Port Royal standard and commercial. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1876-10-19
A NIGHT l0DGER.

When / was in my twelfth year, papa
and mamma made up their minds to
take pleasure trip to the "Far West. "
This was something unusual; they sell
dom left home. Well, they went, and
lny two sisters, two brothers and myself
had gay time housekeeping"
One day, all except myself and our
So. want gIrl were invited to dinner
party. l 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 well as not.'
Don't be baby, Kitty were the
words directed to me-.
:, Finally resignediy bade them get
out of my sight"
Sally and L were good friends; she
told me stories and sang songs till be-
gan to think it was quite fine thing to
be left at home.
Tired of staying in the house, / saun-
tered down tine front walk, and amused
myself by ip5ulging in forbidden
pleasure-swinging on the gate.
Looking down tie road, spied a man
com ng along. / flew to the house, and,
satisfied that he was coming in, l ran to
Sally. Selling her dress with both
hands, I exclaimed:
"Oh, Sally there is dreadful look
ing man coming in.
Sally picked up the poker and walked
to the door, while l, initiating her ex-
ample, snatched stick of wood. Sud
denly Sally cried:
"You little goose, it is Bill Nc
Cartyl"
Sure enough, it was Sally's beau. Her
mother was very sick, and McCarty was
sent to bring Sally home Immediately.
Here was dilemma. Sally didn't
want to leave me, and unless she started
home then, she might not see her moth
or alive. 1t was nearly time for the rest
OF the folks to come home, so managed
to raise courage enough to say l was
willing to remain alone.
In few minutes Sally was off, and l
was left in possession OF our great
house, which never seemed so large to
me before. / tried to read, but it was
impossible; all the murder stories l had
ever heard came to my mind.
remembered that none OF our doors
could be locke1. Papa, who had few
strange ideas, declared locks were a
nuisance. / felt that was doomed.
went out to the yard, and, to my
dismay, discovered that the sky was
overcast and storm near at hand. l
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 brook,
pretty and peaceful in pleasant weather,
but very little rain transformed them
both j. 20 rsgi3g torrents.
al Stoo3 at the window I saw first
OH. II !ge, and tnun the other, swept
off. / knew Low that must stay alone
all night; It would ba impossible for my
bro,h"rs and 5; ;5teys TO get home.
'G-ovelors, nr, rs Silly called them,
"sIalupels," often stopped at our house
over III III, as there was 10 public house
near. To my horror, I now saw one OF
them coming across the fields. Should
I hide? No, that was not to be thought
Of Without stopping to kUock, the
great rough man walked In.
"Can stay here all night2"
l dared not refuse him, so, as firmly
as l could, answered:
eyes"
He seemed surprised at seeing no one
bus myself, and questioned me much.
] told him my brother was up stairs
writing; that we two were alone. ihat
was the first thing that entered my
head to tell him. Such villainous
countenance that man had
His hair was cut close to his head,
leaving his huge ears in bold relief.
Wicked looking eye, and a brutal
mouth, completed his general express
sion of ferocity.
Bedtime came, and [ directed the man
to a room up stairs in the servants de-
partment, not the cup stairs where L
had said my brother was.
Now that there was real danger, l
was calm and reasonable. l fastened
the door that led up stairs with my en-
broidery scissors, which happenedto be in
nv pocket, soas TO guard against surprise,
and hurriedly collecting our sslverWare.
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