Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1874-06-04

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 trotted to the door, but
not before the bell had rung again.
/ "Whos that?" she cried, holding the
door slightly ajar.
GA stranger" said voice, some who
has something particular to say to you.
''You will have to wait for to-,
morrow said Maggie. 'You can't
come in tonight
"My good woman said the stranger
''you are Margaret Black?'
"That's my name
''Mr. Van Motifs housckeeper for the
last twenty years"
Eyes"
'tMy good woman, # you are attach
ed to your master, / have very bad
news for you
"Graclous Lord!' cried Maggie. but
she did not open the door much wider
only enough to thrust her head out.
''Dont scare me, Mister. What is it,
''The worst you can think OF, said
! the man. There has been an accident.
''Preserve u.s." cried Maggie, letting
the door fall back, ''and him on his way
to his wedding He's hurt badly"
"He is dead" said the man ''Dead,
and we've brought him home"
''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 are that you
shall watch with him, and allow no
strangers to enter the house. There
are valuable things here, I'm told; and
Mr.. Van Motifs lawyer must take
possession of them, and seal them up
before strangers have access to the
room
"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 shrunk 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.
81 regret to leave you all alone in
the house" he said.
81 don't mind that, said old Maggie.
''but it's terrible, terrible
"Would you like for me to stay?" in :
quired the man.
"No," said Maggie; 81 have no fear
Of living or dead folks. You can CO."
Then she locked the door and went
into the parlor, and putting the candle
OF the mantle, 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 his 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 enclosed body.
"Ill take look, she said to herself
again. "i'm not afraid of dead folks"
In minute more, Maggie dropped
the lid again and retreated, shaking
| from head to foot She had seen, with
in the coffin. face with Its eyes shut,
and with bandages about the head, and
the ghastly features of clown in cir
Gus 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 this story of her master
death was lie, and that burglar lay
within the coffin ready to spring upon
her and bind her, or, perhaps, murder
her at any moment.
She could, of course, open the doc,
and try to escape; but the accompliccs
of the man were doubtless outside, /,
was 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 return
ed.
"Master looks NATURAL" said Mag
gle, aloud, and tried to collect he,
thoughts.
Mr.. Van Motifs revolvers were in
the next room, she knew, loaded, six
shots in each. Maggie could use pis
tolls. She had aimed at troublesome
cats with great success more than once.
If she could secure these pistols she
felt safe.
"Poor, dear MASTER" she sobbed, and
edged Toward the back room. s'Poor,
dear master" She lifted the desk-lid.
She had them safe.
She glide'l back TO 'he froat parlor
and s:'t Iowa on a chair She l,fa,s.l