The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1877-09-25
MRS. HARDING'S SIGN.

IN THE doorway of their cabin In the
i far West, Susan Harding stood and
gazed out on the smiling scenes around
her.
The afternoons sun showered its
golden light over field and forest, and
turned the river which floated SO quiet
ly by, into mirror that shone like pol
ished steel. But the woman standing
there gave no thought of the beauties
which surrounded her.
Shading her eyes with her hand, she
gazed long and earnestly away to the
westward, as though she was expecting
the coming of some one from that di-
rection. Long and steadily she looked,
but the coming of no human being re-
warded her gaze. A look of disappoint-
ment mingled with anxiety, and she
said aloud to herself as she turned away
from the door, " / can't see why Will
liam doesn't return. He said he would
be gone no longer than noon at the
most. / am afraid that some harm has
come to him."
81 shouldn't wonder If there had"
said q voice from within the cabin
The redskins are on the war-path, you
know. told William that he had bet
ter stay at home to day. 1 wouldn't
wonder mite if we had trouble with
them before he got back"
You are always talking of evil,
mother. Why is it that you will al
ways be bird of ill-omenY The red
skins have never as yet done us any
harm, and trust that they may not"
"But they have other people, if they
amt us, Susan" said the old lady, in
half offended tone. +" You amt forgot
how they murdered the Smith family
and then burned their cabin to the
ground. They said that they had two
or three signs of danger, but they only
laughed at them. If they had given
them heed it may be that they would be
alive now.
You are always talking of signs,
mother. Why will you do so ? You
know there is nothing in them. 1t
makes me nervous to hear you talk of
them"
But there is more in signs than you
think, Susan. don't believe that any
body ever died yet without some sign
being given them. Sometimes it comes
in one way, and sometimes in nn-
other"
Don't think of such things any
more, mother, you make me nervous,
although L don't believe in them. But
do wish William would come. Now
that puts me in mind that L have his
frock to mend"
Saying this the young wife stepped
across the room, and reached up to take
down the garment where it hung upon
a peg on the wall. AS she attempted to
do SO, three drops of bright crimson
blood fell and rested upon her arm.
She turned as pale as death at the
sight, and cry of half terror, half sur
prise fell from her lips.
" Whatis it, Susan ?" demanded the
old lady, her husbands mother.
The young wife at first could not find
words to answer; but she extended her
arm, with the bright red drops upon it,
toward the questioner.
"Good heaven !" cried the old lady,
"What did that come from ?"
81 know not" answered Susan. "It
fell from something upon my arm"
"Did it come from the frock ?" asked
the old lady, with blanched face.
at seemed to. had just laid my
hand upon it."
cit is a death sign" cried the old lady
shrilly. The redskins have either
killed William, or we are going to be
murdered here before he comes back"
AS pale as though the life blood was
flowing from her, the young wife sank
into seat.
"Do you think so, mother ?" she
gasped, forgetting for the moment her
recently expressed disbelief in such
matters.
eyes, she answered, solemnly. CT
am sure that is a warning to us. There
is trouble in store, and L am sure we
shall see it before long. What else:can
the sign meanp For sign am sure it
is -
The young wife made no answer, but
she rose from her seat and took step
towards the spot where the garment
hung. But she did not reach it. AS
she stepped forward she gave a glance
out through the open door, and there
she saw that which at once arrested her