Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-11-13
The STORY Teller.
A STRANGE WOMAN.
in Western Stage Coach

Adventure in a Western Stage Coach
1 had sold my mill, and was on my
way home. 1t was evening when
reached Granville, where l took the
stage. An old woman was my sole
companion. She appeared to be one
who had seen much trouble in life,
and at the present time she seemed
weighed down by some special care.
She was rather a large woman, some
what bent, and quite unwieldy in heI
movements. She was evidently used
to hard work, for when I took her
arm to help her in, although it was
under her shawl, I could feel the
strength of one we'll used to the labor
of house and farm, so common with
women of that region. Her dress was
shabby, and her face was covered by
a black veil, which was disturbed but
once to my knowledge, and that was
when had been looking out into the
darkness, and saw it drop when ]
turned back my head. She was very
hoarse, and any attempt to respond to
some passing remark from me would
set her into violent fit of coughing
Weighed down by her troubles as she
was, I saw that she should be left to
herself, and so said but little.
The country through which We were
riding was a dreary one, and pictures
of road-agents and the cleaning out OF
my $4,000, not to speak of worse
fate than robbery, would occasionally
come up to my imagination. wasn't
nervous but the consciousness of the
tempting bait I carried with me was
sufficient to awaken certain apprehen.
sions in spite of myself.
Three months before this, a stage
had been stopped some 20 miles from
here, and one of the passengers who
had attempted resistance, was shot,
Why might not this one be the next to
take its turn? ?
l could but wish that vigorous man
was sitting in the seat opposite in place
of that helpless old woman. AS far as
1 could learn, she was to stop at
crossing two miles this side of my des'
tination, where her son was to take
her home in his wagon. / should have
four miles of it alone, though, to tell
the truth, I felt more lonely with such
company as this than if had been by
myself.
Finally she appeared to fall into a
doze, her bowed head and swaying
body indicating a long flight into
She had been watching
at the bedside of consumptive daugh,
ter, and now must 60 home to tend q
grandchild that was suddenly stricken
down with diphtheria.
"You need your sleep, my good
SOUL" l thought. ave know not who
have the greatest trials in life. Mine
is at present an imagined evil, yours is
In the real"
AS the stage rumbled over the un-
even road in the gloom of that wild
and swampy country, the spectral
pines retreated endlessly TO the rear,
revealing an occasional star appearing
in the north, that seemed to gaze in
admonitory silence upon me.
The blessing of poverty is in per-
feet indifference to robbery. The con-
sciousness of impecuniosity shuts out
fear even in danger, while a we'll
stuffed wallet will carry the magnetic
spark of fear to a mans soul, though
he be on the safest of roads.
One night an artist and bank
cashier were walking from the depot
to their homes. The artist remarked
that it was a pleasant road by star
light. "Do you think so ?" responded
the cashier. II am constantly on the
watch when I 20 home at this time.
am always prepared !" He produced
from his hip pocket q revolver. II
never 90 armed" said the artist, "and
I never care much about locking my
DOORS" "And l have all the burglar
alarm appliances, and a watch dog
beside" added the cashier.
Life has its compensations. l had
been on this road many times but
not having large amount of money,
I never thought of road agents or rob-
bers of any kind. 1t was that lump in
my pocket that was troubling me.
My eyes got so used to the growing
darkness that could make out objects
near me with some distinctness. AT
one time noticed that the old woman
was uneasy in her sleep; the action OF
her hands indicated something ex-
citing. They were under her shawl,
but the movement was very percepti-
BILE. / had been looking from the
window, and l observed this uneasi'
ness when 1 turned my glance inside
the stage.
was gazing curiously on the shah
by figure when a suspicion darted
through my mind that sent the blood
to my heart. l had read of such
things, and was this not-but pshaW
my money was simply magician con-
juring up visions and spectres of the
night.
Nevertheless, I still looked intently
at the sleeper, and 1 recalled the
strong arm that l had grasped when
helping her into the stage, and the
hoarse voice and incessant coughing.
But no-this was ungracious, coward
l., NJ fx,aot tor aviA oppa 0f the now