Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1898-12-07

know existed in my nature, and while
with this recognition Of my feminine
susceptibility to impressions there came
a certain pride in the stanchness of pur-
pose which led me to restrain all 40.
knowledgment Of it by any recourse to
my whistle, l was more than glad when
even this sound ceased and had only
to expect the swishing noise Of skirt
down the hall, and that stealthy lock-
ing Of door / had taken the precau.
tion of leaving.
It came sooner than expected, came
just in the way it had the previous
night, only that the person paused a
moment to listen before fastening back.
The silence within must have satisfied
her, for l heard a low sigh like that of
relief before the steps took themselves
back. That they would turn my way
gave me momentary concern, but, no,
I had too completely lulled their sus-
picions, or let me be faithful to all the
possibilities Of the case, they put per-
haps too much confidence in the powder
with which they had seasoned my
nightly cup Of tea for them to doubt
that was soundly asleep in my own
quarters.
Three minutes after had followed
those steps as far down the corridor as I
dared to go, for since my last appear
ance in it a candle had been lit in the
main hall, and faint as was it's glimmer
it WAS still glimmer into the circle Of
which felt 1t would be foolhardiness
for ME to step. At some 20 PAGES then
from the opening I paused and gave
myself up to listening. Alas, there was
plenty now for me to hear.
You have heard the sound; we all
have heard the sound, but few Of US in
a desolate structure such as 1 stood lis
tening in and at the hour and under the
influences of midnight. The measured
tread of men struggling under heavy
weight and that weight-how we'll !
knew it; as well as il had seen it, as ]
really did in my imagination.
It came from the adjoining corridor,
from the room l had found no oppor-
tunity Of entering that day, and it ap-
preached surely and slowly the main
hall near which I was standing, but in
such position it would be impossible
for me to see anything if they took the
%1 Ln haol ~ tho 70 irc
and 80 down, as there was every reason
to expect they would. did not dare to
advance, however, 30 concentrated my
faculties anew upon listening, till sud-
denly I perceived on the great white
wall in front of me-the wall Of the
main hall, I mean, toward which the
opening looked-the outline Of shadow
pass and realized that the candle had
been placed in such a position that the
wall must receive the full shadow of
this passing cortege. And so it was
saw it, huge, distorted and suggestive
beyond any picture ever beheld, the
passing Of a body to its long home, car
ried by six anxious figures, four OF
which seemed to be those Of women.
But that long homel Where was that
likely to be? 1t was question so i'm
portant that for moment Icould think
Of nothing but how ! could follow them
without running the risk Of discovery.
They had reached the head Of the stairs
by this time, and l heard Miss Knollys'
low, firm voice enjoining silence. Then
they began to descend.
Ere they reached the foot doubt
struck me. Would it be better to follow
them or to take the opportunity of every
member of the household being engaged
in this task to take peep into the room
where the death had occurred? I had
not decided when I heard them take the
forward course from the foot Of the
stairs to what to my straining eal
seemed to be the entrance to the dining
room corridor. But as in my anxiety to
determine this fact I slipped far enough
forward to make sure that their destina
tion lay somewhere within reach Of the
flower parlor, I was so struck by the ad
vantages to be gained by cautious use
Of the trapdoor in Williams room that
! hesitated no longer, but sped with
what swiftness I could toward the spot
from which I had so lately heard thil
strange procession come.
A narrow band Of light lying across
the upper end Of this long corrido,
proved that the door was not only ajar,
but that second candle was burning II
the room 1 was about to so daringly in
wade, but this was scarcely to be regret
ted since there could be no question o1
the emptiness of the room. The six fig
ures had seen 90 by embraced every
one who by any possibility could bt
considered as having part in this trans
action-William, Mr.. Simsbury, Miss
Knollys, Lucetta, Hannah and Mother
Jane. No one else was left to guard
this room, so I pushed the door oper
quite boldly and entered.
What l saw there will relate later,
or, rather, 1 will but hint at now.
There were a bed with sheet thrown
back, stand covered with walls, q bu'
reau with q mans shaving parapher
MALTA upon it, and on the wall such pic
lures as only sporting gentlemen deligh,
in. The candle was guttering on small
table upon which, to my momentary as
tonishment, a Bible lay open. Not hav'
ing my glasses with me, could not see
what portion Of the sacred word was
thus disclosed, but ! took the precau
ton to indent the upper leaf with my
thumb nail, that might find it again II
case of future opportunity. My atten'
tion was attracted by other small mat
ters that would be food for thought al
a more propitious moment, but at that
instant the sound Of voices coming dis
tinctly to my ear from below warned