The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1895-09-07

1t had been trying time for Mrs
Livingstone, when her husband had
insisted that Allen should give up
his little bedroom next to theirs:
which he had always occupied ana
90 across the court. The boy was no
longer baby, he said, and he had
ALWAYS needed that room for his OWE
private use. He wanted place for
his desk AMI books and the big safe
which held the family valuables and
often considerable sums Of gold and
silver, as he preferred to pay his men
in coin rather than by check in the
usual way.
But his wife had never been recon
cilcl to having her delicate child out
OF the sound of her voice at night,
and many time had she stolen out
in the darkness to listen at his win
dow to sec that her darling was
sleeping we'll, and to indulge IN
long moment of adorng worship, as
she strained her eyes to see the pale
face on the pillow. Il will go
around the veranda now, dear, She
said, as Allen smoked. ''and bring
your things for the night. The couch
is very comfortable, and it will be
lovely to have you back. "
The chill air struck her unpleas-
antly as she opened the door. She
shuddered a little and drew her shaw!
closer.
.::'What q fog" she exclaimed.
The beans will be again delayed.
It's worse than the conflict of hay
making and showers in New Eng
land.'
Coming out OF her sons room few
moments later, with her arms full OF
his clothing she was startled by a
slight. noise across the court. 1T
seemed like some heavy thing drop
ping with less sound than its weight
would suggest. In the misty dark
ness she could see nothing.
Mary Livingstone was known lar
and near as a woman Of unbounded
courage and self reliance. During
her husbands frequent business
trips to San Francisco she stayed and
ruled the little kingdom like a queen.
Not a man on the ranch but was glad
when Mrs. Livingstone was boss.
The house in the canon was her cas-
tie, where she and Allen, with the
faithful Sing, abode in security which
none dared to molest. II anyone
had told her a week ago that this
night she would be haunted crea-
ture, trembling and unstrung, tor
menied by an evil presentiment and
dreadinc she knew not what, she
would have laughed the prophet to
scorn.
The parlor door had been left a lit
tie aiar and she pushed through it
and lgass 9g ts ssf 9gaps a955E5timslfsv
hands are full. III be ready for you
SOON"
Drawing the shades, she set reso-
lutely to work about making her sons
room comfortable for the night. She
dared not think, or she felt that she
would scream from sheer nervous
ness.
The dainty silver toilet articles,
which were his pride, she arranged
on the broad desk. and soon had the
low lounging couch transformed into
an inviting bed with even hot water
bag tucked in at the foot. She
took from her closet shelf his lit
tie TOW like night lamp, which had
been one of his childish idols, and
lirhted it, and, after one or two little
final touches here and there, she
called him.
It's time small boys were asleep.
Lock the front door, dear, and come.
have such a funny story to read
to you.
Allen hobbled in, a slight frown on
his delicate face at being babyed. and
surveyed the little room.
Its as cold as a.barn here, " he
said. "What makes it so cold? |
don't want to 60 to bed yet. >
"Oh, res, you do. It's getting
late. You'll soon be nice and com.
Portable in your old nest. You vii!
find it warmed"
''Oh, we'll, I suppose there's moth
ing else to do" he complained.
"Where's the story?'
"I'll begin it right now, while
you're getting ready" and Mrs. Liv-
incstone settled herself by her lamp
TO read.
In less than half an hour she
quietly peeped in to find her boy fast
asleep. She wanted to stoop and
kiss the white forehead, but she de-
MED herself lest she waken him.
Nearly closing the door she walked
restlessly about her room few mo-
ments, aimlessly touching this and
looking at that.
She took her account book out OF
the draggled dress she had worn
down the canon and looked it over a
little, soon putting it aside. She
tried to read, but the words followed
each other under her eyes in an un-
known tongue. She took up her
Bible, and even that seemed to hold
no word of peace.
Something as people in great peril
60 ove~ their past life, she fell TO
thinking OF hers, but she was soon
brought back face to face with The
present. The thought that she was