The Ghost of Guir House | Page 5

how it ain't good luck when she trabels on de road."
"What do you mean? Are any of her people accused of crime?"
"Not as ever I heerd on, sir."
"Then explain yourself. Speak!"
But not another word was to be gotten out of the man. He was like one grown suddenly dumb, save for the power of an occasional shout to his horses. A mile beyond this the driver drew up his team, and turning abruptly, said:
"You see dat paf?"
After peering doubtfully through the moonlight into the black shadows beyond, Paul thought he discerned the outline of a narrow wood road, and placing a tip in the man's hand, picked up his satchel and climbed down to the ground.
"Tank 'ee, sir, and de Lawd take keer o' you when you gets to de Guirs'," called the driver, as he cracked his whip and drove away, leaving Mr. Henley standing by the roadside listening to the retreating wheels of the coach. The forest was dense, and the moonlight, struggling through the tree-tops, fell upon the ground in patches, adding to the obscurity. Henley seated himself upon a fallen tree, to await the arrival of the cart. Although quite as courageous as the average of men, he could not help a slight feeling of apprehension concerning the outcome of his enterprise. Of course, he knew nothing about these people; but the girl was prepossessing and refined to an unusual degree. It seemed impossible that she could be acting as a decoy for unworthy ends. He laughed at the thought, and at the fun he would some day have in recounting his fears to her, and at her imaginary explanation of the driver's silly talk. At the same time he examined his revolver, which he kept well concealed, despite the law, in the depths of a convenient pocket.
When twenty minutes had passed, he began to grow impatient for the girl's arrival, and, when half an hour was up, started down the road to meet her. Scarcely had he done so when the sound of approaching wheels greeted his ears, and directly after Miss Guir was in full view.
"I hope you have been successful," Paul asked as she drew up beside him.
"Quite," answered the girl; "indeed, they put in a new spring for me; and we can now drive home without fear."
"Do you know, I have been half frightened," said Paul, climbing into the cart beside her.
"And about what, pray?"
"Absurd nonsense, of course; but the old man who drove the coach talked the most idiotic stuff when I asked him about your people. Indeed, from his manner, I believe he was afraid of you."
Miss Guir did not laugh, nor seem in the least surprised. She only drew a long breath and said:
"Very likely!"
"But why should he be?" persisted Henley.
"It does seem strange," said the girl, pathetically, "but many people are."
"I am sure I should never be afraid of you," added Paul, confidentially.
"I hope not; and am I anything like what you expected?" she asked with languid interest.
"Well, hardly--at least, you are better than I expected--I mean that you are better--looking, you know."
He laughed, but the girl was silent. There was nothing trivial in her manner, and she drove on for some minutes, devoting herself to the horse and a careful scrutiny of the road, whose shadows, ruts, and stones required constant attention. Presently, in an open space, bathed in a flood of moonlight, she turned toward him and said:
"I can not reciprocate, Mr. Henley, by saying that you are better than I expected, for I expected a great deal; I also expected to like you immensely."
"Which I hope you will promptly conclude to do," Paul added, with a twinkle in his eyes, which was lost on his companion, in her endeavor to urge the horse into a trot.
"No," she presently answered, "I can conclude nothing; for I like you already, and quite as well as I anticipated."
"I'm awfully glad," said Henley, awkwardly, "and hope I'll answer the purpose for which I was wanted."
"To be sure you will. Do you think that I should be bringing you back with me if I were not quite sure of it?"
He had hoped for a different answer--one which might throw some light upon the situation--but the girl was again quiet and introspective, without affording the slightest clew to her thoughts. How did it happen that he had proved so entirely satisfactory? Perhaps, then, after all, the original Henley was not so important a personage as he had imagined. But Paul scarcely hoped that his identity would remain undiscovered after arriving at the young lady's home; then, indeed, he might expect to be thrown upon his mettle to make things satisfactory to the Guirs.
They had been jogging along for half a mile, when, turning suddenly through an open gateway, they entered a