The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-09-02

| Iu"FoS IL lno Wurrelu got into Mt6ther
Dlnsmores es house, that's sittiated the same
as this, nelghborlng nobody, and tuck al
thoy could lay their hands on, to say nothin
OF half .murderin' the ould gentlemen. The
saints be above us this night--"
There 1t was, sure enough, headed. "a
bold and outrageous attack upon the resi-
dence Of Dr.. Dlnsmore |" read 1t through.
and then said to myself
'Jerusha Jackman, remember your nre.
sence of mind. Don't let 1t fail YOU in
cases OF emergency. Should housebreak-
er take advantage Of your solitude, let bim
find You prepared" 1t was as though
some Invisible what's his name had ad.
dressed me from the chimney. answered,
II Will" and you can't imagine how bold |
grew at once. l rehearsed oil that I should
90 In case Biddy came to me in the
night saying, "Mlssus, there's some one in
the cellar'"--all should do if found any
BODY in the wardrobe when I retired, and I
had the satisfaction of feeling that was
prepared. l might wake up to find the
spoons gone-I might be murdered In nv
bed; but 1t would not be unawares and
they would inscrbe upon my tombstone
| these words: "She showed her presence Of
mind to tho last" T felt quite self-possess-
ed and happy, though was certain-ycs,
morally certaln-that something remark
able wonld happen before morning; that I
should be, as 1t wero, weighed in tho bal
ance and not found wanting before the sun
arose. did not feel like retiring early,
and sat by the fire until the clock struck
eleven. Then, just as the last stroke died
away, Biddy came down from her bedroom
like red flannel ghost, with eyes and
mouth wide open, and something of i'm
portance evidently on her mind put baby
down in her cradle and arose, drawing nv
self up to my full height, and feeling that
[ was the only one to be depended on in
this awful emergency.
Bridget" SAID l, chow many arc thew?
Is it one or more2" ~
''Nlum2' said Bridget" %
'"The thieves lmean," said 1.
"Oh, 1t isn't thaves, num-" said Biddy.
TITS only that thafe OF q wind that's took
the roof clane off the chicken-housc, and
theirs the wee bits iv chicks stharvin to
death wild cowld." 49,
Sand In this dreadful rain. too, said
cts clared off fine," said Biddy, "and
the moons up"
So it actually was, and l began to feel
Very brave.
"We must go out and put them in the
wood house, " said I. And so saying, |
tucked baby up in his blankets, and wrap
ping shawl over my head, went out into
the night air. 1t had grown very cold but
1t was Clear as Biddy had said, and we
padded round in the mud catching the
poor little chickens. We had them all at
last, except one, and We heard it's little
voice sWec, 8eOee, s,Uee-somewhere, and
of course could not be 80 heartless as to for
sake it. And at last there it was, tangled
up In some dead vines, and as cold as a
lump OF ice. BY the time we gave it to
its mother, who was very glad to see
1t, the clock struck twelve. Baby had been
alone three-quarters Of IN hour
'NIuzzcr's darlingl sound asleep vet ?"
said, as went to tho cradle. Merciful
powels shall ever forget that moment
Baby was not therel
In moment the truth flashed on nv
mind. Housebreakcrs had entered the
dwelling in our absence, aud stolen nv
treasure. Perhaps they were in the house
yet, or some of them. l felt the strength
of tigress and, leaving Biddy bowling
in the dinning-room, rushed up stairs.
Sure enough, there was light in my
bedroom, and peeped IN. The moment
| did so, felt was powerless. The rob-
Der who mad stolen my baby was there, and
the terribly muddy boots Of another were
sticking from under the bed; and, oh, hor-
rors another had got into it, and had hid
den, as he imagined, under the quilts.
On my presence vi mind depended the
recovery of my cblld aud my life. In a
moment the, plan flashed upon me- There
was but one door to the room, and the win
dows were high and barred, for had con-
templatcd the time when baby should be
large enough to climb up and lean out.
Noiselessly and suddenly drew that door
10 and locked 1t on the outside; then, with
the yin my hand, and trembling like an
aspen leaf, l stole down stairs and cried to
Bridget: "
s1ve locked them in; they shall give my
baby back; come with me |" and away I
went across the garden and down the road
to the first house.
This was ''Mulligan's Tavern" very
low place, indeed, stunned by all respect
able folks; but knew there were always
men there who were afraid of nobody. The
greatest brutcs would not refuse aid TO q
woman at such time.
AS we camc near l saw light in one of
the windows, and heard voices and loud
laughter. 1t was no time for ceremony.
30 burst the door open and ran In. There
were four men playing cards, and old Mrs
hlulligan behind the bar.
'Ohl please excuse me-" criod; 'sbut
do come right away. There arc house
breakers In my house, and they've stolen
my baby"
''Sthole the baby2" cried old Mrs. Mul-
ligan.
"Oh, do come," implored.
"Go, Pat, !" said tho old woman; "ncver
mind the game. It's Missus Jackman;
more betoken she's the next neighbors to
us. Take yer pistols an away wild ye,
boys. And Mlssus, just take a drop o'scree-
chin hot whiskcy TO kape the life in ye."
Or course / refused the latter offer, but
In moment the men were on their feet,
and felt like blessing them--those half
savage creatures who had become my pro-
tect0rs. t.
I don't know how we got to the house or
upstairs. remember an awful tumult,
smell Of gunpowder, oaths and shouts.
Then there was silence-then a loud
laugh