Cruel As The Grave

"Joe, don't be alarmed! It is Mrs. Berners herself who speaks to you,

and I am with her," said Mr. Berners, soothingly.

"Oh, Marse Lyon! Is it ralely and truly her herself and you yourself?"

inquired the man, very doubtingly.

"Really and truly Sybil and myself, Joe."

"Oh! Lord! how you did scare me!"

"Compose yourself, Joe, and tell me what you are doing here at this time

of the morning."

"Oh, Marse Lyon, sir, I came arter the housekeeping truck as you left

here, which I couldn't get a chance to fetch it before, 'cause I was

afraid o' 'citin' 'spicion."

"And have you the things in that cart?"

"Yes, Marse."

"Then hold on for a moment, and spread the mattress on the bottom of the

cart for your young mistress to lie down upon and rest, while you and I

have a little talk."

Joe promptly obeyed this order; and when the rude bed was ready, Lyon

lifted Sybil from her seat and laid her upon it. The tired horses were

then relieved from their saddles and turned loose for a while. And then

Mr. Berners and Joe sat down by the roadside to consult.

"And first I want you to tell me, Joe, whether our sojourn at the

Haunted Chapel ever was found out," said Mr. Berners.

"Lor, no, sir! it never were even suspicioned! quite contrary wise,

indeed."

"How so?"

"Why, it was 'ported 'round as you was bofe at Marster Capping

Pendulum's all the time, which when himself was taxed with it, he never

let on as you wasn't there; quite contrary wise, as I said afore."

"But how now?"

"Well, he up and 'fied 'em all, and said his house was his cassil,

which he would shelter any one he pleased, and specially a noble and

injured lady."

"High heart! I thank him!" exclaimed Mr. Berners.

"Which 'fiance you see, sir, confarmed everybody in the faith that you

was bofe hid in his house, so artfully as even the sarch-warranters as

went there couldn't find you. And so, sir, nobody, from first to last,

has once said 'Haunted Chapel.'"

"Joe, how far are we from the Haunted Chapel?"

"Not more 'n a mile, sir, from the little path that leads up to it."

"Well, I think we had better go there again and rest to-day, and resume

our journey to-night. There can be no safer place."

"No whar in all the world, sir."

"Then we will go at once. Throw the saddles into the cart, at your

mistress' feet, so as not to crowd her. I will then drive the cart, and

you may lead the two riding horses after us," said Mr. Berners, going at

once to the side of the rude vehicle where Sybil lay in so deep a sleep

that she did not wake, even when he mounted the seat and started the

springless cart jolting along the rough road.