys."
My heart had given me the informa-
tion before the widows tongue.
There were two persons in the light
road-wagon which was being whirled
toward US at q rapid rate by the spir-
tied horses. could not be mistaken in
the graceful poise Of the head and the
general outlines of beauty about the
young lady, nor in the grave dignity OF
the man.
The carriage swept along. When
nearly opposite US, the young woman
evidently caught sight of the group
standing back from the roadway, for
she leaned forward and sent glance
past her father toward us. saw, even
though my sight was dimmed by emo
tion. her face turn pale and her eyes ex-
pand. She gave no other sign OF rec
ognition, however, and the carriage
swept by.
And this was all. After year of sep
aration, year of longing and home.
sickness, I was greeted with stare by
the girl who had declared she would al
ways trust and believe in me.
watched the wagon until a bend in
the road hid 1t from view. and then still
looked toward the spot where 1t had
disappeared.
touch on my arm recalled my
thoughts. and I glanced around into
the solicitous face of my old nurse.
II guess de young woman is putty"
said Mrs. Snyder. "Ach, and you dinl
SO, too, Mr.. Mel"
Eyes, she il beautiful. very beauti-
full" I murmured, more to myself than
for answer to the widows clumsy at
tempt at pleasantly.
Sarah's watchful old eyes and the
promptings Of her affection for me dis
cerned something more in the fixed
gaze had sent after the wagon than q
suddenly awakened admiration.
"Vhat I'D. Mel? Do you know her?"
the good soul asked, anxiously.
"I'll, tell you some time,r answered.
Yes, yes; beautiful indeed was Flor.
ence, loveiier than ever, and good and
true-well, I did not seem to feel SO sure
Of her faith. She had passed me by
without extending "A salutation. ]