The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1920-10-21

VI.
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 own 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
hollyhocks grew and now were in gor-
geous blossom.
Jed had joined me in the garden,
and we were 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-
Iied-in fashion timid, thought.
When he came TO sit down beside
me, resented the intrusion for a mo-
ment; but knowing that he had only
a few moments in which to impose
his presence upon me, did NOT make
him feel any more unwelccme than
TO- I'll l. col IN
A schooner deep in the water with
brick from up the river had Just come
in sight around 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 even with
Jed by my side I was sentient and
content. 60
1t was not a noise that attracted
my attention. 1t must have been the
sensation of being stared at. I 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 / looked at each other for
what seemed to be at least 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.
1 felt a decidedly unpleasant shock
with the creeps 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 child frightened at
night in the nursery.
you're poor company" said Jed,
shut / am, too, and have TO go to
Mr.. Sidney"
1 seemed not to hear him. 1t was
not intended to rebuff him; was held
by tie Spaniard's eyes. Jed went in
to a huff and said: "Oh, 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. Then
the Spaniard's face, craven in lines
of malevolent purpose, softened into
smile which expressed satisfaction
with prospects. And then the head
disappeared suddenly. was In doubt
whether the mans feet had gone out
from under him, or whether he had
jumped.
In disappearing he left the place
where he had been, charged with the
mystery which his presence had In
dicased. His disappearance intensi-
fed, thickened. the atmosphere which
his presence had created. While his
head was above the wall, the sensa-
ton was one Of nervous establishment.
When his head disappeared, the sug-
gestion of terror was added. So long
as we saw him, 1t was something un-
explained but embodied; when he
dropped out of sight, it was as If a
person going down hall in his house
by candlelight at night were to come
upon a startling sight, and-at the
moment when his perceptions and rea-
son were struggling to explain the OBJ
ject and It's presence and to sustain
his courage-the candlelight should
go out In a gust Of wind and leave
him blind, facing thing he had not
explained and now could no longer
see. Then. with cause, may the hairs
browning even head with thinking
brain arise In sheer fright. Tho per-
sons plight is that of black signo-
rance, in which superstition and child
ish fears ascend and dominate.
Jed took step forward as If in
pursuit. but stopped with that one
movement. 1t broke the situation
down and made it possible for me to
return to animation. Seemingly my
powers of movement and speech had
been suspended. looked at Jed, who
vas a. pitifully frightened as a child
In the dark. He made every demon
stration of fright except wailing. Then
he braced himself, recovered his cour-
age and without saying anything went
into the house to join Mr.. Sidney.
CHAPTER Viii.