Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1921-01-29
CHAPTER |.

when | first saw Hartley house. The
piaCc had so much local distinction
that a village not far from the estate
was named Hartley, for it.
Even when drenChed and dripping
In a storm which had lasted for five
days I'm late May, the spot was beau
tiful and charming; it had antiquity,
that rare thing in new land. Its two
thousand acres, handsomely arranged
for decorative and agricultural pur-
poses, lay along the river bank with
an inucntcd and Interesting lttOral
where thc river was two miles wide.
| had been an inferno in st. Julian's
hospital, and at the close Of my last
year DIR. Browncll had asked me if my
arrangements would make it possible
for me to undertake case which he
thought might be profitable and in
tercstinS to young physician. II was
that of Mr. Homer Sidney the owner
of Hartley house.
81 never saw 50 strange Il will to
live" said the doctor when he dis
CuSScd the circumstances with me.
"Thc old man is indomitahle, For that
reason he is Interesting. He lives be-
cause ne wills to live, for some ire
meadous reason Of which | know moth
ing. It is enormous. You may live to
see him die: am afraid | shall not
and ne is seventy and | am fifty"
| decided 10 accept. II may have
hsen profc> ional weakness, hut in ad-
dition to I'D financial certainty offered
there was Il professional interest
aroused. DIR. Brownel We're at
tractcd by human beings will to
live there certainly was something SUI
perhumanly interesting about that hui
man being.
The recollection of Hartley as
first saw ii remains as an enduring
impression. The long dOwnpOur of
rain had given the place a spiritual ac-
cent. One felt as If the soul were
saturated.
II is only occasionally IL normal
mind that weather works a spiritual
effect. | thought my mind was nor
NAL. but | felt the spiritual depres-
sion.
The way from the station for three
miles was through ordinary American
small farm land. Then it changed alb
ruptly. Antiquity began 10 show. The
driver said we were in the Hartley
grounds.
| was so depressed by the rain, by
my own uncertainty, by thinking over
the decision | had made and seemed
about to regret by the dismal pros
pects-or at least the uncertain pros
pectS-that | should have been glad
for any sustaining human association.
At the end of my journey soon found
such association and was thereafter
happy IN It. hut approaching the place
was apprehensive. My driver had
been. If not unapproachable, at least
stupid and dismal.
1t somewhat astOnished me when
suddenly he began to talk. We were
then about half mile from the house.
81 wish you had come an hour
earlier" he said.
"Why2" l asked.
I'm not a coward" said the driver,
don't like to be in here alone, and
I've got to 20 home alone"
In fashion he expressed what
might have been my mood If ] had
known more of the place. l could
sympathze with him. The rain had
done this for me.
"What have you 10 he afraid Off"
asked. rs something haunted
around here?" II seemed rs If so
beautiful spot ought To have this in
terest. He stopped his horse.
I'm going back out of here like a
scared pig" he said, that is, if the
old horse can stand ii. But you're go
ing To live here for while, and III
stop a minute to show you where they
say the ghost walks
He pointed To where the river had
eaten Il substantial bit out of the bank,
making Il pool or tiny hay. The road.
swerving toward the river here, was
within thirty feet of ii.
eli isn't natural for a man TO kill
his brother" said nay driver and
something unnatural comes of it, A
man killed his brother there, and some
thing unnatural has come of il. That's
why I'll be just as well satisfied TO
&c, YOU TO the house and myself back
out of here before dark"
Get along, then" | said. 1T looks
Ike an ordinary place to me-
ITO me too" said my driver. And
I don't want II ever 10 look extraor-
binary"
"yYho was killed thereT' l asked.
you'll learn the story soon enough
said the driver, "if you're going to stay
In this house. Y0uH learn IL better
than can tell you"
AT the great coach entrance OF the
old house | paid the driver aud let him
90. He was anxious To be gone. 1t
was growing dark. Then began ring
ing the bell.
AT the third ringing there was re-
sponse, IN the form of servant,
man. butler or doorman, past middle
age. He was crusty.