Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1881-11-22

IA carriage! "cried Maggie. "Ha
he changed his mind and brought he
home at once? But that can't be- he'
not married yet" And taking one o
the candles, she trotted TO the door, blu
not before the hell had ruDg agein.
"Who's that ?' she cried, holding th'
door slightly ajar.
IA stranger" said voice lone wht
has something particular to say to you
you'll have to wal. for to- morrow
said Maggie. "You can't come in to
night.p
"My good woman. )" said the stranger
''are you Margaret Black ?"
That's my name"
"Mr. Van Motifs housekeeper for q
years W
"Yes.n
my good woman, If you are attached
to your master I have very bad news fol
you" -
"Gracious Lord!" cried Maggie. bu,
she did not open the door much wider
--only enough TO thrust her head out
Don't scare me, mister. What is it?n
"The worst you can think Of" said
- road There has been An acct
the man. "Mr. Van Mott travelled on the
| dent"
"Preserve us!" cried Maggie, letting
the door fall back. land him on his way
to bis wedding. He's hurt badly then 2
| He's dead" said the man. Dead,
and we've brought him home"
| Maggie sat down on q chair and began
to cry.
"We've done what we could, f" said the
man. THE lady he WAS to marry and
her friends will he down to morrow
Meanwhile my instructions are that you
shall watch him. and allow no strangers
to enter the house. There are valuable
things here, I'm told; and Mr. Van
Motifs lawyer must take possession OF
them, and seal them up before strangers
have access to the room"
"Oh, dear, dear!' cried old Maggie
THAT it should come to this. Yes, I'll
watch alone I'm not afraid, but-oh
dear!n
The she shraDk back and let two men
carry horrible coffin into the front
parlor.
They came out with their hats of, and
the other man held his also in his hand.
II don't mind that" said old Maggie,
"but it's terrible, terribie!"
"If you'G like me to stay" said the
man.
mo-" said Maggie. "I've no fear Of
living or dead folks. You can 60"
Then she locked the door, went into
the parlor, and putting the candle on
the mantle, looked at the coffin through
he: tears
HE was good enough to me. u she said;
'spoor Mr. Archibald! And this comes
of wanting TO marry at this time of life.
and gallivanting on the railroads.
wonder whether he is changed much
.I'll take a look "and Maggie crossed the
room ard lifted the lid over the face of
the enclosed body,
.sI'II take look )" she said to herself
again. ''I'm not afraid of dead folks -
In minute more Maggie dropped the
lid again, and retreated, shaking from
head to foot. She had seen, within the
coffin, face with its eyes shut, and
with bandages about the head, and the
gt1astly features of clown in a circus
minus the red mouth.
But it was a living face, we'll chalked,
and not her master 8 and Maggie knew
at Once that she had been we'll humbug
ged-that this story of her masters
death was a lie, and thata BURGLAR lay
within the coffin, ready to spring upon
her. or perhaps murder her at any mo-
ment.
She could, of course, open the door,
and try to escape; but the accompiices
of the 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 her thoughts.
Mr.. Van Motifs revOIvers were in the
next room, she knew loaded .-six shots in
each and Maggie could use pistols. She
had aimed at troublesome cats with great
success more than once. If she could
secure t'lese pistols 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.
She giided back to the front parlor
and sat down on q chair. She turned
up her sleeves and grasped a pistol in
each hand, and she watched that coffin
quietly. In half an hour the lid stirred
A cautious hand crept up the side. A
wiry eye peeped out. 1t fell upon the
armed figure, and closed again.
You'd BETTER" said Maggie to her.
self.
Again the head lifted. This time Mag.
gle sprang to her feet.
you're fixed quite handy" she said,
coolly. mo need of laying you out if l
fire, and can aim first-rate, especially
when I'm afraid of ghosts, as be now" F"
The head bobbed down again. Mag
gle reseated herself. She knew that this
could not last very long-that. there
must be conflict ere long. It was as
she supposed. A moment more and the
coffin was empty, and ferocious young
fellow sat on its edge, and thus address.
ed her:
1--WE meant to do all quiet" he said,
land don't want to frighten an old
woman. Just put them down."
"I'm not frightened" said Maggie.
"I'm coming to take them things
away from you" said the man.
"Come," said Moggie.
He advanced one step. She took aim
and he dodgei, but the bullet went
through his left arm, and it dropped by
| his side.
Furious with pain, he dashed toward
her She fired again, and this time
wounded him in the right shouldet.--
Faint, and quite helpless, he staggered
against the wall.
he said. "Open the door and let me out
My game is up"
sMine isn't" said old Maggie. "Get
into your coffin again, or this time I'll
shoot you through the heart"
The burglar looked piteously at her
but he saw no mercy in her face He
went back to the coffin and lay down
in it. Blood dripped from his wound
and he was growing pale Maggie did
not want to see him die before her eyes
but she dared hot cali aid. To leave the
house before day light would be to meet
this mans companions, and risk hel
own life There was nothing for it bu,
to play the surgeon herself, and in lit
tie while she had stopped the blood and
saved the burglars life. More than this
she brought him cup of tea, and fed
him with it as If he had been a baby
Nothing, however. could induce her te
| let him out of his coffin
| About one or two o'clock she heard
steps outside, and knew that the othel
burglars were near. but her stout hear
never quailed. She trusted in the bars
and bolts and they did not befray her.
l mi - g.. \ l.