The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1894-04-11
while passing from the house, what
then 2 I asked fearfully.

lug UuG, duU IL Vduuop '1po"PS U
will sell my life dearly, as you must
do if I fail to come to your assistance.
"And he placed one Of his pistols
in my hand as he spoke.
"He then moved the bed as noise
lessly as possible, and raising the door
disappeared in the darkness below. l
listened for moment, but hearing no
sound closed and fastened the trap
door, and then crept back to the win
dow, filled with fear and apprehension.
s"The five were still outside, but
they had removed few PAGES from
the house. could hear their voices
in angry controversy, but the distance
rendered their words indistinct.
"The minutes sped on, and l was
beginning to breathe more freely,
when saw that the disputants had
arranged the matter and were leaving
the place where they had been talking.
"In a few minutes [ heard them en-
ter the house.
ri then left my stand at the win.
dow and went back to the bed, tor l
thought if they should try to force the
| door my weight might be needed to
resist them. :.
II had scarcely thrown myself on it
when I heard step upon the ladder,
| and a moment after a shoulder was
placed against the door, which, Of
course, did not yield to the pressure.
| Then 1 heard muttered curse and re-
| treating footsteps; then all was silent.
After listening for some moments IN
breathless apprehension, and hearing
| no sound, began to think that they
had given up trying to rob US. Pres
emily heard noise, which seemed to
come from the roof-a noise which
sounded as if they were tearing up
the thatching. I knew then that l
must try to escape, or [ should be
murdered. -,
II listened fer a moment. All
seemed silent below. The assassins
were outside, felt sure. [ moved
the bed quickly, and then took you
under one arm. You were sound
asleep; was thankful it was SO.
stCarefully + raised the door and
stepped upon the ladder. Down one,
two, three, four, FIVE steps :! went ]
then my feet rested upon the floor: l
had taken step or two forward, when
| I perceived that man was entering
the door
ssI was in a dark corner, and he
could not see me. l would be safe
unless he should run against me, or
strike a light; SO I stood perfectly
still. He had come in for some tool,
which seemed to be out Of its accus-
toned place, for he m,lttered curses
4 ever and anon as he moved about the
room. -,
II cannot tell you how fearfully ]
stood there waiting for him to make
his exit. It seemed strange that he
/ did not hear the throbbings Of my
.theart, for I could hear them plainly:
a.And you, my child, did not wake
i during that trying ordeal. All had
you uttered one cry then / should not
| be i.ere to-day to tell this tale.
CATER while he got what he was
looking for, and went orlt.
81 waited an instant 10 be sure that
! he was gone, then urept quietly from
the house. I did not know exactly
where to look for the path that would
lead me in safety up the mountain
| side, and I would have hid in the
| bushes until the return of my hus'
! band, but I feared that you might
awake and cry, and thus betray my
whereabouts.
ssNo, no; I must climb the noun
/ tain, whether I could find the path OF
! not. So / commenced the ascent
clinging to a shrub herc, and bush
there, making, however, but Glow pro
i gress, for I had but one hand To die
me.
s.But I gained little now and then
and that gave me hope.
ssMy hope was doomed to be short
Iliyed, for my would-be murderers had
found thai the loft was empty, ane
had startedsin pursuit.
G H'Curses oh you, Bet + I heard one
say. sIf you had stayed in the house
and tended to your own affairs they
! would not be gone now. Blast the
woman 7
"'Well, it amt to be helped, she
replied. sYou just hunt the man, and
I'll fix the woman; they can't be ia,
off,. = =.
s'No one knows how I suffered il
that moment, with terror and despair
eff my husband should not come to
my relief soon should fall into the
merciless hands Of those wretehec
cending higher, for fear I should bt
heard, so crouched behind clumI
Of bushes, and breathlessly awaited
-lwhat was coming.
"Ths ttieh started utt Id different
directions to seek my husband, ano
the woman commenced ascending the
mountain toward me.
"I knew this to be fact, for
could hear the noise Of their feet, anc1
their muttered curses, though l coulo
not see any Of them.
ssThe woman was rapidly nearing
me, but I hoped that, would remaiir
undiscovered, hid as 1 1as aiidng The
bushes.
"Vain hopel It scarcely had birth
ere it died. The woman was well &C
quainted there, and was giving thor
ough search. A moment later the
bushes were parted, and a pair Of
snaky eyes were fixed UPON ME.
f'The woman gave ohuckle OF sat
isfaction when she saw me, and she
muttered:
1.-THE bird is here with her nest
Ling; the mate is not far away. III
cage her.
not even have time to think.
II crouched there motionless. One
hand kept my babe to my lap, while
the other, held the pistol, which ]
still retained
"'Will you come back to your nest
my pretty?' she asked, mockingly
MY hut is not fit for lady, but it is
better place than this. Come back
With me 7
"Never I exclaimed. Il will die