The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1893-09-16

Three weeks later the stage coach
came wlS;tliag up to Aunt Nance's door,
and jack Hughes called out, when he
saw Aunt lance at the open door
Light load to-day, Aunt Nance.
Only opa passenger, and I guess she's the
one you're looking for"
A young girl, her plain black dress
and hat covered with dust, stepped to
the ground: Aunt Nance embraced hel
warmly.
: ''Tou're sister Lucy's Marcia!" she
exclaimed, ezcitedly. ~ know without
asking. You're a regular Doolittle, and
you don't know how glad an to see
you"
"You don't RELY look right strong"
Aunt Nance said, while Marcia was eat
ing the elaborate dinner prepared ex-
preesly for her. s'But, Ia! my dear,
you'll look like another girl after sum-
mer up here in the mountain air. I've
Got nice, gentle saddle horse that you
can Tide round the canons on, and I'll
take you over to the hot springs for a
month, later in the summer. Oh, you'll
have roses enough in your cheeks, and
be SO plump you won't know yourself il
three DonthsI" =
T. Then she suddenly asked in softer
toae, "Where is your brother David,
Marciaa"
Marcla's smile gave place to panied
and troubled look.
~ don't know, aunt" she said.
Don't knowa Why, how is thsta''
SIT is more than year since We have
heard anything from David" said Mar
cia. Then she added, "That is one
reason why I ; wanted TO come West,
Aunt Nancy, besides what the docto,
told me about my health. I think
David is out here. I did not write
anything about it, for I thought T would
rather tell you all about it myself.
thought you might understand the story
better, and feel more kindly towards him
If I told it to you"
SIT was b-ief and sorrowful little
etory OF a boys waywardness that she
told, not an uncommon story Of natur-
ally vell-disposed boy being led into
vrongdoing by evil companions, and
finally running away after bringing dis
grace upon his home. = - 2.r:; 2r:.;@ -,
: "All we have known for nearly two
years is that he rs out in the West. We
heard once Of his being in this State. ! II
! could only find him! I am sure he
could yet be saved. He is SO young,
not yet twenty. .::."x
s.l'll help you fnd him." said Aunt
Nance, earnestly. "We'll begin al
once. I know all about the stage
drivers about here, and people in nearly
all the mountain towns. If he's any
where in this part of the State, we'll
ind him, dear! Merrick amt common
cane." - ::
The mountain summer soon came on,
il all its soft and tender beauty. Mar
cia lived out Of doors much OF the time.
She rode on horseback down into the
grassy gulches, or fer up to the mount
ain submits, where the snow lay in lit
tie patches throughout all the summer
days. Soon the color came to her
checks, her thin shape grew r0under and
fuller. 81: ...
The night of the nineteenth OF
August vas one long remembered by
the dwellers on that mountain side, and
By those IN the guich below. They re-
ferred to it long afterwsrd as "the time
Of tie big storm" -; -
"lnever see such g storm as this in all
the years I've lived in the mountains,
said Aunt Nance, as the night came on
with a terrible roaring of the wind
through the capons.
Few travellers spent the night at her
cabin, and there was no one there that
night but Aunt Nsuco, Marcia and Kate
Dooley. =
At nine o'clock the wind abated its
fury. At ten it had died away so that
40 sound was heard but the pouring Of
the rain. Marcia and Kate Dooley wen'
to bed.
It was eleven o'clock when Aunt
Nance, rising to go to bed, stopped sud-
denly, threw up her head and listened
intently.
The rain was falling softly now. ard
high above its gentle sound she heard a
voice shrek out as if in mortal terror.
Then she heard mems voices shouting
wildly.
"What in the name Of wonder is 60
ing on up there on Taylor Mountain at
this time of nighta" she asked of herself,
rs she hurried to door and looked out
into the darkness.
She heard the cries repeated, and they
seemed nearer now. She had heard
cries at midnight before in that wild
and lawless region, and she knew what
too often they foretold.
"Dear, dearw she said, with more of
irritation than of fear in her voice, 81
wonder when this country's ever going
to get so folks'll live as if they was civil
lized! There's mischief going on up
thereI I saw them Taylor Mountain
boys whispering together and looking
savage when they were down h ere to
dinner to-day. I've notion to--who's S
that2"
The rear door room had opened sud-
denly, and been closed in eager haste.
Aunt Nance turned quickly. Before
her, his back to the door, his hands
spread out upon it as if he would hold
it against all resistance, stood hatless
ana coatless young man, his clothes
drenched and tastered, his face ashen
pale, his eyes wild and staring, while his
slender form quiyered with fear.
"0h, please come in and shut that
aoorl" be cried, stretching out one hand
inploringly. They're after me--those
men are! Cant you hide me2 haven't
do,. r,hot thav CIV have Hide mel