The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-10-07
The Bieterville Mystery.

"Wife, come here, quick and see if you
can tell what's the matter with Nancy Per-
kins," exclaimed John Ponsby who had
been gazing curiously for several seconds
through window that overlooked the front
yard of his next neighbor.
swell, neverl" calculated Mrs. Pons-
by, upon seeing the familiar figure of Miss
Nancy Perkins, maiden Of forty or there
abouts, standing upon her own doorst ep,
dressed in an old gray ulster, which was
partly concealed by faded woolcn shawl,
and her well.known sun-bonnct dropping
like mask over her face. She was sway
ing around and bending forward and back
ward, as though convulsed by some power
full emotion.
"ls She laughing or crying, or what in
mercy ls the matter with herr I'd go right
over and see, but she's such queer, re-
served sort of body, like as not she'd
tell Inc to mind my own business. She is
always more civil 10 you, John, won't you
go2"
mot |, indeed Just look there She
has certainly gone crazy, for sec, she is
hitting her head against the front door.
Has Peter spoken to her since he came
homer"
mot that know of but, John, If he is
your brother, he hasn't spark of manhood
if he doesn't marry Miss Nancy yet"
"But she Is rather old now."
$50 Is he-ten years the older"
; ''Well, they would have married twenty
years ago if 1t had not been for your sense
less chatter, and that of few others of
your kind, telling her he went twice week
to see Squire Nesblt's daughter, when he
was only posting the old gentleman's books
doing night work to increase his earn
1nga."
''Now, John, don't 60 raking over the
pastl am sorry enough, and told him
about it last night; but you know didn't
find out the truth until he had gone to CAL
lfornia. Dear mel to think that's twenty
years ago! and now he has come back we'll
OFT. But bless my soul John, now
know what's the matter with Nancy she's
doing that to attract Peters attention"
''Oh, mol It's only little after six, aud
don't think he's up yet"
'Tll warrant he's up and watching her
from his window"
"Wcll, it doesn't seem to me that she
would rig up in that kind of style and make
such fool Of herself. think a girl, no
matter how old she is, will try to look re-
spectacle and act deccntly if she wants to
gain an honest mans heart.''
"But don't you see that she has the very
old shawl on she used to go sleigh riding
with him?"
''Well, she is making a pretty show of
herself to others, as well, for see the crowd
of boys climbing on the fence, and yonder
goes crowd Of women, some of them still
in nightcsps."
''Yes, there's Mrs. Frishee, and Mrs.
Snyder, and Sallie Yeomans, and Aunt
Betsy BLY,. III just run out and see what
they think Of such antics. And the uneasy
but good gossip was gone to Join a
crowd of her kindred spirits hurrying
toward Miss Nancy's gate.
In few minutes nearly the entire popu-
Iatlon OF the village had gathered around
the ncatly-kept door yard where the odd
looking figure was swaying, and gently,
then vehemently, and again standing mo-
tionless, but never gancing around, and
seemingly unconscious of the curious gaze
of the villagers.
Miss Nancy had lived long alone, taking
no interest In the gossip and tea drinking
OF the nelghborhood, devoting her leisure
time to birds and flowers, while Dhc earned
her living by fancy knitting sowing and
ShAoAoAuOiv3 "ulCu nuc ulCl LOT u uFIM III
BOSTON,
Her well known habits of seclusion made
the fast swelling crowd ut the gate dislike
TO intrude fnrtherupon her while she seemed
conyulsed with such paroxysms of grief. or
mirth, which II was they could not tell.
Curiosity had reached degree that was
absolutely painful, when Tom Jones, the
bad boy of the village, rang out
hat LII, r
the old girl, and she won't slap my face,
nuther2"
Tom was reckless, mischievous lad Of
sixteen, and he set astridc tho fence, hold
ing five cent piece between his soilcd
thumb and foreflnger, eagerly scanning the
faces Of his companions, to see If any one
of them was willing to cover his stake.
II dare you to do it, said one, prod,c
ing similar coin.
''Hcre, Bill Kerr, you hold them. It't
all I've got or Id make 1t dollars instead o
CENTS" said Tom, as he relinquished his
coin and vaulted over the fence.
Sure enough, the audacious young rasca
mounted the steps and placed one arm ten
derly around the swaying figure. TO the
utter amazement of the giggling crowd
she did not repulse him, but stood motion
less with his arm encircing her lank shoul
der.
Now the old bachelor, Peter Ponsby ,hat
peen watching the curious spectacle, as hi