Orangeburg times. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1872-1875, 1874-07-09

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sail safe enough. And Til speak to
the night.watohman, and give him a dol
Lar to take particular look at this
house. Well, good-by, Maggie, make
things as neat as possible, for il they
look dirty my wife may think the fur
for the parlor." And Mr.. Van Mott de-
parted. iE
/" Yes,l yes," said old Maggie, emo
doubt she'll have fine, extravaganza ways.
Poor masterl What pity he should
marry, after all-but old fools are the
worst fools. A young thing of eight and
forty, too, when he has sensible SER
want, sixty last January, that knows
what belongs to good housekeeping.
Ii he wanted to marry why didn't he
ask me? I'd not have gone gallivant-
ing and spending. Alb, we'll, he'll suf-
fer, not I |" And Maggie trotted away
to begin her sweeping and dusting.
She had said truly that there was no
fear born with her, but as the night
drew on she began to feel somewhat
lonely. Her masters presence was
strangely missed out of the great house,
and there wac something ghostly in the
look of his empty chair when she peeped
into the little back office.
If 1 was superstitious, she said to
herself, "I should think something
dreadful was going to happen. I feel
chilly up and down my back, and keep
thinking of funerals. I'll make myself
a cup of tea, and see if I can't get
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
more comfortable.
The old clock ticked away on the
mantel, the hands pointing to half-past
eight.
"I'm going to bed at nine," said
Maggie. "I'ye worked we'll to day.
Much thanks I'll get for it, doubt.
Hark What's that p
1t was n sound outside the door-a
slow, solemn grating of wheels. Then
feet trod the pavement and the bell rang
family. M
"a carriage" cried Maggie; has
he changed his mind and brought her
home ut once? But that can't be, he's
not married yet" Aud taking one of
the candles sue trotted to the door, but
not before the bell had rung again.
Who's that?" she cried, holding the
door slightly aiar.
"a stranger" said voice, "one who
has something particular to say to you. !"
"Youll have to wait for morrow"
night"
"NIy good woman" said the stranger,
"you are Margaret BIack?"
That's my name"
"Mr. Van Motifs housekeeper for
twenty years 2"
Eyes"
"My good woman, if you are attached
to your master, have very bad news
for you"
did not open the door much wider-only
enough to thrust her head out. "Don't
scare me, mister. What is it ?"
"The worst you can think Of" said
the man. "Mr. Van Mott travelled on
the railroad. There has been an
accident"
Preserve us!" cried Maggie, letting
the door fall back, "aud him on his
wny 10 his wedding. He's badly hurt
then 2"
"He's dead" said tho man. "Dead.
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 tomorrow.
Meanwhile my instructions arc 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 u
Then she shrank back and let two men
carry horrible coffin into the parlor.
They came out with their hats off.
and tho other man held his also in his
hand.
"I regret to leave you all alone in the
house," he said.
"I don't mind that" said old Mag
gle, 'but it's terrible. terrible"
If you'd like me to stay" said thc
man.
"No," said Maggie. "I'vc no fear of
living or dead folk. You can CO."
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 gnllivnntipg 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.
"I'll take look" she said to her.
self again. "I'm not afraid of dead