Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-02-18
CHAPTER XIV.
A Ghost

lence had made her an unwilling pris-
oner. The unhappy girl. plunged In the
depths of misery and despair, bereft OF
help and hope alike, paced the dread
full chamber back and forth, wrlnglns
her hands like one distracted, trying to
think out some plan by wnlch she
could acQuaint Val and MISS Anry
with her situation. Val! The thougnI
Of him was like a dagger In ner neart
Through all her confusion Of mind, one
purpose took clear and decisive shape
before her. She must escape from TINS
place-from Discordo's power-or die!
She tried the door; 1t was fast ano
strong. She looked the chamber care
fully over; it contained no outlet save
the window and chimney. The former
was two stories from the ground, mar
row, set with small panes and nailed
ND with great care. Above the bed, she
discovered a cupboard in the wall, and
climbing I'D to 1t found 1t full OF rub
bish-old newspapers, a pot OF paint,
dried solid, box of red ochre, TWO or
three stumpy brushes, some rusty nalls
but nothing Of the smallest value. In
an agony Of despair, the girl sank
down on the dusty floor OF her prison
and wept as If her heart would break
chamber was dark as death. A deep ST.
lence fell upon the house-her precious
pair of jailors had retired for the
night, evidently. And now new terrors
overwhelmed Mercy. Discordo's story
of the man who had been murdered In
that very chamber twenty years be-
fore rushed back upon her memory.
She began to hear strange sounds all
about her in the darkness-groans,
faint, smothered cries, loud knocking.
Wild with nervous terror and excite
ment, Mercy sprang upon the miser-
able bed, and crouched down there In
a heap, shaking from head to foot.
KNOCK, knock went the ghostly hand
somewhere overhead. A long-drawn
groan, ending in an unearthly screech.
came from the window. Did the soul
Of the murdered man indeed haunt the
scene Of his death? Suddenly Mercy
became aware that something living
was in the room, moving over the dirty
floor. There was vein OF true cour-
age in the girls nature. She arose to
the occasion, sprang up from her
crouching posture, and presently de-
scried two or three gray shapes, long
and lean, scampering away into the
corners. Rats! She drew a great
breath Of relief.
The groaning began anew. She fol-
lowed II to the window. After much
listening, Mercy decided that the un-
earthly sound rose solely from a long,
gaunt fir-bough, which swung back
and forth in the night wind, and scrap
ed the old clap-boards fitfully.
Just as the blood began to grow
warm again in her veins, a ray OF can
delight crept in under her door-she
heard steps, the thud Of a crutch on
the stair, and then the voices OF her
two jailors.
"Drat the housei His DANCED ghost
is a-walking here yeti" said Joseph
"Groans in the chimney, raps on the
door, feet a-shuffling overhead! Hold
up the light, woman! You're shaking
fit to drop"
"Oh, Lord!" quavered the voice OF
Sally; hear him! A hundred dollars
a night wouldn't pay one to stay In
such a place. It's worse than any reg
lar graveyard under the SUM-"
Murdered folks will have queer
ways woman" returned Joseph; they
make IL a point never to keep to their
graves. See for yourself-nobodys s
here. The girl is safe enough. Who
could get into the house through our
locks and bars? Try her door, simple
ton"
The door was tried. Then Mercy
heard the two retreat down the stairs
Sally muttering as she went:
IF we lose her We lose the money!
Oh, drat 1t! There goes the groaning
again-he's a-coming after u.s." and
the noise Of a rush and tumble con-
vinced Mercy that her keepers also had
their ghostly fears, and that her own
simple explanations regarding the
strange sounds in the old house had
not yet occurred to their superstitious
souls.
A sudden composure came over her
She sat down at her lonely window In
the gloom and silence, and lifted up
her glorious young voice, clear and
sweet as a silver bell, in that most
pathetic Of hymns:
abide with me! fast falls the even
tide,
The darkness deepens-Lord, with me
abide;
When other helpers fail, and comforts
flee,
Help of the helpless, oh, abide with
mel"
She sat there, sleepless, all the night
On the woody hill under which the
house stood, and which was the only
thing visible from Mercy's window, the
wan dawn appeared at last. She found
a rickety washstand in a corner, and g
jug of water, and battered her white
face, and smoothed out the masses Of
her golden hair. By-and-by old Sally
unlocked the door and entered, bearing
a wooden tray on which were placed
two or three slices of bread, an egg ano
a cup Of tea.
Here's your breakfast" leered the
hag. II hope you slept well, dearie
BetwiXt the ghosts and your psalm
tunes I never passed such a night since
the Lord made me. I'll choke you II
you don't stop them drafted hymns! Il
you must sing, give us something live.
ly; but religion can't and won't abide
here"
Mercy gazed steadily at the speak.
er. Afterward in the kitchen old Sally
confessed to her husband that the gir
gave her a turn, so cold and white ant
spirit-like she looked.
80 Discordo has put you here t
guard me-" said Mercy.
Yes; Joseph and l, my pretty. Per
haps you think you might knock mt
over and run off. Aha! old as l am
I've the strength of half dozen lik
Joseph Is waiting, and he'd kill yo'
dead afore you could get out of tn
door. We mean to keep you safe dearie
so don't try to play any tricks"
Instinctively Mercy felt that it woult
be worse than useless to appeal to thi
woman for pity or help.
Where am -" she cried at last
where Is this placer"
Miles and miles from Boston-tha
is all you need to know" grinned Sally
Now, take my advice, and be kind t
Mr. Discordo, and drop your high AM
mighty ways You're a proud one
stiff necked; and holding yourself a
dainty as a lady-ta. ia! Moll Dill
daughter He's a fine gentleman, AM
generous as a prince. It's my opinion
he means to marry you"
Mercy answered not word.
"Lor, he came to Joseph in a dread
full state of mind" went on Sally, glib
ly, "and said how you was a-going t
throw yourself away on another man
and he wanted to find a nice, quie
place where he could take you for ;
few weeks; and Joseph remembered
this house-he used to work on tn
farm years ago, afore the old man wa
murdered. And so you're to have coun
try board here for awhile. Mr.. Discor
do will be back in a few days, ant
you'd better treat him civil: for h
might kill and bury you in the house