Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-06-01
1855.
CHAPTER xxx.
Found,

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Found.
The sermon was over In the preach-
ing field by the river; the last hymn
had swelled and died amongst the
dwarfed pines. Graham Vivian closed
the Book, and with even more than his
usual fervor, invoked a divine blessing
ON the silent, listening crowd that sur
rounded him. This day his lips mao
been touched, as If by a coal from the
altar.
Bruce, the watchman at Herons
Mills. was waiting by the stone wall
which divided the road from the field
to speak to the preacher.
According to custom, many people
pushed eagerly forward to shake hands
with Vivian, and exchange kindly
greetings. Joe Bagley was not In the
company; but old Sal arose from pine
stump, and with one frightened, furtive
look at Vivian, started to leave the
field. He had seen her, however-in-
stantly he was by her side, holding out
his hand.
"How do you find yourself today,
Mother Bagley?" he said, kindly.
Poorly, parson-poorly, sir!"
you miss Jael?"
THAT I do, SIR
Have you nothing to tell me about
herr"
'Ior. no, sir-nothing!" And she
hobbled off as fast as her feeble old
legs could carry her. Vivian went for
ward to the wall, where Bruce waited.
Something in the watchman's face ar
rested his attention.
'Is anything wrong at the mills,
Bruce?" he asked.
YES, sir" answered Bruce, in a low
voice. Begging your parding, the very
deuce is to pay there!"
"Blackbirds again?"
Something a good deal worse, sir!
Mr.. Heron being away, I've come to tell
you the story"
"Out with it at once, Bruce"
"Well, since the strike, sir, you know
I've had the night-watch, and my son
Simon looks after things by day. But
the boy has got so shaky in his Jints
of late-so afeard of his own shadder-
voice. Begging your parding, the very
morning he sez to me, You go and hnd
the parson, dad-if there's man here
abouts as knows how to deal with Sa-
tan, it's the parson. You bring him
here afore another watch begins"
Come, come, Bruce, don't keep me
in suspense-what is the matter?
The watchman had a leathery face,
scanned by many wrinkles. With pro-
found solemnity -hs- -answered:------------
"Speerits is the matter-sights and
sounds onnatral, sir! 1t began three
weeks ago. One night, was a-sitting
on the stair, leading up to the second
story, half gone in sleep, sir, when
something whipped by me a-coming
down. / felt the wind O. its garments
twas In a winding sheet, and 1t had
flames of fire for eyeballs-a real gnost,
sir, If ghosts ever walked"
Bruce, what nonsense are you talk
ing?"
II hope to die, sir, If it wasn't so!
And I've been hearing it a-rustling and
a-whisperins and a-racing every night
o, my life since. Simon is that scarf
he don't dare to look across his own
shoulder. First we agreed we wouldn't
tell anybody, but it amt in human ma
tur' to keep silent great while on such
a subject, parson."
"Is that all, Bruce?
mo. sir-there's another thing.
takes my vit'als to the mills nightly
man grows empty 'twixt twilight and
morn. And when I'm done with eating
l puts my basket in some corner, with
a bit o. cold meat, maybe, or a slice
or two Of bread left in it. Now, of late,
every blessed basket-how or when,
it's beyond me to say, but it goes like
a flash, sir, and I'm so consarned about
the whole thing that 1 thought I'd ak
you to come to the mills, and say a
prayer or something"
Vivian had heard enough. His face
lighted suddenly.
1T would be highly imprudent fol
in a low voice. "Bagley and his fol-
lowers are probably watching my
movement But when night falls,
will be at the mills. Meanwhile keeI
silent about your ghost, and warn 81
mon to do likewise. The Blackbirds
must not hear Of it."
NUNS the word, sir" assente6
Bruce, and Graham Vivian turned
from him, and walked thoughtfully
away over in the preaching field.
Francis Heron was in a distant city
negotiating with parties there for the
sale of his Black River possessions. Ir
the absence of the master, Vivian fell
that an increase of vigilance was i'm
perative. So he waited patiently til
darkness fell, and then, true to hi:
promise, presented himself at Heron:
Mills, and was joyfully admitted b!
the timid Bruce.
Strong, new gates stood now in place
of the old ones. The windows, broker
by the strikers, had been repaired
Bruce the elder was at his post alone
He ushered Vivian into the dust!
counting room, expecting to see hin
fall at once upon his knees; but, in
stead, the young preacher took up tn
watchman's lantern. and said:
do you stay here. Bruce. and l vii
search the place alone. Have no fea
of the ghost-I give you my word tina
I shall be able to manage it withou
help
Bruce was only too glad to escape {
share in the investigation. He lighted
a lamp for his own benefit. and Wv
ian. appropriating the lantern, started
off alone in quest of the obnoxious
"speerit"
First. he made the tour of the lowe1
floor, looking carefully into every nool
and corner there: then. he mounted th'
first fight of stairs. his own footballs
sounded preternaturally loud in th'
profound stiffness. The silent machin
erv took grotesque and exaggerated