The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1874-07-10
By H0RSLEY BROS. & FIGUERS.

hark what's that p
1t was a sound outside the door-s
slow, solemn grating of wheels. Then
feet trod the pavement and the bell rang
family.
"a carriageI' cried Maggie; "has
he changed his mind and brought her
home at once9 But that can't be, he's
not married yet." Aud 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 aiar.
stranger" said voice, Some who
has something particular to say to you. "
"You1l have to wait for tomorrow. -
said Maggie. "You can't come i'm to.
night"
MY good woman" said the stranger,
"you are Margaret Black ?"
| "That's 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 y cried Maggie, but
enough to thrust her head out. "Don't
/
"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, "and 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 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 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 horrible coffin into the parlor.
They came out with their hats of,
and the other man held his also in his
hand.
"I regret to leave you all alone in the
house." he said.
Il don't mind that" said old Mag
gle, ;'but it's terrible, terrible"
." If you'd like me to stay" said the
man.
"No," said Maggie. "Pve 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 gallivanting on railroads. l |
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. "Pm not afraid of dead
folks"
In minute more Maggie dropped
the lid again, and retreated, shaking
from head to foot. She had seen within
the coffin face with its ewes shut- and
with bandages about the head, and
the CHASTITY featurss of a clown in q
But It was a living face, well chalked,
and not her masters, and Maggie knew
at once that she had been well hum
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. It
vas a long distance to the nearest house,
md even if they did not kill her, they
would execute their purpose and rob
,he place before she returned.
" Master looks natural, " said Maggie
loud, and tried to collect her thoughts.
Mr.. Van Motifs revolvers were in the
lext room, she knew, loaded, six shots
n each. Maggie could use pistols.
She had aimed at troublesome cats with
yreat success more than once. If she
,ould secure these she felt safe.
"Poor, dear MASTER" she sobbed,
md edged toward the back room.
Poor, dear master :" she lifted the
Iesk-lid. She had them safe.
She glided back to the front parlor
md sat down on a chair. She turned
I'D her sleeves and grasped a pistol in
,ach hand, and watched the coffin lid
luietIy. In half an hour the lid stir
ed. A cautious hand crept up the
ide. A wiry eye peeped out. 1t fell
lpon the armed figure and closed again.
YOU'D better" said Maggie to her
elf.
Again the head lifted up. This time
Maggie sprang to her feet.
"You are fixed quite handy" she
aid coolly. " No need of laying you
,ut if I fire, and / can aim tirst-rate,
when I'm afraid of ghosts, as
am now."
The head bobbed down again. Mag
ne re-seated herself. She knew this
ould not last long-that there must be
conflict before long. 1t was as she
imposed. A moment more and the
offfn was empty, and ferocious young
ellow sat on its edge, and thus ad-
Lressed her:
"We meant to do it all quiet" he
mid, "and 1 don't want to frighten old
women. Just put them down"
"Tm not frightened" said Maggie.
"pm coming to take them things
way from you," said the man.
"Come," said Maggie.
He advanced one step. She took aim,
md he dodged, but Dullet went
trough his left arm, and it dropped by
lis side.
Furious with pain, he dashed toward
Ter. She fred again, and this time [
wounded him in the right shoulder, |
faint, and quite helpless, he staggered |
.gainst the wall. II
"There, you've done it, old woman"
le said. "Open the door and let me {
'ut. My game is up"
{" Mine isn't, F" said old Maggie. "Get
,ack into your coffin again, or this time [
IL shoot you through the heart"
The burglar looked piteously at her, s
,ut he saw no mercy in her face. He &
7ent back to the coffin and lay down in I
/. Blood dropped from his wounds, 1
nd he was growing pale. Maggie did I
ot want to see him die before her eyes,
'ut she did not dare go for aid. To
cave the house before daybreak would .
70 to meet this mans companions, and
isk her own life. There was nothing
or it but to play the surgeon herself, {
nd in a little while she had stopped I
he blood and saved the burglars life. I
lore than this-she brought him cup t
f tea, and fed him with it as if he had {
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