The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-08-03

From this central block rose the twin
towers. ancient. crenelated and pierced
with many loopholes. To right and
left of the turrets were more modern
wings of black granite. dull light
shone through heavy mullioned win
dows, and from the high chimneys
which rose from the steep. high-angled
roof there sprang a single black col
umn of smoke.
Welcome. Sir Henry! Welcome, to
Baskerville Hail.
A tall man had stepped from the
shadow of the porch TO open the door
of the wagonette. The figure Of a wo-
low light of the hall. She came out
and helped the man to hand down our
bags.
You don't mind my driving straight
home, Sir Henry?" said DR.. Mortimer.
My wife is expecting me-"
Surely you will stay ind have some
I dinner?''
mo, must go. 1 shall probably
find some work awaiting me. l would
stay to show you over the house. but
Barrymore will be better guide than
1. Good-by. and never hesitate night
or day to send for me if 1 can be of
service"
The wheels died away down the
drive while Sir Henry and l turned
into the hall, and the door changed
heavily behind US. 1t was a fine apart
ment in which we found ourselves,
large, lofty and heavily raftered with
huge balks of age-blackened oak. In
the great old-fashioned fireplace be-
hind the high iron dogs
log fire cracked and snapped. Sir
Henry and 1 held out our hands to it,
for we were numb from our long drive.
Then we gazed round US at the high.
thin window of old stained glass, the
oak panelling, the stays heads, the
coats-of-arms upon the walls, all dim
and sombre in the subdued light of
the central lamp.
It's just as 1 imagined it," said Sir
Henry. is it not the very picture of
an old family home? To think that
this should be the same hall in which
for five hundred years my people have
lived. 1t strikes me solemn to think
of it
I saw his dark face lit up with a
boyish enthusiasm as he gazed about
him. The light beat upon him where
he stood, but long shadows trailed
down the walls and hung like a black
canopy above him. Barrymore had
returned from taking our luggage to
our rooms. He stood in front of us
now with the subdued manner of a
NEi-ti dlllHQ StINdHl. ne was a re-
notwithstanding man. tall, handsome,
with a square black beard, and pale,
distinguished features.
Would you wish dinner to be served
at once, sir?"
rs it ready?"
I'm a very few minutes, sir. You
will find hot water in your rooms NV
wife and 1 will be happy, Sir Henry,
to stay with you until you have made
your fresh arrangements, but you will
understand that under the new con-
ditions this house will require con-
siderable staff
What new conditions?"
Il only meant. sir, that Sir Charles
led very retired life, and we were
able to look after his wants. You
would, naturally. wish to have more
company, and so you will need changes
in your household"
DO YOU mean that your wife and
you wish to leave?'
"Only when it is quite convenient to
you, sir"
But your family have been with us
for several generations, have they not ?
I should be sorry to begin my life here
by breaking an old family connec-
ton"
I seemed to discern some signs of
emotion upon the buffers white face
Il feel that also. sir and so does
my wife. But to tell the truth, sir,
we were both very much attached to
Sir Charles, and his death gave us a
shock and made these surroundings
very painful to us. l fear that we
shall never again be easy in our minds
at Baskerville Hail."
But what do you intend to do?"
Il have no doubt. sir, that we shall
succeed in establishing ourselves in
some business. Sir Charles generos-
ity has given US the means to do So
And now, sir. perhaps had best show
you to your rooms
A square balustraded gallery ran
round the top of the old hall. APP
preached by a double stair. From this
! central point two long corridors ex-
/ tended the whole length of the
/ building. from which all the
, bedrooms opened My own was In the
same wing Is Baskerville's and almost
next door to it. These rooms appeared
to be much more modern than the cen
trail part of the house, and bright
paper and numerous candles lid
something to remove the sombre i'm
preston which our arrival had left
upon my mind
I But the dining room which opened
out of the hall was a place OF
shadow and gloom. 1t was a long
chamber with a step separating the
dais where the family sat from the
lower portion reserved for their de-
pendents. At one end a minstreIs
gallery overlooked it. Black beams
shot across above our heads, with a
smoke-darkened ceiling beyond them
With rows of flaring torches to light
it up and the colour and rude hilarity
of an old-time banquet, it might have
softened; but now, when two black
clothed gentlemen sat in the little cir
Gle of light thrown by a shaded lamp
ones voice became hushed and ones
spirit subdued. A dim line of ancestors
in every variety of dress, from the
Elizabethan knight to the buck of the
! Regency, stared down upon us and
! daunted us by their silent company
We talked little. and l for one was
glad when the meal was over and we
were able to retire into the modern
billiard-room and smoke a cigarette.
My word, it isn't a very cheerful
place" said Sir Henry II suppose
one can tone down to it, but 1 feel q
bit out of the picture at present.
don't wonder that my uncle got little
jumpy if he lived all alone in such a
house as this. However. If il suits YOU
we will retire early tonight, and per.
haps things may seem more cheerful
in the morning"
l drew aside my curtains before
went to bed and looked out from my
window. 1t opened upon the grassy
space which lay in front of the hal
door Beyond. two copses of trees
moaned and swung in a rising wind
A half moon broke through the riffs
! of racing clouds. In its cold light