do you know the feeling of living in a house pervaded by an unseen presence—a person who has lived there once, and whose spirit seems to dwell there forever afterward? that was what mrs. jack hereford felt when she and her husband took refuge from new york and newport and tuxedo at malvern, the old virginia plantation, with its tumbledown house, full of rickety furniture, and staring daubs of family portraits in every room in it. the house and everything in it, and six hundred acres of land grown up with pine saplings, had been bought for a song from the heirs of the estate, who had never seen it, and never wanted to see it.
colonel baskerville had been the last owner of the place, and he had been dead ten years; also mrs. baskerville. and there had been three children—two sons, one of whom was shot dead at gettysburg, and the other had died of wounds and exposure. the daughter, amy baskerville, too, was no more. all this mrs. hereford gathered from the one or two persons she had met, and the old doctor who was her nearest and only neighbor.
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it was this amy baskerville whose shadowy, girlish presence was all over malvern. she was only twenty when she died, as the plain headstone in the old family burying-ground said. the brick walls of the graveyard were crumbling, and the iron gate had given way. cattle and sheep browsed on the green mounds. many of the tombs of the dead-and-gone baskervilles were marble slabs supported on pillars, of which the solid brick and mortar had disappeared, leaving them like gigantic tables. the later graves were sunken, especially those of colonel baskerville and his wife, over which a simple monument was raised, inscribed to the memory of colonel marmaduke baskerville and nancy, his wife. those over the two sons were highly ornate, and bore long epitaphs: "marmaduke, who was killed while gallantly leading his regiment, after the fall of both his colonel and lieutenant-colonel," followed by a long list of marmaduke's virtues; and "george, who died of wounds contracted in the service of his country, at the early age of eighteen." the story was plain. the poor old colonel and his wife had put up the showy tombstones with pity weeping over an urn, and their executors had put up the plain stones over the father and mother and little amy.
hanging in the grim library, with its few old-fashioned books upon the crazy shelves, were portraits of the colonel, a veritable virginia colonel, with a tremendous shirt ruffle rushing out of his generous bosom, and his rosy face wearing a look of majestic solemnity common in portraits, but
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which colonel baskerville never wore for five consecutive minutes in his life. then there were portraits of george and marmaduke, both handsome lads, both as alike as two peas, and, besides, a portrait of little amy. she was about sixteen when it was painted. it was so sweet, so sad! there was not a trace of weakness in the half-womanish, half-childish mouth and chin. in the delicate, well-poised head one could see more will power, more intellect, than in the portly colonel and both of the handsome, frank-faced boys put together. this was not amy's only picture. there was an old daguerreotype on the drawing-room table which revealed her in a white dress, and half a dozen faded photographs of her in her riding-habit, in fancy dress, in numerous other costumes and attitudes, sometimes with one, sometimes with another, of her brothers; and a whole bookful of sketches, scribbled all over, "the book of amy. life and adventures of amy baskerville. by g. b., esq.," in which g. b., who had considerable skill, pictured amy in numberless grotesque and humiliating circumstances, and once or twice as she must truly have been, graceful and picturesque.
then there were piles of old-fashioned, desperately sentimental songs on the broken-down old piano in the drawing-room, which had once been sung by amy's fresh young voice. one day mrs. hereford came across a frayed little white satin slipper that had been amy's, and had evidently done good service. it was the saddest little re
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minder in the world. it was like the ghost of youth and joy. and there was a broken fan, laid away in tissue paper, and inscribed, "to be mended." mrs. hereford locked these little girlish relics up carefully in the drawer of the dressing-table in what had been amy's room. on the dressing-table was an old-fashioned swinging glass, in which amy had once been wont to look roguishly, admiring her own fresh beauty. the glass remained, but amy was dust and ashes.
one afternoon mrs. hereford, sitting on the porch, around which the vines had grown in neglected luxuriance, saw an old negro woman coming up the pathway toward the house. she was very infirm, and leaned upon the shoulder of a little darky about ten years old, who dutifully supported her. she stopped at the foot of the steps, and, with an old-fashioned courtesy, said, "good-evenin', my mistis."
"good-evening, aunty," replied mrs. hereford, having learned that much of southern etiquette. "won't you walk in and rest yourself?"
she crept painfully up the steps, and sat down in the rush-bottomed chair offered her. the little darky squatted on the steps, and fixed a pair of bright black beads on "de lady f'um de norf," which he never removed.
"you will 'scuse me, lady, fur troublin' you so much as ter come here. but i hed to come—i hed to come. it seem like i couldn't die 'twell i hed done seed de ole place," she said, presently.
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"you are quite welcome," replied mrs. hereford.
