HLS No. 4: A Masque at Ravenhold

A Southern chiller from Teel James Glenn

In Teel James Glenn’s “A Masque at Ravenhold,” a New York beau follows his belle to Louisiana to be introduced to her magnolia-scented, faded-genteel clan—whose roots, he learns, reach even farther northward than his own.

Illustration by S.L.B. based on a photograph by Jim Evans (CC BY-SA 4.0)

I.

The black bird outside the window screamed a challenge when Billy leaned out to check the weather. The ink-black beak snapped shut and then opened to send a cawing cry at the blond man with what seemed a specific fury.

“What, you don’t like Northerners either?” Billy said in a decidedly New York accent. The bird seemed to take notice of the reply and flew off into the grey sky.