The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1874-06-19

II was n sound outside the door-a
slow. solemn grating of wheels. Then
feet trod the pavement and the bell
rang family.
he changed his mind and brought her
home at once? But that can't be, he's
not married vet" And taking one of
the candles she trotted to the door,
but not before the bell had rung
again.
;" Who's that ?" she cried, holding the
door slightly ajar.
GA stranger" said voice, "one
who has something particular to saysto
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?"
"That's my name.
"Mr Van Motifs housekeeper for
twenty years p
Yes"
"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-only
enough to thrust her head out. Don't
scare me, mister. What is it ?"
1.-THE worst you can think of, said
the man. "Mr. Van Mott travelled on
the railroad. There has been an
accident.
Preserve us p cried Maggie, letting
the door fall back, "and him on his
uyou 70 hic va11inn Ho'c haIlU b1,rt
then ?"
"He's Dead" said the man. "Dead,
and we've brought him home"
Maggie sat down on chair and began
to cry.
We've done what we could" said
the man. "The lady he was to marry
and her friends will be down to- morrow.
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
strangers 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 horrible coffin into the
parlor.
They came out with their hats off,
and the other man held his also in his
hand.
Ct 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"
4" If you'd like me to stay" said the
man.
no" said Maggie. GIVE 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 mantel, looked at the coffin through
her tears.
''He 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 look" and Maggie crossed
the room and lifted the lid over the face
of the inclosed body.
ell take look" she said to her
self again. I'm not afraid of dead
folks.
In a minute more Maggie dropped
the lid again, and reiterated,
shaking from head to foot She had
seen within the coffin face with its
eyes shut, and with bandages aboutithe
head, and the CHASTITY features OF a
clown in circus, minus the red mouth.
But it was living face, well chalked,
and not her masters, and Maggie knew
at once that she had been well hum
bugged-that the story of her masters
death was lie, and that 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 nearest house,
and even if they did not kill her, they
would execute their purpose and rob the
place before she returned,
Z" Master looks natural, said Mag
gle aloud, and tried to collect her
thoughts.
Mr. Van Motifs revolvers were in the
next room, she knew, loaded, six shots
in each. Maggie could use pistols. She
/ lldU dluIcu dJ JIOuDleSOIlc cats WIFI
| great success more than once. If she
could secure these she felt safe.
Poor, dear MASTER" she sobbed,
and edged toward the back room.
Poor, dear MASTER" she lifted the
desk-lid. She had them safe.
She glided back to the front parlor
and sat down on n chair. She turned
up her sleeves and 8rasped a pistol in
each hand, and watched the coffin-lid
quietly. In half an hour the lid stirred.
A cautious hand crept up the side. A
wiry eye peeped ont. 1t fell upon the
armed figure and closed again.
YOU'D better" said Maggie to her.
self.
Again the head lifted up. This time
Maggie sprang to her feet.
"You are fixed quite handy" she
said coolly. +" No need of laying you
out if / fire, and can aim first-rate, es-
pecially when I'm afraid of ghosts, as /
! be now"
The head bobbed down again. Mag
- larealf She knew this