The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1874-07-02

look of his empty chair when she peeped
into the little back office.
eff | was supersttious, she said to
herself, 81 should think something
dreadful was going to happen. | feel
chilly mp and down my back, and keep
thinking of funerals. I'll make myself
a cup of tea, and see if / can't get
over it.
And accordingly old Maggie shut her
self into the snug kitchen, and lighting
two candles, drew pot of the strongest
young hyson, and putting her feet close
to the cooking stove, began to feel much
moro comfortable.
The old clock tckcd away on the
mantel, the hands pointing to half-past
eight.
"Im going to bed at nine" said
Maggie. "Ive worked we'll to- day.
Much thanks I'll get for it, doubt.
Hark What's that ?"
1t was a sound outside the door-a
slow, solemn grating of wheels. Then
feet trod the pavement and the bell rang
family.
GA carriagc!" cried Maggie; "has
he changed his mind and brought her
home at once? But that can't be, he's
not married yet" And taking one of
the candles she trottcd to the door, but
not before the bell had rung again.
"Who's that?" she cried, holding the
door slightly ajar.
a stranger, said voice, Zone who
has something particular to saJ to you.
"YOu'll have to wait for tomorrow" ="
said Maggie. "You can't come in to.
night"
"My good woman, said the stranger,
"you are Margaret Black?'
"Thats my name"
"Mr. Van Motifs housekeeper for
twenty years %
eyes"
"My good woman, if you are attached
to your master, | have very bad news
for YOU"
"Gracious Lord !" cried Maggie, but
did not open the door much wider r-only
enough to thrust her head out. "Dont
scare me, mister. What is it?"
"The worst you can think of, said
the man. "NIr. Van Mott travelled on
the railroad. There has been an
accident"
"Prcsorve us!" cried Maggie, letting
the door fall back, "ani him on his
way TO his wedding. He's badly hurt
then ?"
"He's dead" said the man. "Dead,
and we've brought him home"
Maggie sat down on a chair and began
to cry.
"We've done what Wa could" said
the man. "The lady he was to marry
and her fricnds will be down tomorrow.
Meanwhile my Instructions are that you
shall watch with him, and allow no
strangers to enter the house. There
are valuables here, I'm told, and Mr..
Van Motifs lawyer must take possession
of them, and seal them up before strang-
ers have access to the rooms.
"Oh dear, dear" cried old Maggie.
"That it should come to this. Yes, I'll
watch alone. I'm not afraid, but-oh,
dear !!
Then she shrank back and let two men
carry Il horrible coffin into the parlor.
They came out with their hats off,
and the other man held his also in his
hand.
81 regret to leave you all alone in the
house," he said.
81 don't mind that" said old Mag
gle, :'but it's terrible, terrible"
of you'd like me to stay" said the
man.
"No," said Maggie. "I'vc no fear of
living or dead folk. You can go.
Then she locked the door and went
into the parlor, and putting the candle
on the mauteI, looked at the coffin
through her tears.
"Ho was good enough to me-" she
said ; "poor Mr.. Archibald! And this
comes of wanting to marry at this time
of life, and gallivanting on railroads.
wonder whether he is changed much
I'll take u look" and Maggie crossed
the room and lifted the lid over the face
of the inclosed body.
"I'll take n look" she said to her
self again. "Tm not afraid of dead
folks"
In minute moro Maggie dropped
the lid again, and retreated, shaking
from head to foot. She had seen within
the coffin a face with it's eyes shut, and
with bandages about the head, AMI
the ghastly featur of a clown in
circus, minus the red mouth.
But it was a living face, we'll chalked,
and not her masters, and Maggie knew
at once that she had been well hum
bupged-that the story of her masters
death was lie, and that a burglar lay
within the coffin, ready to spring upon
her and bind her, or perhaps murder
her at any minute.
She could of course open the door
and try to escape but the accomplices
of the man were doubtless outside. 1t
was a long distance to the neares' house,
aud even if they did not kill her, they
would execute their purpose and rob
the place before she returned.
"AIaster looks natural" said Maggie
aloud. and tried to collect her thoughts.
Mr.. Van Motifs revolvers were i'll the
next room, she knew, loaded, six shots
in each. Maggie could use pistols.
She had aimed at troublesome cats with
great success more than once. Ii she
could secure these she felt safe.
"Poor, dear MASTER" she sobhed,
and edged toward the back room.
"Poor, dear master ;" she lifted the
desk-lid. She had them safe.
She glided back to the front parlorr
and sat down on a chair. She turned
nm her sleeves and grasped pistol in
each hand, and watched the cotfin,lld
quietly. In half an hour the lid stir
red. A cautious hand crept mp the
side. A wiry eye peeped out. 1t fell
upon the armed figure and closed again.
"You'd better" said Maggie to her
self.
Again the head lifted mp. This time
NJ -, ,,.a,,, IN her feet