The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1870-05-12
c., THURSDAY MORNING, MAY 12, 1870.

came to me; all the stories we had been telling
round the fire, an hour or two before, thronget
on my memory, and l think my courage would
have given way-I think would have scream
ed aloud in sheer excess of nervous terror, If J
had not been, as it were, completely paralyzed
But my tongue was tied, and I stood Like 8
statue, with the cooked pistol in my hand, lis:
tening to that ascending tread, waiting until
the Thing should come into the moonlight and
ct me see what shape it wore.
At last it did,so. At last, after many pauses
and much caution, the footsteps neared the
head of the stairs. Another second, and the
moonlight would give me my only chance for
self-defence, and for the defence of those dear
er than self 1t was only the recollection Of
them that nerved me. Left to myself, could
hardly have raised my hand even against a
midnight robber; but was strong with the
strength of twenty men, when L remembered
that was their only guardian. II must be
ready" thought, raising the pistol, and as
did so. shadow fell across the patch of moon
light. The next instant, mans figure loomed
large and dark before me- had not mo-
ment for deliberation. 1t was then or never,
and pulled the trigger There was fash
report-a sudden ringing in my ears, and
through it series of screams, and familiar
voice, saying:
"My GodI You have killed me p'
That voice told me all. I threw the pistol
down, and rushed forward, just as my sisters
door was thrown wide open, and Dick, stagger-
ing in that direction, fell heavily down upon
the threshold
What scene it was that followed! Anna
screaming, Lucy fainting, the children in an
uproar, [ standing frozen with horror, and
mamma imploring somebody to ego for the
DOCTOR"
"There's no good in going for the doctor, u
said Dick, when she bent down and raised his
head "I'm done for, think 1t was all my
own fault, Aunty. Don't blame Minnie. l
meant to frighten her, and it serves me right.
Tell Lucy"
But here the poor fellow broke down with a
gasp, and turning away, flew as if the Aven-
ger of Blood were after me, down stairs, out of
the house, across the yard, and in upon the fes-
tive assembly of the cabins-a figure, the like
of which few of the merry-makers had ever
sternation wherever I went, for such panic
ensued ON nv appearance wonderful, con-
sidering my expression of face and style of
costume-that 1 had great difficulty in gaining
sensible attention. At last, however, sue
ceeded in making them understand that was
not ghost, and that / wanted a messenger.
"Where's Scip ?" l said. "Wheres anybody I?
Tell somebody to saddle horse, and go for the
doctor p'
"Lor-a-massy, Miss Minniel What's the
matter?" cried half dozen voices at once.
"I've shot Dick p' exclaimed in an agony.
"He is dead, Or dying. Go-go-any of you,
90 for DR.. Burrill."
Half dozen men rushed away at once, pell-
NELL over each other toward the stables, and
every servant who had the faintest excuse for
doing so ran to the house. 1 followed slowly,
in sort of despair. 1 did not want to 60
in; knew there was no need of me, and l
dreaded unspeakably another sight of Dicks
pale face and bloody form, so wandered round
to the front piazza, and crouched down on the
steps to wait for the doctor. l am sure don't
know why I did not take my death Of cold
for would have been thinly clad for July
night except that on occasions of great excite
ment we all do such things, and rarely suffer
from them. was, however, as nearly frozen
half an hour) horse came at hard gallop up
the avenue, and SHE'D in the most unexpected
manner at sight of the ghostly white object
perched on the steps.
"Soh, Charley r' said voice, I had known
all my life "Gently, my good fellow There's
no use in this behavior. 1t is only-what the
deuce is it ?'
ats me, doctor I" cried weak, half frozen
voice. "Pease don't stop. Come on-do. He
may be dead by this time. Oh, please don't
dAll right" said the doctor, ''Im not stop
ping" and he sprang down, and threw his rein
to servant who came up. "Show the way,
Minnie. Is it Dick Carr who is shot? How
did he do it 2"
"He didn't do it. Idid It'll"
"Youp
The doctor absolutely stopped to stare at me,
but to my great relief, mamma came hurrylng
down stairs at the moment.
ooh, doctor, l am so glad you have come p
she said, breathlessly. 1--WE are all frightened
to death, for we don't know what to do; and
the poor boy seems so weak, l thought he
would bleed to death before you got here"
"Where is he?" asked the doctor, hastily.
And then they vanished up the staircase to-
gether, leaving poor forlorn me alone In dark
ness and misery.
"There's plenty more charges in the pistol" J"
steps. '"The best thing can do is to go and
shoot myself The matter will only get worse
instead of better, and it is bad enough now.
wonder if he will die tonight? OIL what
made me shoot him? I'm sure 1 wish l had
never been born"
/ was quite desperate under my weight of un-
accustomed remorse, so there is no telling what
wish trembled on the end of my tongue, when
Just at this point warm shawl was suddenly
wrapped round me, and kind voice sounded
IL Come &c ne in, honey, to the fire. Don't you be
a-takin' on like this. You'll ketch your death
a cold out here-Lord knows you will. Don't
you grieve So Mass Dick amt a goin' to die
NOT hep
"Oh, nanny, don't you think so?" cried l.,
clutching eagerly at the first CLEAN of consola-
ton offered me, and looking up-oh !. so visit
fully-into the kind black face above.
ri knows it, honey" said nanny, who was
thinking much more of consoling me than OF
Dicks probable chances for lite or death. Mass
lE