The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1888-05-15
A WESTERN GIRLS STORY.

''Afraidl'' cried I, with q laugh.
|'Why on earth should be afraid?"
And suppose my face must have
'aRpirrored forth the careless independ-
nee of my spirit, for my brothers. rug
led countenance. frightened up as I
poke.
41f3 We lived alone upon solitary road
liles away from any human dwelling
So lace, in one of those antique gable.
11i inded farm-houses which look so pic
uresque to an artists eye in the sum-
IS ler time, and indescribably desolate
Ihen November gales are bowling
iround the chimney tops, Or winter
3nows heaping up their teathery pearl
pom the door stone. We-that is, the
I'D bedridden aunty, my brother and
Eiyself. AS For servant girl-dear
ne, when became rheumatic, or lost
Sle use Of my limbs, might need one,
lot before.
wv ell, mind you don't let any one.
a., unless it is a neighbour - said Bob,
luttoning.up his shaggy oyercoat, and
owering his voice so that Aunt Jemima
.hould not hear his words. For poor
Aunt Jemima was apt to be seized with
It's of nervous apprehension at the
aost inconvenient times. :'Because,
you know. there's onlystw6 women Of
you, and"
$50 along with yourself, Bob, and
don't you talk nonsense" said I. with
an air Of dignity. 'As il L wasn't
quite able to take care of myself with
out your advice. Nobody has been here
in week, and l. DON'T think the rush
is going to begin tonight"
"The loaded revolver is on the top
shelf next to the bag Of hops and the
paper Of dried catnip," added Bob,
'sand the big stick-''
''I'll take the big stick TO YOU, if you
don't clear out' cried I, merrily-and
so Bob mounted Old Nanny and trotted
way.
/ We had just received hundred dol
ars from the railroad people for the
ears wood which Bob. had cut, and
Rauled to the Junction. hundred dol
Jars, all in nice, clean, cracking tens
ind Bob and I, and Aunt Jemlma, all
E,greed-for once entirely unanimous
hat 80 much money ought not to re-
main overnight IN the house.
" Suppose there should be a flre?"
aid I.
"Suppose gang Of masked burglars
hould break inl' suggested Aunt Jem-
ma, who had been reading the papers,
"Suppose the rats and mice should
nav their way into the hair trunkp'
aid Bob.
So Bob was taking the hundred dol
MS to the. Ottarsfeld Bank twenty
allies away, over a rough and uneven
ride roadl And I and Aunt Jemima
'ere left all alone.
''Dear me-" said Aunt Jemima,
that's twice my needles dropped, and
'uck in the floorl We're going to have
ompanyl''
81 hope not" said I, "with nothing
1 the house but corn-bread and pork,
nd dried apple sauce" -.
"And there's winding sheet in the
andle," gloomily added Aunt Jemima,
no was addicted to harmless little su-
erstitions. Somebody's going to
ie."
IT think it's extremely likely" OBJ
erved, with philosophy.
I've had creepy feeling down my
lck all day." SAID Aunt Jemima, 'just
y if some one was measuring me for
~ shroud! Are you sure TIE doors
Re all bolted, Gertrudel"
4 s"Qulte certain, aunt. I bolted them
slyself."
8"And nails all over the wndows?"
8"Every one Of them. Come, now,
Bnty, dear, let me fix your \hot drink,
nd tie on your nightcap nicely. We're
st as safe as If there was a hollow
3uare Of soldiery all round usl''
2''But in spite of reinsurance, Aunt
hmima persisted in going to sleep with
flat-iron and two pokers under her
llow.