Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-09-17
CHAPTER VIII-Continued.

night was like day, the air full OF palm
and the earthly odors Of spring. Far
away the cowed, hushed sea moaneo
plaintively among the rocks OF the
shore. They finished their meal ana
rose up from the board.
Put on your bonnet, Dimple," SAID
the doctor, "and We will go out Tor
little walk"
She obeyed in silence.
He wrapped her sad-colored shaWl
around her, drew her hand through MS
arm, and they went down the walk anu
stepped out into the high road.
where are you going?" asked Dim
ple. peering up into mis- grave face.
THAT depends upon the distance TO
which you feel equal" said ne.
81 can walk like an Englishwoman.
"Then," said DR.. Philip, "let US go
nm the road to Hannah Duff's old
house."
She held fast to his arm, and ghded
on beside him as rapid and still as
shadow. Two quiet, patient hgures
they. plodding through the moonlight.
The doctor walked with his head
down. Dimple raised hers, and look
ed up with a pathetic face to the blue
night sky. They met no one. The
lonely shore road was empty and de-
serted. The sea stretched in burnish-
ed white leagues, with small rlppies
twinklinx under the big. white moon.
The two went on till they came to
low. black house, standing under a
ledge by the roadside, facing the rest
less tides.
The place was without occupant now
or sign Of life. No human thing hao
lived in it for years. 1t had fallen, In
consequence, into a state Of great dl-
lapidation. The empty, staring WIN
dows had half their panes crushed In.
The door was without bolt or bar. IL
Welded readily to DR.. Covers touch'
and he entered and Dimple followed
him.
What had brought him to this dis
astrous spot? He did not know. "A
spirit in his feet" He had been leu
there before in the same manner.
Dimple clung timidly to his arm and
looked around the desolate room.
1t was the same in which the brand
ed child had first drawn her breath.
It was utterly bare, except for dirt and
cobwebs. A bat flew by them through
the paneless window. Floods Of moon
liyht streamed in and fell on floors
and wall. DR.. Cover walked ABOUT,
haggard and plunged in deep thought.
YES" he muttered, Hannah Dun
is in her grave, and these four walls
are as dumb as she. There is nothing
animate or inanimate to bear witness
VI that which I would give years of my
life to know"
Dimple remained at the window, ner
gloveless hands crossed on the SILL
her blue eyes fixed on the. rocks and
the sea-
The bed stood in this corner, you
said, Philip. Here, then, she died. l
have dreamed many times Of the scene
Hannah lying here and that beauti-
full mad woman denouncing you, as
you have often described it TO me-"
He did not answer. He was peerins
into the yawning seams Of the wallis
thrusting his walking stick into crack
and crevice as he passed, and making
lively work among the bats and dust.
"One would think" sighed Dimple,
watching him, that you were search
ing for something, Philip"
1.-The instinct" he answered, has
become inordinately developed in me,
l fear. What could 1 expect to find in
this place? The roof will be tumbling
upon us directly; the very floor is
growing uncertain-look at this"
The hearth of the room was of stone,
and extended forward from the CHM
ney a full half yard The doctors
foot had inadvertently touched some
thing that moved beneath it, and he
knelt as he spoke, and heaved up with
both hands one of the square, discolor-
ed stones. The moonlight fell full up
on it. but it was a dim and insufficient
light.
What are you doing?" said Dimple;
what can you want with that, Phil
ip?"
'1s there anything under it?" he
asked, half laughing; ANY secret pas
sage or hidden treasure-can you see,
Dimple?"
You will break a blood vessel" she
answered, "straining like that. l see
nothing but darkness"
There's a lucifer in my vest pocket
Couldn't trouble you to light it, that
we may have one look into the depths
below?"
She drew out the match and, to hu-
NOR his whim, scratched it against the
jamb. 1t blazed up brightly and shone
full upon the stone into the cavity be-
meath. Not a large cavity-no more
than the length and depth of the stone
Both looked down-both saw lying al
the bottom white parcel, grimed with
mold and dust.
"Ah," said the doctor.
Dimple snatched 1t up. Out went
the lucifer, and fell in a red spark from
her hold. The stone fell also for DR.
Covers hands were growing rather
tired of holding it. Dimple ran to the
window and the moonlight.
Come and see, Philip" she cried
What can it be-"
She gave it to him to open. He tore
away fold upon fold Of soiled paper
and came to the thing it inclosed. W.
ing like kernel in a nut He lifted
it 'twixt thumb and finger. 1t was a
ring.
Each took it in turn. looked at 1t
closely and in silence. A somewhat
curious ring. made for a delicate wo-
mans finger The metal, red Roman
gold: the design, frail twisted thread
supporting a shield Of blue enamel
with the letter G 1, Sed thereon-a
bas-relief of brilliants. On the inner
surface was a name marked in Ole
English letters. BY the aid of anoth-
er match they deciphered it with some