The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1920-10-07

mouse" Salu JeQ.
Il wish you could deserve one," l
said.
.
My description of Hartley house has
been so sketchy and Indifferent that
it may not have included mention of
the formal gardens which took In the
river side Of the place. They were
charming at all times but particularly
so at sunset, when the radiance was
behind the western hills two miles
across the water and was reflected
in the clouds back off our w east
ern hills. The shore at this point
was narrow. and the river was wide.
Hills. river and bottom lands formed
an intimate sanctuary which evening
glorified.
To the north the gardens terminated
at a high brick wall against which
h%ollyhocks grew and now were in gor-
! geous blossom.
Jed had Joined me in the garden,
and we We're sitting on a stone bench
facing the river not fifty feet from the
brick wall and the hollyhocks to the
north. Jed was expected within a
quarter of an hour to join Mr.. Sid
ney. He seemed detected and wor-
ried-in n fashion timid, 1 thought.
When he came to sit down beside
me, l resented the intrusion for a mo
ment; but knowing that he had only
a few moments in which to impose
| hiS rrnSnnao 11rnp NJ 7 1i1 MT milo
him feel any more unwelcome than
ordinarily he knew himself to be.
A schooner deep in the water with
brick from up the river had just come
in sight around a point above, and
with sails spread to the light wind
was caught in the glorification of the
water. A catbird was hopping in and
out of the shrubbery. and wen with
Jed by my side l was sentient and
content.
1t was not a noise that attracted
my attention. 1t must have been the
sensation Of being stared at. l turned
my head toward the wall to the north.
In line with the bench on which we
sat, and just topping the wall, was
the head of the Spanish sailor.
He and l looked at each other for
what seemed to be at least a moment.
His earrings glittered. His gaze was
steady and both inquiring and pur-
poseful. Even in inquiry it seemed
malignant, with the malice which
comes from a sense of injury.
I felt a decidedly unpleasant shock
with the cresps which come from a
good ghost story. If he had appeared
suddenly at full length somewhere in
the garden, walking about, it would
have been different. But just his
head appearing above the wall, and
he perfectly unexpected. unexplained,
motionless and inquiring-it gave you
the shivers of a child frightened at
night in the nursery.
you're poor company" said Jed,
"but I am. too, and I have to 90 to
Mr.. Sidney"
I seemed not to hear him. It was
not intended to rebuff him !; I was held
by the Spaniard's eyes. Jed went in.
to a huff and said: ooh, go to the
devil"
Then he also turned and saw the
head above the wall.
He arose and stood looking at the
Spaniard as intently as the Spaniard
was looking at him. This situation
lasted a full minute, without a move
ment or word from one of us. Their
the Spaniard's face, craven in lines
Of malevo!ent purpose, softened into q
smile which expressed satisfaction
with prospects. And then the heat
disappeared suddenly. was in doub,
whether the mans feet had gone on
from under him, or whether he ha(
jumped.
In disappearing he left the plac.
where he had been. charged with thu
mystery which his presence had in
dictated. His disappearance intensi
fled. thickened, the atmosphere whicf
his presence had created. While hi
head was above the wall, the sense
ton was one of nervous astonishment
When his head disappeared, the sug
gestiOn of terror was added. So Ion,
as we saw him, it vas something un
explained hut embodied; when h,
dropped out Of sight, 1t was as if
person going down a hall in his hous,
by candlclight at night were to com
upon a startling sight, and-at tn
moment when his perceptions and rea
son were struggling to explain the oh
ject and It's presence and to sustain
his courage-the candlelight SHOULD
70 out IN a gust of wind and lenv.
him Hind facinD a thinu 70 hid No