The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1874-04-29

think I shall not keep Sarah any
longer than Christmas. I don't
like some of her ways. I did not
know so we'll when 1 engaged Sa-
rah: what bad character her family
bore; one brother has been in
prison twice."
Gail the more reason for keep
ing this gtrl safe from evil infu-
ence. You shouldn't be too hasty,
Kate; you are a dear little soul,
but, like all women, you judge too
impulsively, and-Who's that, I
wonder?"
A heavy step passed the window,
followed by a ring at the hall bell.
Mrs. Ferguson opened the study
door as Jane, the elder servant,
passed down the stairs, candle in
hand.
Jane soon returned with large,
damp envelope.
The message was from the rec
tors brother at Fordham, a place
forty miles distant, and ran thus:
"Come immcdiatel "a third bad
ft-my father anxiously expects
YOU"
The rector kissed his wife and
children, and was soon on his way
to his brothers home.
Jane and her mistress looked
two very lonely and deserted fe-
males indeed, as they stood peer
ing out into the darkness, listening
to the wheels.
"Come, Jane, this will never
do" said her mistress at last, wip-
ing some raindrops and drops Of
another nature from her face. "Let
us see that all the doors and win
dows are fast! Get YOUR supper,
and come and tell me VIXEN you
arc ready for bed"
Then she herself re-entered the
study and sat down to collect her
thoughts somewhat after the hurry
and turmoil Of the last half hour.
The illness Of her father-in-law;
would he relent at the last, and let
her husband share his property
with his other children? Differ
ences arising out of John Fergus
sons marriage with a dowerless
woman, fomcnted by petty family
i:iealousies, strengthened by the in
dependent attitude the young man
had assumcd-such differences had
been, after all, the heaviest grief Of
Mrs. Fergusson's married life.
And now She wondered and pom
dered on them till the clock on the
chimney piece struck the hour Of
ten and startled her out OF her med
itations.
1t seemed to the mistress Of the
house that she had slept so long
that morning must be near, when
she awoke with an inexplicable
feeling Of fright-a feeling of some
thing, or some one, close by her.
"What is t?'' she cried, starting
up in the bed, and instinctivcly
catching the sleeping child i'll her
arms. No answer.
Only a distinct sound of breath
| ing, and then a movement like a
hand feeling along the wall-to-
wards her.
She began to tremble violently;
nothing but the presence OF the
child on her painting bosom saved
her from fainting.
"Who is it?' She cried, her voice
SO shaking and hollow that it ava
kened Ruth, who clung to her,
sleepy and scared.
This time she had answer.
eve will do you no harm,' a
voice spoke out Of the darkness,
eff you give up that money you've
got;" and then, before Mrs. Fer
gusson could muster courage and
breath to speak, another voice, out
of the room apparently: added in a
rough undertone, "And tell her to
look sharp about it, too!' -,
"11co Of them! 0 God, help me.'
she whispered to herself, and Ruth
began to break into screams and
sobs.
"Kecp that brat quiet !" angrily
,muttered the voice on the landing:
"and don't keep US here all night. "
"Now surely ifever woman was
in a miserable plight, Mrs. Fergus
son was that woman. Not a house
nearer than the Hollands, a full
quarter of a mile off; no soul near
to help her, for Jane, who worked
hard by day, slept hard by night
and slept moreover in a queer little
room at the very top of the house
al alone-worso than alone, utterly
!lelpless, and a woy'lan who cor
t.s$ea 10 the usual feminine share
iof c0Wardicc.
Still, she drew her breath, and
In a.t,d f,nYn bpr ncort q cry