South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1881-10-21


And taking one OF the candles she tro.-
ted to the door but not before the bell
rung again.
who's thatp' she cried, holding
the door slightly aiar.
"a stranger said n voice, 'one who
has something in particular to say to
YOU
You'll have TO wait for TO morrow ,
said Maggie. .You can't come in to-
night
My good woman said the strang>
or, you are Margaret Black?'
That's my name
Mr.. Van Motifs housekeeper for
twenty years.
| Yes
My good woman if you are attach
Ell to your master l have bad news
Tor you
Gracious Lord = cried Maggie, but
she did not open the door much wider
only enough to thrust her head out.
Don'tscare me, Mister. What is it?'
The worst you can think Of said the
man. Mr.. Van Mott travelled on the
- road. There has been an acct
dent
Preserve us!' cried Maggie, letting
the door fall back, and him on the
way to his Wedding. Hes hurt badly
then?'
Hes dead said the man. Dead,
and We've brought him home
Maggie sat down on n chair and
began TO cry.
We've done what we could said
the man. The lady he was TO marry
and her friends will be down to.mor.
rowS Meanwhile my instructions are
that you shall watch with him, and al :
low no strangers To enter the house.
There are valuable things here, | am
told; aud MIR. Van Motifs lawyer
must take possession ofthem, and seal
them up before strangers nave access
To the room
oh, dear. dear? cried old Maggie.
That it should come to this Yes,
. Ill watch alone, I'm not afraid, but -
oh dearp
Then she shranl< back and let two
men carry horrible coffin into the
front parlor.
They came out with their hats Off,
and the other man also held his in his
/ hand.
4 regret to leave you all alone in
the house, he said.
4 don't mind that, said old Maggie,
but lis terrible =
IL you'd like nc to STAY said the
man.
No. said Maggie. I've no fear of
living or dead folks. You can go
Itcn she locked tho door, went into
the parior, and putting the candle on
the mantel, looked ut the coffin
/ through her tears.
lie was good enough to me. she
said poor Mr. Archibald And this
comes ct wanting to marry at this
time of life, and galvanting on rail-
roads, l wonder whether he is chang.
ed much. llltaEe look, and Mag
gle crossed the room and lifted the
I'D over the face OF the enclosed
/ body.
III take look, she said to herself
again. I'm not afraid of dead folks
1t. minute more Maggie dropped
the Id again, and retreatcd, shaking
from head to foot She lad seen.
within the coffin, face with It's ewes
shut. and with bandagcs about the
head, and the CHASTITY features Of
clown III Il circus minus the red
mouth.
But 1t was living face, well chalk
cd, and not her masters, and Maggie
knew at once That she had been we'll
humbugged--that this story OF her
masters death was lie, and that
burglar lay within the coffin, ready TO
/ spring upon her and bind her, or. per-
haps, murder her at any moment.
She could, OF course, open the door
and try TO escape but the accomplices
OF tho man were doubtless outside.
1t was long distance to the nearest
house, and even if they did not kill
her, they would execute their purpose
and rob the place before she returned
Master looks natural said Maggie.
aloud, and tried TO collect Der
thoughts.
Mr.. Van Motifs rovolvcrs were in
the next room, she knew, loaded, six
shots in each. Maggie could use pis
tolls. She had aimed at troublesome
cats with great success more than
once If she could secure these piss
tolls she felt safe.
Poor, dear MASTER she sobbed. and
edged toward the back room. Poor.
dear MASTER She lifted the desk lid,
She had them safe.
Sue glided back to The front parlor
aud sat down OH "a chair. She turned
mp Ter sleeves aud graspcd q pistol IN
each band aud she watched tie coffin
quietly. In half an hour the lid stir.
red. A cautions hand crept up the
side. a why eve peeped out.