"you see," she said, glancing deprecatingly at mrs. hereford, while she smoothed down the clean but faded handkerchief on her breast, "i was de head 'oman in dis here house. i was ole mistis' maid, an' den i nuss dem two boys, an' miss amy, and arter dey was all gone i went, too. but i done hed de ager so bad, an' i feel so po'ly i don't never 'spect ter be able ter git here no mo'. so i come, jest ter tell ole marse an' all un 'em how things is lookin'. kase i 'spects ter fin' 'em all when i gits to glory, an' ole marse he sho to say, 'keziah, how's things gwine at malvern?' lord! when i got ter tell him de yankees done bought de place an' livin' here!"
"but, gra'mammy," said the little darky, who had been to school and had imbibed some theology, "dey doan' keer nuttin' 'bout norverners an' souverners in heaben—"
"you shet yo' mouf, boy! you didn' never know ole marse. doan' make no diff'unce whar he is, i lay he gwine cuss like a trooper when i done tole him de yankees is livin' at malvern—an' he sho' to arsk."
the youngster, more cowed by aunt keziah's energy than her arguments, maintained a discreet silence after this. mrs. hereford, who was a gentle and merciful woman, said to her:
"wouldn't you like to go inside? it's very little changed since we came."
"thankee, lady," she said, rising and hobbling
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to the hall door. her uncertain step was heard going toward the library; then a long pause, and a quicker return. "i c'yarn do it!—i c'yarn," she panted, sitting down in her chair. "i thot i'd go ev'ywhar, all 'bout de house, an' set down in ev'y room; but seems ter me i hear dem voices callin'—ole marse bawlin' out 'keziah!' an' little missy (she lisp when she talk) she say 'kethiah'—an' i couldn't stay no longer. i was sorry i come."
"was it very long ago that it all happened?"
"'twarn't so long dat i kin forgit it. fust time i ever feel like trouble was comin' was one mornin' when little marse—dat was marmaduke, an' all de black folks call him young marse, 'cause he was tall like he pa, an' was more'n twenty-one; but i had done rock him when he was a baby, an' i never could call him nuttin' but little marse—he rid away fur to whip de yankees. he help ter raise a comp'ny, an' he was 'lected cap'n, an' dat mornin,' right arter breakfast, he was gwine away. all de black folks 'bout de house was out here on dis here porch fur to tell him good-by, an' marse an' missis an' little missy, an' marse george an' me, an' all on 'em was smilin' an mighty gay 'cept me an' marse george. he was lookin' sorter black an' sulky 'cause he want ter go ter de war too; but he warn't but sixteen years old, an' ole marse an' missis wouldn't let him. when little marse come out, he look so fine in his bran'-new uniform, an' jake—dat was he body servant—was settin' on one o' ole marse's best horses, holdin' little marse's horse by de bridle, an' jes' a grinnin', he was so happy.
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young marse had he sword in he hand, an' little missy—she warn't but fifteen—tooken it from him an' snatch he cap off, an' strut up an' down ter make ole marse laugh; an' den she buckle de sword on agin, an' little marse he went up an' shook hands wid ole marse, an' he say: 'good-by, father. you'll see me back 'fore de leaves fall. 'twon't take long to whip dem chicken-hearted yankees.' an' missis she hol' him in her arms, an' she kiss him, but she keep on smilin' an never shed a tear.
"i cry so hard i had ter run upsty'ars, an' i went in little marse's room, an' set down in de cheer, an' cried 'twell i couldn't cry no mo'. i got up den, an' was gittin' out he nice white shirts an' he high beaver hat fur to put 'em away 'ginst he come home, when little missy she walk in. her cheeks was white like chalk, an' her big black eyes had a kinder skeert look in 'em, an' she steal up ter me, an' say, 'oh, mammy, do you think he'll ever come back?' an' fust thing i know she was cryin' wusser'n me, an' i jes' took her in my lap like i useter when she was a little gal, an' set down, an' say, 'h'ish! h'ish! in course he gwine ter come back.' all dat day little missy she hang on ter me. old marse he stay down in de fiel' making 'tense he was lookin' arter de han's, an' missis she shet herself up in de store-room ter fix up de house-keepin' book, an' i didn't see neither one 'twell dinner-time. den dey talk mighty cheerful, an' little missy she plague george 'bout gwine ter de army, but i didn't hear none on 'em say a word 'bout little marse. but i know dey didn't furgit him.
