Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1898-11-05

that look of abandonment which only
becomes picturesque when nature has
usurped the prerogative Of man and
taken entirely to herself the empty
walls and falling easements Of what
was once human dwelling. That any
one should be living in it now and that
I, who have never been able to see a
chair standing crooked or a curtain
awry without sensation Of the keenest
discomfort, should be on the point Of
deliberately entering its doors as an in
mate filled me at the moment with
such sense of unreality that I descend
ed from the carriage in a sort OF
dream and was making my way through
one of the gaps in the high antique
fence that separated the yard from the
gateway when Mr.. Simsbury stopped
me and pointed out the gate
l did not think it worth while to
apologize, for the broken palings GER
tainly offered as good an entrance as
the gate, which had slipped from its
hinges and hung but few inches open.
But took the course he indicated, hold
ing up my skirts as well as my pack
ages would allow and treading gingerly
for fear of the snails and toads that in
numbered such portions of the path as
the weeds had left visible AS I went
on something in the silence Of the spot
struck me- Was ] becoming oversensi-
tive to impressions or was there some
thing really uncanny in the absolute
lack Of sound or movement in q dwell
ing Of such dimensions? But I should
not have said movement, for at that in
stant saw fash in one Of the upper
windows as of curtain being stealth
lily drawn and as stealthily let fall
again, and though it gave me the prom
Use of some sort Of greeting there was
furtiveness in the action that was 80 in
keeping with the suspicious Of Mr..
Gryce that | felt my nerves braced at
once to mount the half dozen uninvit-
ing looking steps that led to the front
door.
But no sooner had done this with
what l am fain to thing was my best
air than suddenly collapsed with what
must have been movement Of sudden
and to me quite comprehensive fear,
for. while l do not quail before men
and have a reasonable fortitude in the
presence Of most dangers corporeal and
moral, I am not quite myself in face Of
rampant and barking dog. 1t is my
one weakness. can divulge that much
now, and while l usually can, and un-
der most circumstances do, succeed in
hiding any outward manifestation Of
my inner trepidation always feel that
it would be happy day for me when
dogs would be banished from the affec-
tions and homes of men. Then think
I would begin to live in good earnest
and perhaps enjoy trips into the country
which now, for all my apparent bravery,
/ regard more in the light Of penance
than pleasure.
Imagine, then, how hard I found it
to retain my self possession or even any
appearance of dignity when at the mo-
ment was stretching forth my hand
toward the knocker of this inhospitable
mansion heard rising from somewhere
never rightly knew where the howl Of
dog so keen, piercing and prolonged
that it frightened the very birds over
my head and sent them flying from the
vines in clouds.
It was the unhappiest kind Of well
come for me. did not know whether it
came from within or without, and when
after moment Of indecision ! saw the
door open I am not sure whether the
smile I called up to grace the occasion
had any of the real Amelia Butterworth
in it, so much was my mind divided be-
tween a desire to produce favorable
impression and very decided and not
to be hidden fear of the dog who had
greeted my arrival with such an omi-
nous howl.
"Call off the dogp' cried almost
before l saw what sort of person was
addressing.
Mr.. Gryce, when told him Of this
later, said 1 could not have made more
significant intrnducli"n Of myself to
Knolly's mansion.
TO BE CONTINUED.