Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-06-30
CHAPTER II.
A Meeting.

He found himself standing in mar
row, sandy road. The wind had shift
ed, and over his head full moon was
striving to break from masses OF
black, torn clouds. Its fitful light show
ed him the nest Of fishermens cottages
which went by the name of a village,
with a background of undulating waste
sheep pastures and tracks Of dwarf
pitch pine. He had escaped from the
rear of the grocery, and he saw that
he had only to go around corner Of
that antiquated structure to find the
sea, the boat, the wharf, and, doubtless
his own comrades waiting for him
there. What perverse impulse led him
to reject at once this simple and nat
ural course? He heard the voices Of
the fishermen behind him, and discern
ed a bulky form trying to struggle
through the broken window. Like
deer, Andre dashed off down the unfa-
miliar road.
Ankle deep in coarse sand, it stretch
ed straight across the cape, parallel
with the shore, and at no great dis
tance from it. He was a stranger to
the geography Of the place; but In his
present adventurous mood that fact
mattered little. He did not know whith-
er he was going, and it is quite GER
tain that he did not care. Il would
like to lead those louts Of fishermen
nights race over their own dunes" he
thought Presently he relaxed his
stopped-listened. Where was
the enemy? No living thing could he
see no sound hear, save the lash'
lash of surf against the shore. On
distant headland a beacon burned red
ly. Andre was alone on this lonely
cape. and unfollowed, save by the
moonlight and the night wind. He
looked around.
By the side of the narrow road he
saw a small tumulous-not sand, but
an artificial mound, with a perpendic-
ular side, in which an opening yawn-
ed. 1t was a tomb-one of those fam
lily burying places, common enough in
old New England towns. The young
Philistine approached it curiously. On
a stone above the entrance a skull and
crossbones were cut, and name
which he deciphered by aid Of the
moonlight-"Hillyer."
A still nearer view revealed the iron
door off its hinges, and lying on the
ground--also workmen's tools scatter
ed about Evidently repairs were go
ing on in the place. Andre was in the
very act of turning away, to retrace
his steps back to the village, when his
quick ear detected a sudden rustic, a
curious flutter, inside that grewsome
door. 1t was a sound of life issuing
from the abode of death.
Now, what can be stirring here at
this hour" thought the young fellow.
And he wheeled about and stepped in
to the Hillyer tomb.
A dreaIy spot, full of mold and wet
heavy with odOrs of decay. From the
roof a stone had fallen, and through
this aperture the moonlight streamed
revealing rows of dilapidated collins,
set against the unclean wall. Again
he heard the mysterious rustic, then a
painting breath: he recoiled involuntar-
| lily. Great God! what was the strange
thing moving toward him from Shiny
corner-from the CHASTITY rows of crum-
bling dead? A white, gliding object
slender as a reed! With a pretty
| frightened air it came forward into
the moonlight, and faced, Andre Gau-
tier.
"A ghost" he cried, standing his
ground with braZen bOldnesS.
| NO. no." laughed n soft voice
nothing half so unsuDstantial."
| And 10. there he stood, confronting
girl-young, lovely, dressed in some
pale summery stuff, Hnd carrying her
| hat in her hand. Two big, startled
eyes looked out upon him from won