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

| lonely Why didn't the wind blow!
Anything that would break the spell
upon her.
She turned the light down, and
threw herself wearily on the bed as
she was.
With the first stroke of tine clock
at midnight she woke from troubled
sleep. In u moment she became
! distinctly conscious Of smoky odor,
the uamistakable scent Of Chinese
clothing. A slight noise on the
floor caused her to sit up quickly. y
mans head and shoulders were
slowly emerging from under the bed.
One sickening moment she wavered,
then sprang out upon him, holding
him down for an instant: but he
turned. and there glared up at her
those same yes---the fend like eyes
of her vision, and the man was
Sing.
She grappled with him in super
human strength, how many desper'
ate. struggling moments she never
knew. it seemed an eternity. Not
O word was uttered She saw that
his superior strength must gain in
the end. He constantly tried to
reach for a knife, which evidently
was caught in some way, for he failed
to get it in bis hand.
At last, Allen heard the noise and
appeared at the door, almost faint
ing with fright.
His mother spelled out to him:
"G-e-t the az q-u-i-c-k," y" then
added: Go to bed, child" "
The boy had presence Of mind to
90 around, as there were many locked
doors in the way through the house.
The Chinese, afraid Of some out
side assistance, began to beg.
"Ne catchee money-me no kill.
You glib key-me no kill. You no
glib, me alice same killee you, killee
Allie, too. You glib key
Mrs Livingstone said nothing, and
in an incredibly short time for him,
Allen came in. painting and dragging
the cleaning AK.
The fend saw it and became like a
madman. He shrieked and bit at
the strong white wrists that held
him like wise. He foamed at the
mouth in his fit of rage and fear.
"Allen," she said. get the trunk
rope in the closet-be quick.
After an almost hopeless struggle
and little weak help from her son,
she managed to tie one hand, then
both together, and had Allen make
the other end fast to the bedstead.
The rope was old, and if it gave
way they were lost, for it was the
only thing OF the kind available.
Her knees were still on his chest.
q" Allen" she commanded, "go
Fight tight ilil;e after You yoasSss sesssss3ss
He was almost stupeied, BIT
obeyed bIindIy. In another instant
he heard an awful blow and short
shuffling round, then a long moment
of silence, but he dared not goin
again.
Presently his mother appeared
holding her wounded hand. She
looked to him in the dim light like
an o!d woman. Her face was ashen
and drawn, and her dark hair had
turned almost snow white. He looked
at her mutely.
My dear" she said, slowly.
"God knows it was the only way.
He gave me tie power to save us, or
you and I, Allen, would this moment
have been in the traitors place.
She gave an involuntary shudder,
but turned and locked the door on
the CHASTITY scene.
Taking some antiseptic solution
she bathed her hand thoroughly and
bound it with some Of Aliens hand
kerchiefs. She then slipped a small
glass of whisky and water and lay
down beside her son. So the long
night wore away.
There have been few changes in
Seco Valley. The lima beans grow
on the broad, sunny lowlands, are
harvested and grow again. The can
on brook still sings it's love song to
the blossoming hiilsides. The owls
and mocIing birds, the squirrels and
the lizards, live as before. but the
vines run rampant over the broad
plazzas of the ranch house in Secc
Canon. Only a few complaining
doves have their home in the low
garret.
When Mr.. and Mrs. Robert Living
stone returned to live in New York
their friends welcomed them with
open arms. If was limited that, not
being to the manor born, Mr.. Living
stone had not covered himself with
glory or lined his purse with gold in
his ranching scheme; but it was the
change in Mrs. Livingstone that ex-
cited the most comment. The snowy
hair, the restless, hunted expression
and absent manner spoke Of some
stupendous change from her old self.
To only one trusted friend did she
confide the mystery Of her life. Every
night at II o clock there appeared to
her two fierce, hard eyes, which
would not turn till she was nearly
beside herself with horror.