The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1886-11-16
A W0MAN'S BRAVERY
A STORY OF THE FRONTIER.

A soon Us the frost was out of the
ground and there was no danger of being
storm-bound, Louis Stacy loft his little
home in Arkansas to go down the river
with a boat-load of furs and skins.
: He expected to bring back n supply Of
provisions for spring and summer use, as
we'll ms a tidy little sum Of money as a
reward for his labor during the winter
in trapping and hunting.
He left his wife and niece without
even the shadow of a foreboding of
harm coming to them during his alb
scnce; for, living as they did, twelve
miles from the nearest town, and remote
from the road taken by travellers and
tramps, they had few visitors, and sell
dom saw a strange face; and then, too,
both women were accustomed to the use
of firearms, and Louis knew that they
would not hesitate to employ them if
necessary.
Just at this time a stranger was lying
i'll in the hunters cabin-a young man
who had accidentally shot himself while
hunting in the woods, and to whom
Louis had willingly given shelter and
every attention.
Fever and delir:um had followed Ar
thur Morris's accident and he had been
confined in the cabin six weeks, being
now in a convalesccnt state. He said he
was we'll off in this worlds goods and
told Laura Stacy when he first met her
that he wore a moncy-be.t about his
waist and begged that it might remain
there, no matter how ill he became.
Louis had been gone several days and
life had gone on as usual in the little
cabin, which Mrs. Stacy and Laura had
managed to make comfortable and home
like after much trouble and with many
ingenious contrivances.
Much of Mrs. Stacy's time was spent
with Arthur Morris, who grew restless
and feverish if left alone. Laura, too,
frequently read and talked to the inva-
lid, unconscious that his handsome, worn
face and dark eyes had caused a more
tender feeling than compassion to find a
place in her heart.
The cabin consisted of three rooms on
the ground f1oor-a main room, used for
cooking, eating and general purposes; a
bed room, and a small room, used as a
pantry.
Beneath was a deep cellar, where pro-
visions were kept in the summer, and
even in the winter, for frost never en-
tered the deep hole Louis Stacy had dug.
Above was a loft, reached by u ladder
from the pantry, and here the two
women slept, giving their sick guest
the pleasant room on the first floor.
It was nearly midnight of the fifth day
OF Louis absence when Laura was reused
by hearing a noise at the door of the
cabin. Not disturbing her aunt, who
was sleeping heavily, worn out by watch
ing with the invalid the previous night,
the brave girl hastily threw on her
clothes and descended the ladder just as
the door of the main room opened and
two men, in bare feet, entered, carry
ing a lantern.
They started a little at seeing Laura,
standing silent and m~otionless, with a
lighted candle in her hand.
One of them, a tall, burly fellow, with
an evil eye, advanced toward her and
shook his fist in her face.
"Spcak one word above a whisper he
said, ''and l will put n bullet through
your brain - flour. shing q hugo revolver
US he spoke.
Laura knew that if she disobeyed the
command the threat would be carried
into execution; and, recovering from her
terror, she asked the men in an unfalter-
ing voice whst they wanted.
'eWe want that m~oney-belt on the
stranger you have here" was the reply,
in a hoarse whisper. "We know all
about 1t, so you needn't lie to us. Tell
us where he is, and be quick about it."
surely You wonld not rob q sick
mani" said Laura, trying to gain time
and think what was best to do in this
terrible emergency. 'It would surely
kill him to be reused in such a brutal
II - - n. aNNXa-rtEfL -raaa@ EHLa a-IEHALa