Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1899-11-18
CHAPTER V.
A HOUSE OF MYSTERY.

Reginald Mason could not repress
an exclamation when he recognized his
brothers ring on the farmers hand.
He came step nearer, still with his
eyes steadily fixed OH the jewel. until
at last he touched it with his trembling
finger The farmer, who had watched
him in some surprise. frOwned and
drew back as the other advanced.
II beg your pardon" said Mason
quickly. "but-the ring on your finger
.-I-I-have only seen one like it be.
FORE" AS he spoke he came a step
nearer still and seized the farmers
hand. His own agitation increased as
he examined the ring more closely and
assured himself beyond doubt that u
was indeed his brothers. "l-l- Will
you tell me how you got it? You must
forgive the question. You will for
give it when | tell you that when
last saw the ring it was upon the hand
Of my own brother"
His feelings had by this time pos,
sesseG him SO strongly that lie dropped
the hand of the farmer, which had
remained passive and cold in his. and
supported himself for Il few moments
against the wall hy the fireplace. The
awful fears as to his brothers fate
which had TILED his heart for SO long
had, upon this strange discovery,
reached the point of acute agony. Al
though he felt, lie knew, that lie had
need of I'LL his cuulnrSS. of all his self
possession. to get at the heart of til"
mystery upon the borders of which he
found himself. neither feeling nor
knowledge lslp"d him in that first aw-
full moment.
"My brother. My poor brother!'
His lips formed the words. but did
not utter them. He was unable to SOC
or to think The pitiful consciousness
that the ring waS now nothing but Il
relic of the dead unncrvrd. ovcrwhclm'
| ed him.
The farmers husky voice reused
him after the lapse of few seconds.
Its very strange. sir; very strange,
| if what you say should turn out to bC
true" said he, less bruSqucly than be-
| fore but. for sure. it's most I'M
| common ring and it's true | haven't
had it long, nor can't tell who had It
| before me-"
Masson had reused himself already
from the drSpondrncy and despair into
which the first sight of the ring had
thrown him. As he turned toward the
| farmer the latter took the ring from
his finger and put it into the trembling
hand of his guest.
"Mayhc," went on the farmer, you II
see some marks, if you look 1T it close,
by which you may tell for certain ono
way or the other
Reginald nodded.
81 can identify it beyond all shadow
of a doubt" said he in a broken voice.
ut was left to my brother by my
mothers father. How did 1t come
into your poSSrSSionT
"Ill tell you all about it. sir. present
ly, when you have seen my daughter,
said ne. "Rut meantime you're wei
come to keep il. sir. till you've heard
all there is tn tell about it. When you
have heard that. you'll be able to say
for certain, | expect. whether the ring
was your brothers. This way, sir
please"
The matter of the ring. singular as il
was, seemed 10 have but little interest
for him. so deeply absorbed was Ii" III
anxiety for his daughter. But ii was
not unnatural that lir should appral
TO look with something like suspicion
at IL guest who had made 81 strange Il
claim As MaSSun advanced. there
fore, toward The inner door. which waS
held open for him Ia pass through. the
farmer watched him narrowly with his
keen black eyes.