The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-11-01
UP THE FLUE.

"YOu must have some rare expert
ences to tell us, Mrs. Boswell" said
persuasive Lieutenant Russel, while
we waited for the mail stage. "You
have been at this frontier post ever
since Captain Boswell was stationed
here?"
Yes; we have been hero eight
years." she replied, with the rare smile
that gloritied her face. II have passed
through many trying ordealS here, but
l really think l had an adventure in the
east, before married the captain, equal
to anything that l have experienced. y
'"Will you relate it, and oblige us?'
urged Russell.
Mrs. BoSwell,' said Dan, the ire
prcssible yOungster of our party,
"Jim," jerking his thumb toward the
lieutenant, "is out west OH purpose to
spill ink Tor the New York papers.
You can become q heroine OF romance
If you will"
'1hank you," said our little. hostess.
81 Cont mind accepting the honor"
Three OF us were sitting in All inner
apartment Of the small frontier hostel
ry. The bar-roOm was packed with
miners, and we had chosen to have our
supper served by ourselves, rs we had
appointed to go on to Custer City In
con pany.
Mrs. Boswell was much below the
medium size, quick of speech, light of
movement as a bird, and graceful as a
faWn.
sit was in 1S-," she began; 81 had
just made the acquaintance OF Captain
Boswell, he having some business mat
ters to arrange with father, had called
at our place several times. Finally,
there came a rare day in autumn, and
he and tather were closeted the greater
part Of the day, overhauling papers,
memoranda, deeds and receipts. My
father at that time was doing a great
deal VI business as an attorney.
"At teatime father said to me: sBeSs,
you Won't mind an evening alone, so
long as Thomas is about, Will you.'
II said no, for althoug gh there were
many robberies being committed in the
neighboring cities, private families in
th> suburbs felt no fear. Our house
was a mile from the City proper, and Il
hall mile from neighbUrs either way.
awe lind, he continued, that the
captain has got to hunt up some more
papers concerning the estate before he
can give Barron a satisfactory title.
we Shall go to Judge Whitcomb's Of
tice, and our search may be SO success
1ul that IL O'Clock will find us home
again. Still wemay be detained longer.
Shan't l call and tell your Cousin Milly
TO come down anu spend the night with
you?'
'No-yes,' I contradictorily an
sWered. do as you please; I am not IT,
mid in the least, with Thomas about )
"'But CAPTAIN Boswell is going to
leave $5. 600 here until he returns,'
"Does any one know about the
money2'
"'Only ourselves.'
"'lhcn L am not afraid. Besides,
you are likely to be back befor grave
yards yawn and thieves do walk abroad. ,
Ihomas brought the horse lound,
and while fatherspoke to him, | touched
the captains sleeve:
"'Where is your money left?'
In your fathers desk IN the lib
rary.' Then he looked with tender,
inquring glance into my face chow the
little WOman's cheek flushed at the me-
mory) and said: Little girl, if you are
i'll the least afraid we Will not 90 to-
night, although it is absolutely neces-
SaIy.'
II told him, honestly, that was not
AFRAID. 1neyer had that strata OF timid-
lty III my makeup peculiar to woman
kind: and so they rode away.
~ sang about my work as l put
things III shape around the room, and
viewed the brilliant sunset, without Il
fear or care.
"Ihomas, our new man. Of -allrwork,
was very busy puttering about the
grounds, tying ny grapevliies and null
chlng eyergrcens. L knew there was
some coarse aftermath upon the hill
that father was anxious to have put on
the strawberry beds. and seeing Tho
mas 90 up there with his basket tied
ascarf over my head, took another
Das ket, and went up to help him.
"As passed up the hill saw q man
IN the highway speak to him. l hesi.
tattd about going on, but the man made
only moments pause, and then went
down the hill, and was soon concealed
by q turn in tho highway.
N'Who was that, Thomas?' inquired.
"'Oh, mss, it was a man from the
mills, saying that my brother has had
Il bad iall on the dam, and IS believing
for me to come and see him. His legs
axe broken entirely
'"'What will you do9'
W told the man L could not come
TO SEQ hlm to-day-but if went, miss,
would sure to be back by II of the
clock, II not earlier.'
lyon may go, Thomas, if your
brother IL hurt 80 bad. Papa will not
be away long,
but. my young lady,
"'Never mind mo in such q case as
this.' ! always was very tender-heart-