The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1895-05-14
A WOMAN'S PLUCK.

In the spring of the year, 1878, m.
husband, Frederick Morton made VI
mis- mind to try an experiment. In
stead of taking board for us through
The summer months, he decided to hir
furnished house, within easy reacE
Of the city, thinking he would be ia
| more comfortable in that way.
After a diIigent search, we found
suitable house at Brighton. 1t wa
situated on a high hill and com
manded a charming and extensive
view of the bay and surrounding
country. The only drawback was it
utter isolation from neighbors, for th'
nearest one was at least half a mile
way.
We were safely settled in our new
nome by the first of May, fully deter
mined to enjoy every day of the com
ing summer. Our household comprised
1t that time my husband and self, oul
infant son and one servant. Norat
was widow, thoroughly capable anc
trustworthy. would have found hel
Invaluable but for the number of heI
relations, some of whom unaccountably
lied each month, making it necessary
for her to attend the funeral. She
would come to me with tears in hel
yes, saying:
sSure, I am sorry, ma'am to have tt
70 home again so soon, but you See
na'am, my husbands brothers wife:
sister is to be buried the day, anc
they'd think bad of me not going tc
The funeral. It's myself will be home
as soon as I can, ma'am." And away
she would go, to return the following
morning, with a doleful countenance,
telling me: "Sure, it was her was the
good mother, ma'am! And what a
5eautiful corpse she madel Well, we'll,
.t's a quare world, andlt's them are the
orrowful childer the day"
Then evidently thinking she had
lone her full duty to the dead, she
would take up her work as cheerily as
# there never was death or desolation
q the world. -
Three months passed away and-~e
| we're so much pleased with our country
house that Fred decided to purchase
t, furnished as it was, and make our
permanent home there. All prellm-
naries as to price had been settled,
! md nothing further could be done un-
Ill the owner should bring the deed.
Thus we we're situated on the first day
If August, when, after Fred had gone
20 business, Norah came to my room
% tell me that her husbands aunt, on
lis fathers side, was dead, and "sure,
,he couldn't affront thin, as they'd all
gone to poor Dinny's funeral, dressed
n the most beautifulest mournin; so
;he laste she cu'd do was to return the
ompliment.
Knowing it would be useless to re-
use her request, told her to 60,
! which she was not slow in doing, and I
vas left to myself for the remainder of
he day. The many duties of the
household and the care of my baby
BOY fully occupied the hours, leaving
ne no time to be lonely. When the
engthening shadows of evening came
consulted my watch, and found that
Fred had not come on his usual boat,
which reached the landing at seven. l
knew then that he could not come until
he nine o'clock boat, and my heart
ank with nameless dread.
Carefully fastening all the windows
and doors on the first floor, took my
baby up to bed. Our room was the
:ront one on the second floor; it was
octagon in shape, with two windows
opening on balcony. In the centre
IF the chamber stood the bed, while
between 1t and the windows a ham
mock was swung in which our baby
jlept. Fred, with a small pulley and
,ord. had arranged it in such manner
that I could swing tine hammock If
oaby was restless at night without
rising. At the head of the hammock,
also between the bed and window, was
desk, in which we usually kept any
'aluables we might have in the house.
When baby, who was restless, at
last fell asleep, I sat down at the desk.
and more to keep himself from becom-
.ng nervous than anything else, wrote
Two or three letters When they were
finished, as it was nearly nine o'clock,
went to kitchen to see that Fred 8
supper was ready, for I knew he would
be as hungry as bear. When all was
prepared, thinking that I heard baby
moving, again went up stairs. Paus-
ing in the hall, I looked into the room
to see if the child was all right. Horror
Of horrorsl there stood great, brawny
man at my husbands desk, which I
had neglected to close before gong
Town STAIRS.
Like flash knew he was looking
for the money with which Fred in
tended to pay for the house. He was so
intent on his search that he failed to
hear my footsteps. Drawing eau
tiously back, though by limbs trembled
so that I could scarcely stand, I
reached our dressing-room, which had
one door, opening from the hall and
one leading into our sleeping room.
Taking Fred's revolver from the man
tel, quietly approached the door and
again looked in. The man was still at
the desk, but he had found the money
and was just putting it into his pocket.
What should I do? Could I stand there
and see him take the money which we
had accumulated by so many priva-