The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1876-10-25
A NIGHT LODGER.

and ANN maze up tnelr mmus &c
take a pleasure trip to the "Far West
This was something unusual; they sci
dom left home. Well, they went, and
lny two sisters, two brothers and myself
had q gay time housekeeping"
One day, all except myself and our
servant girl were invited to a dinner
party. I confess I dreaded to have
them 60.
"Kate, We will bring you any amount
of candy"
"Now, pet, you know you and Sally
can stay here just as we'll as not"
Don't be q baby, Kitty "-were the
words directed to me.
Finally I resignedly babe them get
out of my sight"
Sally and i were good friends; she
told me stories and sang songs till 1 be.
gan to think it was quite a fine thing tc
be left at home.
Tired of staying in the house, I saun.
tered down the front walk, and amused
myself by indulging in q forbidden
pleasure-swinging on the gate.
Looking down tie road, Ispied a man
coming along. I flew to the house, and,
satisfied that he was coming in, 1 ran to
Sally. Selling her dress with both
hands, I exclaimed:
"Oh, Sally there is a dreadful look
ing man coming in"
Sally picked up the poker and walked
to the door, while I, Initiating her e1-
ample, snatched a stick of wood. Sud
denly Sally cried:
"You little goose, it is Bill Nc,
Carly !"
Sure enough, it was Sally's beau. Her
mother was very sick, and McCarty was
sent to bring Sally home Immediately.
Here was a dilemma. Sally didn't
want to leave me, and unless she started
home then, she might not see her moth
er alive. It was nearly time for the rest
of the folks to come home, so I managed
to raise courage enough to say I was
willing to remain alone.
In a few minutes Sally was off, and I
was left in possession Of our great
house, which never seemed so large to
me before. I tried to read, but it was
impossible; all the murder stories I had
ever heard came to my mind.
remembered that none of u doors
could be locked. Papa, who had a few
strange ideas, declared locks we're q
nuisance. I felt that I was doomed.
I went out to the yard, and, to my
dismay, discovered th&t the sky was
overcast and q storm neal at hand. /
could see the rain coming; faster and
faster it came; it was soon at the house.
Oh, how it did rain
On each side of our yard was a brook,
pretty and peaceful in pleasant weather,
but a very little rain transformed them
both into raging torrents.
AS I stood at the window I saw first
one bridge, and then the other, swept
off. I knew now that 7 must stay alone
all night; it would be impossible for my
brothers and sisters to get home.
Travellers, or, as Sally called them,
"trampers," often stopped at our house
over night, as there was no public house
near. To my horror, I now saw one of
them coming across the fields. Should
I hide2 No, that was not to be thought
of. Without stopping to knock, the
great rough man walked in.
"Can 1 stay here all night9"
I dared not refuse him, 80, as firmly
I could, answered:
"Yes."
he seemed surprised at seeing no one
but myself, and questioned me much.
I told him my brother vas up stairs
writing ; that we two were alone. That
was the first thing that entered my
head to tell him. Such a ~villainous
c~ountenance that man had
His hair was cut close to his head,
leaving his huge ears in bold relief.
Wicked looking eyes, and a brutal
mouth, completed his general express
sion of ferocity.
Bedtime came, and I directed the man
to a OOH up stairs in the servants de-
p%artment, not the cup stairs" where 1
had said my brother was.
Now that there was real danger, I
was calm and reasonable. I fastened
the door that led up stairs with my en-
broidery scissors, which happened, 70 be in
mypocket, soasto guard against surprise,
and hurriedly collecting u silverware,
carried it to mammals room and hid it
in the bed. No one would have sup
posed the bed had been disturbed.
I was elated at my ingenuity.
Then hunted up what jewels the girls
possessed, and placing them, with what
moneyIcouldf find. in a box, I tiedthem in
After doing this stole down
and removed my scissors from
the door. These scissors were counted
among my most valuable treasures. I
had had them many years, and had no
intention OF losing them now.
I expected the man would only wait
i'll he thought I and my fictitious
brother was asleep, and would then
search the house for valuables, and
finish by killing me.
Only ono plan for escape that I origi-
mated seemed feasible. I determined to
wait till I heard my lodgcr in tho rooms
below, AID then wrap myself in papa's
shawl, and jump out Of the window. ]
was not kept long in suspense; the pc,
culiar squeak Of the sitting-room door
warned me that it was time to act.
Quietly I raised the window, and Just as
the steps approached the stairs, I Jump.
ed to the ground. Fortunately, there
was a bed of lilies directly beneath the
window, and they softened my fall.
That there was danger of breaking my
neck I had not thought. I a deter,
mined to escape.
It was as dark as Egypt, til" rain was
pouring down in torrents, bp his wa
nothing in comparison with lie horro,
within the house.
Halt a mile back of our house lived
friend of papa's-Mr. Vincent. I re-
solved to go there. I ran along, STUN
bling against fences and falling into
bitches, thinking I never knew such 6
long half mile.
Finally I reached the house, and man
aged to tell my story. Several young
men happened to have been delayed
there by the storm, and, headed by
Henry Vincent, a young man of some
twenty-five years, they prepared to cap
ture my visitor.
I was too excited to remain at Mr..
Vincent's. I declared I would 60 back
home. They all tried to persuade me
not to do this except Henry Vincent,
who said "such a little heroine should