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"arter dat things was mighty cur'us. missis she couldn't get no mo' clo'es, an' she put away all her fine silks an' satins, an' all little missy's too, an' her diamond comb, an' her lace shawl, an' wear nuttin' but homespun. little marse, he wroten heaps 'o letters, an' he didn' furgit he po' ole black mammy. he wroten me hisse'f, an' i got dem letters in my chis' now. i c'yarn read 'em, but i loves 'em. an' all de time, i kep' a-honin' fur him, an' skeert 'bout him. mistis, she was a brave 'oman—she never let on she was skeert. night an' mornin', when she read pr'yars in de dinin'-room, wid ole marse an' little missy an' de house-servants settin' roun', she pray fur little marse, 'twell sometimes ole marse he wipe he eyes, an' i hed to fling my ap'on over my hade an' cry; but her voice never shake none. but i never did 'spect ter see him no mo', an' one night—"
here she hesitated. the dead and gone tragedy rose up bodily before her eyes, and she paused a moment, gasping in contemplation of it.
"one night i was settin' by de charmber fire, an' i hear a cart come up ter de front do'; an' i wonder what kin' o' folks 'twas comin' dat time o' night in a cart. so i run out an' open de do' as soon as i heerd de knock—an' 'twas our jake. 'whar's little marse?' i ask him, ketchin' hol' on him. jake look at me, an' he was kinder ashy, an' he couldn't speak. an' i hear ole marse an' missis comin'; an' sumpin' was in de cart all covered up, an' two men was takin' it out. when jake seed missis, he start ter trimble; an' ole marse he shout, 'whar's yo' mars
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ter?—whar's my son?' an' jake he pint ter de cart."
at this point she stopped. she took out a tattered handkerchief and began to finger it nervously. the afternoon shadows had lengthened since she had begun.
"dey brung de coffin in de parlor, an' sot it down on cheers. he look jes' like he did de mornin' he rid away, but bofe legs was broke. nobody teched him but me an' jake. he hed two letters in he pocket, an' one was a letter i had done got little missy ter write fur me, tellin' him to take keer o' hisself. ole marse, he do mighty queer. arter ev'ything was fixed, he come an' set down by de coffin, an' he never cry nor nuttin'—he jes' put he han' ev'y now an' den on little marse's head, an' say, 'my son, my son marmaduke!' missis she set by him, an' talk ter him, an' pray wid him, an' read de bible to him, an' seem like she didn't think 'bout nuttin' but comfortin' old marse. little missy she creep upsty'ars into little marse's room an' flung herself on de floor, an' lay like she was dead, 'twell i took her up in my arms, and settin' down in de rockin'-cheer, she see me cryin', an' she cry too.
"ole marse he do jes' de same arter de funeral. he set an' look at little marse's picter, an' he wouldn't let nobody move he whip off'n de rack, nor a ole p'yar o' spurs o' little marse's.
"georgie hed been 'way at school. but one day a letter come. marse george hed done run away ter jine de army. when dat letter come i
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seed missis put on a look i ain't furgot ter dis day. georgie was her favorite. an' 'fo' de winter was out—'twas in de fall when georgie run away—he died in de horspital. he hed been writin' 'twarn't nuttin' matter wid him, an' he'd be outen de horspital 'fo' missis could git ter him; but she was gwine ter start de naix day. ole marse fotch him home. he warn't eighteen, an' he hed a little muffstach comin', and he didn't look any older den little missy when dey laid him by little marse. he was de handsomest o' all de chillen.
"dat kilt missis. ole marse he done fur her jes' like she hed done for him, an' little missy stay by her night an' day; but one night, when de doctor say she was gittin' better, she call me, an' she say: 'keziah, i'm dyin', an' i know it. don't leave yo' marster an' amy. stay by 'em faithful like you has been ter me an' de boys.' an' de very naix week she died. missis was a chrischun, if ever i seed one. she would 'a lived if she could; but what kilt georgie kilt her too. seemed ter me arter dat like poor keziah have ter see ole marse an' little missy go too; but i kep' up as well as i knowed how. little missy was mighty pretty den. she was mos' twenty, an' she kep' gittin' mo' an' mo' like georgie. de war was over den, an' some de han's went off, an' dere warn't nobody but me in de house, an' de cook an' jake did de res' o' de work. ole marse he walk 'bout like he didn't keer fur nuttin'. one day two men drive up in a shiny new buggy, an' i hear 'em talkin' mighty sassy to ole marse on de porch, an' pres'ny ole marse stan'
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up, an' he say out loud: 'gent'men, take all. take my plantation, my house an' furniture, my horses an' cattle an' stock an' ev'ything. i'm a bankrup', but i'm a honest man.' an' dey try ter smoove him down, an' arter a while dey went off.
