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

L. sat before the fire until past nine
O'Clock finishing a pair Of grey mixed
stockings that was knitting for Bob.
And then, rising with a yawn, / l6oked
out Of the. window. 1t was raining,
and
Merciful Heavenl I started back
with q low cry, as saw a white, wild
face pressed suddenly against the outer
side Of the pane-a heavy black NOUS
tache, and hair the most raven-jet 1
ever saw.
My first impulse was to run and hide,
my second to face the matter out.
'IYhat do you wantp" asked, OPEN
ing the window a little way. "Nyho
are you?"
81 am a belated traveller. 1 need
fQod-rest- t-rags to bind up my hurt
foot. Seel''
And then saw that one of his
feet was bleeding.
hesitated an instant. He perceived
my doubt.
"You are afraid to let the vagrant
in" he'said, bitterly. swell, I don't
wonder much. But there's no danger.
Let me in, as you have a dear father Oh
brother of your own. Give me but a
crust Of bread, drink Of milk. 1 will
go on my way with the earliest dawn Of
morning.
My decision was taken at once. His
pale face, his blood-stained foot, his
pste"us voice SO unlike the professional
whine the regular mendicant, all ap-
pealed to my womanly pity. remem-
bered my brothers. caution, but also
remembered that there was an unused
one-story wing, on the north end Of the
house, fitted up in arude sort Of way
for the occasional sleeping place Of the
additional farm hands that we needed
in the hight Of the season or harvest.
go around to the farther door," said
I. "Iwill let you in."
/ admitted him accordingly. Gaunt,
pale, and limping, he came in.
:.'There is bed" said I. "And here
is food. While you eat will get salye
and a bandage for your foot"
When I returned he was eating as
greedily as if he had not tasted food for
a week and drinking long draughts Of
coffee.
"You are hungry" said I kneeling
to my task.
81 hope you'll never be as near star
vation as have been this day." he re-
sponded in 1 low, thrilling voice.
"Thank you, young. woman-the foot
feels easier now." '
So left him.
1 had meant to slip across the bolt on
the outside Of the door that led to the
other portion Of the house; but 1 now
perceived, for the first time, that the
bolt was not there. Bob must have
taken it out, to use in the stables.
"A thrill, half Of apprehension, passed
through me at this unwelcome discov-
cry.
''No MATTER" said I, valiantly, to
myself, 81 must risk It. I dare say we
are all as safe as if there were as score
of bolts on the door. Only Pm glad
Aunt Jemima sleeps as soundly."
So I went to bed and fell fast asleep
in less than fifteen minutes.
The sound Of the old wooden clock
striking three or something else
reused me, and opening my eyes, I saw
the light Of dark lantern in the room,
and by its glimmer three men searching
the contents of the old hair trunk that
stood underneath the window.
started up with scream-probably
the most imprudent thing I could have
done-Dut I did not stop at that in
stant Of terror to measure conse-
.quences.
stop that gals squeaking pipe"
muttered a low, threatening tone, and
the next instant an iron hand was upon
my throat; my eyeballs seemed starting
from their sockets, and a horrible death
by suffocation seemed closing around
me.
In the self same second, however, I
saw the deadly white face Of the man
had SO recently succored and fed, in the
doorway. heard'the click Of pistol
being cooked. My first impression was
that he belonged to the gang that he
had made an entrance into the house
through my weak pity, and afterward
admitted his comrades; but ohl how
unjustly I judged him.
"Let go Of that girls throat, or I'll
send a brace of bullets through your
brainl" he shouted; and instantaneous
ly I was free. "Now then, get out Of
thisl Drop everything. Quickl Do
you see this pistol. 1t carries charges