The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-09-21
Cousins future wife.

SOuoAu AutukS WIG.
There she lived for several years. Mean.
While Petor, who had after all been saved
from tho wreck of Tho Jane, returned
home.
He went straight to his mothers cottage.
The poor woman had lived solitary lie.
When she left her home she had told no
one why she went. The old furniture she
had sold to tee junk man, and had taken
noting but her parrot with her, Poor Polly,
who had brought tearu to her eyes since
her boys departure by screaming out i:
"You, Peter, stop that /"
The nelghbors who had lived near tho
cottage when Peter went to seu we've vonc.
so Peter heard from stranger that "thut
the lady that lived In tho third house died
last WINTER" and wont sadly away. Mother
anu son mourned each other rs dead, when
only few miles.-aud hours Journey by
rail-lay between them.
Feter had come home intending to re-
turn to the carpenter, and be good son
and worthy citizen; but his mothers SUP
posed death upset HIM. lie fell into dis
sipatcd ways; made the acquaintance of a
man of doubtful character, who was called
Red Jack, and one day found h mself deep
er III the miro Of dishonesty than he lad
ever intenaed to 90.
Kcd Jack intended to rob house, and
coniided his plans to Peter.
't1t's old woman that lives all alonc,n
said Jack; "hcr servants are quite IN
another building We can get in by win.
dow know of, and get all thuro III to carry
OH, as easy as winking. If we make a
good haul, we needn't try that sort of a
Thing again; and what does an old woman
want OF much, while two fine young fel-
lows arc suffering.
AT first Peter refused to listen, and re-
proach his new friend with having fancicd
ne could join in such work; but finally he
ylclucd. Ills part was to creep in ut u
window, while Red jack, who had lamcd
hlmself i'll some past exploit of the sort,
waited outside with horse and curt for
his appearance with the booty.
The night came. There was no moon
III the sky, no stars--all was dark and
gloomy. Jack drove the wagon as near to
the house as he dared, and Peter crcpt out
or 1t, and after some search, found the
house Jack had mentione... All was dark:
but Peter thought 1t best to make sure
that no ono was stirring.
Softly he crept around the garden, peep
ing and listening, and at last stepped upon
the low back porch, upon which the win
dow opened, through which he was to
make his way. AS his foot touched II a
board crcaked and suddenly voice cried
out In his ear
"iou, Peter, stop that
Peter stood still as though suddenly
petrlhcd. Again came the cry:
You; Peter, stop that"
The chisel Peter held fell from his fin
gers. He uttered low groan
Don't do that. Don't do that. Peter,
don't DO that, repeated the voice.
Ioor Peter fell upon his knees. IIe felt
sure that it was a supernatural warning.
Pale, trembling, miserable, he crcpt back
TO Jack, who sat III his wagon. "Help me
| in, Jack, " he said. 'I'vo seen ghost. [
can't go back to that house AGAIN"
Jack was superstitious, like all people
OF his class. lie struck the horse with
| the whip and away they ratified through
the dark village, as though Satan was after
hem, Daylight, however, restored Peters
senses. lie venturcd near the house in
the afternoon and saw what he begun to
think he should sec his mothers great ycl-
low parrot swinging in cage upon the
porch.
cit was,. Poll that called to me-" thought
Peter. ''SoniU one has bought tho poor
bird. Well, she savsa me from doing
what I'd have been sorry foEz-for wasn't
born thief Tnen he knctKed on the
kitchen door, and being answered By. a
servant in prim cap and apron, began as
follows:
"Miss, by your loavc, I'd like to know
IL whosoeyer owns that parrot would like
TO sell her. You see, she used to belong
to mother, and the old lady has gone TO
heaven, and I'd like :"
But there he stopped, for out of the
house came rushing the old lady herself
and flung herself on his neck.
"f)u, Peter, stop that!" screamed
Polly.
But Peter could not stop crying. Bad
us he had been, lie loved his mother. From
mat time he became al exemplary individ-
,Ial, though to be sure, there was no reason
for his being otherwise, for he had nil he
needed without being dishonest. And the
ola lady who never guessed whist had
brought her son back to her--lived happy
| ever after.