Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1899-11-22

Mason hurried down stairs after
the farmer. eager and anxious to learn
the history Of the ring which his host
had promised to tell him.
He feared, however. from the indif-
ference with which he had treated the
subject that the farmer could have but
little to relate. If he had known Of a
tragedy connected with the fate of its
late possessor. he could not have hand
ed the relic so readily, so calmly. to
the first man who came to him with n
tale about it. On the other hand, it
seemed probable that Masson's in
quiries would set the farmer thinking
and that gratitude for services render
ed to his daughter might make him
ready to do his best to assist the doc.
tor In his researches into the mystery.
1t was not until after supper was
over, however. that Mason got 4
chance Of speaking upon the subject
SO near to his heart. The old woman
had disappeared: had gone up to
Gwyn. so the farmer explained. The
three men had the meal by themselves
Nothing was now good enough for the
stranger, whose first appearance had
been made so unpropitiously. The
farmer and his son both waited upon
him, pressed him to do justice to the
we'll spread board and treated him
with the utmost Difference and cour-
tesy.
There was a fourth plate upon the
table, which Mason supposed to have
been placed for the old woman. How
ever. when supper was half over, the
farmer rested his knife and fork for
an instant on the table and asked
shortly:
where's Merrick"
Tom, who was chary of his words
and who seemed also to speak English
with difficulty, shook his head.
81 declare" went on the farmer,
whose appetite had been so much af-
fected by his anxiety for his daughter
that he ate but little, I'D forgotten all
about the fellow. Hasn't he been ln?
I'm and out again." answered his son
lacOnically. when he heard"-
Tom turned his eyes slyly and shyly
in the direction Of the guest and said
no moro
The farmer turned to Mason.
"Too shy. the gr at oaf. to come In
when he hcarG OF a stranger being
here. sir" said he.
Another son Of yoursY' asked the
doctor.
mo, sir. but my hand on the farm.
He and me ana Tom does it all. 'c.pt-
ing for the help we used to get from
poor Gwyn. and eXtry hand or so In
the lambing season and to get In such
poor crops us we have up here. And
now. sir. If you please to smoke, will
you light up your pipe and take this
chair In the cornerT
Supper being over. Tom cleared the
table in the same awkward manner iu>l
which he had laid it. and then disIp-
peared. with half loaf Of brerd ID
one hand and heaped up pl9teful OF
meat in the other.
"They're pals. those tyo' saiu .he
farmer. jerking his herd back in the
direction his son hadtaken. as he went
up stairs himself % take another look
at his daughtf. Always hang TO-
gether. do AI<Trick and Tom"
And thu farmer shut the door be-
tween ne kitchen and the washhouse
with/a nod to Mason which was
neant as an apology for leaving him
to himself
Let alone, comfortably seated In the
large armchair by the glowing fire
which was built up Of peat and logs,
the young doctor stretched out his
legs in q mcment's blissful ease OF
body. a moments triumph Of the
frame over the spirit.
Worn out by the long days climbing
and struggling, straining Of the eyes
and stress Of the mind. Reginald Mas
son sat inert, motionless, with all his
faculties benumbed, in delicious,
drowsy sense Of peace. For q moment
even his desperate anxiety about his
brothers fate was dulled. He sat back
with his head on the old red cushion,
hearing the roaring and whistling OF
the wind without listening to 1t. the
Kissing Of the hard snow showers
against the window panes and the
cracking Of the fire as the flakes came
down the chimney and. melting MS
they fell, reached the glowing logs
which spluttered and then burned the
more tiercely for the moisture.
He closed his eyes, and presently,
lulled by the warmth, the comfort,
worn out by fatigue both of body and
mind, he sank into dOzc. Without
waking he found himself undergoing
q curious experience. He felt Or
dreamed or fancied that he was dying
and that the mourners who were to ac-
company his body to the grave side
were bending over him, waiting for
the end.
He thought or dreamed or fancied
that they grew impatient; that they
called each others attention to the
wind which was rising and to the
storm which was beginning to rage
and murmured that they must make
haste. make haste.
He heard the murmurS with some
faint surprise. but without any sensa'
ton so vivid as horror or fear. And
then he thought that hand was laid
upon his chest and that 1t crept closer
and closer to his face.
At that point he thought that he
cried out and sat up. And then the
murrnurs ceased. and the hand was
withdrawn,