"'bout dat time i heerd dey was some yankee orficers campin' out in de woods, an' one arternoon one on 'em rid up ter de do' an' got down. ole marse an' little missy was settin' out;—'twas summer-time. de minute i seed him i seed he was like little marse, and little missy seed it too, 'cause she tole me so. he was a gent'mun, ef ever i see one—an' black folks kin tell gent'muns quicker'n white folks kin—an' when he walk up de steps he bow low to bofe on 'em, an' hol' he cap in he han' all de time he was talkin'. he tole ole marse he was a ingineer, an' hed come fur to make some maps or sumpin', and he had done foun' a good place fur a camp on de place, an' de government tell him he kin camp anywhar, but he wouldn't like ter put up he tents an' things 'cept he had ole marse's consent. ole marse say, 'de government done took my two sons, all my servants, my horses, cattle, sheep, an' ev'ything i hed, so i s'pose it can take my plantation too.' de orficer turned red as a beet, an' so did little missy, an' she got up an' put her hand on ole marse's shoulder and said, 'father!' jes' like missis. den marser sorter cooled down, an' said he didn't keer a cuss 'bout de camp, an' de orficer thank him like he had give him de plantation, and den he made a bow, an'
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one ter little missy, an' git on he horse an' ride away.
"arter dat he was here ev'y day. 'twas allers to see ole marse 'bout sumpin—'bout de crick, an' de way de lan' slope, an' sich; but i watch him, an' i see he warn't half listenin' ter ole marse, an' he kep' he eyes on little missy. an' she useter look at him sometimes, an' smile, an' turn away. an' den he met me on de road one sunday when i was gwine ter meetin', an' he stop he horse an' say: 'good-mornin', aunty. how's yo' mistis?' an' when i tole him she was right peart, he laugh, an drop a gol' dollar in my han'. i went home an' tole little missy, and she turn red, an' say, 'it was very saucy of him, mammy, an' i've got a great mind ter make you send that money back.' but she didn't.
"he kep' comin', an' missy kep' gittin' kinder ter him, an' he was so perlite an' he voice were so nice an' he were se'ch a gent'mun i couldn't help thinkin' she gwi' fall in love wid him. an' one night he come, an' arter he hed done tole ole marse good-night, she come ter de door, an' he axed her to come out on de porch, an' pres'ny, arter he hed been talkin' ter her in a kinder whisper, he stan' up straight an' open he arms, an' she slip in an' laid her head on he shoulder.
"jes' den ole marse come out. he look so white it skeered me. little missy raise her head, but de orficer wouldn't let go her han'. ole marse he shake like he hed de ager, an' he say: 'take yo' choice. go wid dat man, an' take yo' father's
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curse, an' never darken these doors, or sen' him away where he b'longs, an' never speak ter him again.' de orficer say: 'colonel baskerville, i love your daughter, an' she loves me. you can't separate us.' but ole marse he p'int he finger, an' he holler, 'take yo' choice.' an' little missy she stan' fur a minnit or two like stone, an' den she take her han' away an' say, 'father can't do without me. it would kill him. you must go.' de orficer he look like he would hol' on ter her, but she turn an' walk in de house, an' he got on he horse, lookin' black an mizerbul, an' gallop off as hard as he could.
"i seed a look naix day in little missy's face like missis when dey got dat letter 'bout georgie. she was gwine ter die—i knowed it. warn't nuttin' matter wid her—she went like missis. ole marse he done ev'ything fur her; she never say a cross word ter him, but i b'lieve he wish she hed. ev'y night i ondress her an' put her ter bed like when she was a little gal, an' ev'y night she got lighter an' lighter. 'oh, mammy,' she would say, 'i'm so tired!' an' she didn't do nuttin' either. ole marse he walk de floor all night. i heerd him, an' so did little missy. 'poor father!' she would say. den one day, arter de doctor hed been here an' gone, ole marse he go in de library an' he write a letter, an' he tear it up; an' he write 'nother one, an' he tear dat one up; an' at las' he write one an' he tooken it upst'yars an' he lay it on little missy's bed an' went out. 'twas ter de orficer. little missy she read it, an' she say, 'it's too late.' an' sho 'nough, 'twas."
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she stopped again and paused. the shadows were very long by this. it was nearly night.
"he got here befo' dey put her in de groun'. he stan' by de grave, an' when de yearth fell in on de coffin he say to hisself, 'amy! amy!'
"i stayed by ole marse. i knowed 'twarn't fur long. it come one day when he was settin' in he cheer on de porch. he didn't move fur so long i was skeered. i went up to him, an' he was dead. arter dat i went away. de orficer he give me some money, an' he tole me he'd sen' me some mo' ev'y year—an' dat's what i lives on. i c'yarn come here no mo'. i c'yarn go to de graveyard. evy'whar i sees my chillen like when dey was little. i hear little missy sayin', 'kethiah! kethiah!' i 'spects ter see 'em soon, an' i wants ter tell 'em 'bout de ole place. i thankee kindly fur takin' keer o' things."
she limped down the steps and soon was far down the narrow path, and her bent and crippled form melted away into the twilight.
