The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1897-04-23
Set up to the stove

y
Peeping through the register, I saw
ragged, unkompt man creep toward
the stove, blinking uneasily. He had
come up the cellar stairs, not through
the outside door, which sufficiently
evidenced his predatory intentions.
However. had the old lady's visitors
always made their entrances through
the cellar she could not have been more
at ease than she appeared now as she
hustled about, setting him a chair,
putting wood into the stove, and other
wise mystlfying her midnight caller by
her careless, friendly manner.
Admirable as was her acting, knew
that she had not dared to retire; and
while regretting that I had not sus.
pected her intentions, it now seemed
wisest to remain where I was unless
she should need ny assistance, as she
probably would very soon. l reasoned.
Cooking my platol and other wise pre-.
pairing my self for the emergency, sat
down on the floor, where could watch
the couple without myself being seen.
'It's turrible cold out for Q fall
night, amt lt2"
"Yes, it is" said the man.
"WaIl, jest set here by the stove
while set the teapot for'ard and git
you somethin' kinder warmin'. Mebbe
you're hungry, too" she added.
"Mebbe I be-"
"Wall then, I'll set onto the table
somethin' to eat" she said, moviny
about the room with q pleasant, bust
ling movement which must have filled
the burglar with wonder. as it did me.
"Fhere now," she remarked at length,
set right up aud make yourself to
home. Mebbe you'd like to wash,
though. I'll git you some warm water
outer the teakittle."
'rwould seem good. I hain't
washed for q week." he replied.
II wanter know! Ben trav'lin' and
hain't had no chance, most like.
Here's the soft soap. and there's cake
o hard keep for comply"
"rll use the comp'ny SOAP" said
the man with sardonic laugh.
And then he sat down to the table.
He must have eaten ravenously, for
where I sat could rec his elbows
working rapidly, while his hostess
remarked Voluntarily
Poor oreturl How hungry you
ber'
''It's the first square meal I've had
for SIX weeks" he said with his mouth
full.
II wautee knowi" And rising, his
hostess brought from the pantry q
plate OF cold meat and set it before
him.
But at last the meal was ended, and
the couple sat down by the stove on
opposite sides, she with her knitting,
AMI be lingering uneasiIy his old hat.
"Say!" he broke forth at last in the
midst OF some friendly inquiry re.
garding the state of the roads. "Quit
your ioolin'. You know what I've
come for. It's that money you've got
hid in your bed"
"How do you know I've got any
there?' she asked, without quaver in
her voice.
II see you pack it away just before
your husband left. Then l crept into
the cellar when you went to see him
of, and here l be come for it. I've ben
hid there six hours. Come, hustle
round, old lady, and fetch it out, or
shall have to git it myself"
Il know better"
'Know better?"
eyes. I know you amt no sech
kind of a man Us to steal from IN old
woman like me. You are too much of
q man."
IL be. be II Wall, guess not |
You won't never miss it. and it would
be the making Of me-"
"How long you sp'ose me and
Josiah's ben gittin' that together to
lift the mortgage?"
paid forP"
"No. and we've ben twenty years
scrapin' together two hundred and
thirty three dollars and one cent.
You see Josiah's lame and can't earn
much, and l amt SO smart as 1 was
once, and We haf to live. The times
got hard jest the wrong time for us.
We used to have enough, and so we
used to take child from the poor.
house every five years and fetch him
up. Four Of 'em we got started, and
all smart children, every one, and
dreadful good to me and JOSIAH
why don't they help you2"
"They're jest beginnin' to do for
themselves, and We don't want 'em to.
James is in Chiny. Eben's workin' his
way through college, Philaster's
clerkin' down to the Corner, and
Horace's jest married and como In
debt for little place of his own.
Can't you get no work."
mo, l can't. I've tried for weeks,
and trampcd miles; but nobody wants
tramp when there's them they know
ready to work"
"That's so. I SEQ how tits. wish
l could do for you, but don't see how
l can. / s'pose I might lend you our