The Opelousas courier., 1897-09-04
considered ordinarily liable to attack.

IuC u1Su IOdIs d1lt uo u CSulO otof
ping place for travellers or drovel
with cattle coming over the mountain
to Harrisburg.
"The afternoon was we'll along, an
we had begun preparations for supper
when we had another visitor. Thi
time it was q man whom none of Il
liked, a ne'er-do-weil fellow, VIII
had peddled tin and bought Il
eggs aud butter and chicken
through the country for some month
past. I stopped 70 tell ye,' he called
refining up lis horse il front Of Tia
house, that Sulky crick is on a rise
an if the boys amt back from Hol
listers mill they won't be able to gi
hum tonight
Barbara AID [ had both run out a
his call. The mans light, shifty eye
searched the whole place and avoide,
the two forlorn figures on the porch.
"That's all right. I'll tell father,
Thank you for stopping to let us
know, 50 we won't be anxious" sai(
Barbara, bravely; but | was dissolvine
in tears behind her shoulder.
".t5h'd have thought your ma an
pad hev wanted to be in Harrisburg
a Sabba' day to see Jonas ordained,
haZarded the man.
"'They did want to, answered Bar
bara. Come, Maggie, and with her
arm around me, she drew me into the
house, but not before I had observed
what [ thought was a CLEAN Of amuse-
ment or triumph in the mans watery
eyes.
go, Barbara [ sobbed, ''even
Zeph and little Gale can't get home.
They can't cross Sulky. Well be ali
alone. Let's lock up the house and
hide in the woods!'
".Now, Maggie, 'coaxed Barbara, as
we sat lisconsolately on the kitchen
settle. I've thought it all over. It's
likely we're scared for nothing. Prob
ably nobody knows we're here alone,
nor wants to harm us. We can't get
word to anyone, and we can't stay in
the woods on a cold night like this.
Anyhow, we're safer where we are.
Let's eat some supper and pop some
and be as cheerful as we can
"But there was very little supper
eaten and no corn popped that night.
I started and cried out at every sound
from without the house, and Barbara
grew very pale and anxious. Finally,
about ten O'Clock, we crept upstairs
and to bed.
Enlightened as we were, I think we
both slept, for the next thing I knew
was Barbara touching me and saying:
Don't scream, Maggie; listen Out
side, in the dark, there was the sound
of horses being ridden cautiously up
the gate. Then upon the steps and
porch there came the tread of men
and lowered voices.
"The people, whoever they were,
evidently thought they were in little
even if they were not heard.
out they appeared to be not absolutely
end observing some caution.
They're robbers, whispered Bar
para; they think father and the boys
ire gone, but they're not sure
"sLet's hide I breathed through
ny chattering teeth.
"'No, no. c~ounselled Barhie. I've
a plan. They're getting in; listen,
they're forcing the side hall
window. Do just as I tell, you, Mag
lie
II was almost wild with fear, but I
managed to understand what it was
Barbara wanted Of me and promised
do my best.
"One man had evidently come in
trough the window we had heard
hem force. He was apparently sent
l to reconnoiter, while the others
,aited outside. We could hear his
step slowly ascending the
,air. Suddenly, as he reached the
'p and paused, SO still that we could
ear his suppressed breathing, Bar
ara brought her bare feet down on
lie floor with a sound like some n
out of bed. Then she yawned
a noisy yawn, like a sleepy man, and
{ a candle. Our matches were not
le explosive kind you have now, but
could tell by the slight movement
the hall and the stir on the front
'rch that our light had been seen
the window and through the
"Poor Barbara! She was sitting on
e beds edge, dressed in her scant,
mite bedgown, a sight to move any
but terrified me to laughter, as she
drew on fathers heavy boots.
eve could still hear the little indef-
stir and breathing of the man
tside our door. Barbara cleared ,
+ throat portentoUsiy, stamped her
et q little, got up and walked across ,
9 floor. Then-she told me after
lrds that she expected on every note :
r voice would fall-she hummed a
tie and broke mellowly into How I
I'm a Foundation Ye Saints of the {
nd Father was leader of the !
DIR and a noted singer. All the :
antryside knew his voice, and I !
1ld have sworn that was his voice !,
d l not gel the lips that were utter :,
: it. =,
Suddenly she broke off singing and
listled a bar. Then she raped t
avely, With shaking head, upon the c
II. @s,. :
sNlo,asade H~ohssNerjorie! Get up!' Q
) said. >ql sees.s a. these men want a
their breakfast, blhild, and to get a
early start. Ft.other isn't here,
nd D X s
why, %father,"I answered, in as a
U my natural voice as / could COM +
nd, It's not yet Il O'Clock. Your b
Itch must be wrong