The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-01-19

night.
The meal was nearly over when she
came and stood beside Wilmot once
more. 6 We ha' mt got s. much g we'd
orter hev fur yo', . she said in her clear
voice that sounded as if some wild bird
had taken to speaking words.
s.We were two very hungry men, y
was the reply Nothing could be more
delicious than this rich milk and the
mush and the bread and butter. /"
Thank yo', kindly, . said the young
hostess. She turned away without look
ing at him this time.
The child began petu1ant whimper.
She took it In her arms and soothed it
to Sleep. Then she carried it to a door
at the end Of the room. Wilmot started
to open the door for her, but, noting the
look on his companions face, leaned
back again, in his chair. The next mo-
ment he mentally kicked himself for a
coward.
While she was gone the grandmother
cleared away the things and began a
slow, unaccented monologua. The
grandfather had gone to the settlement
to do some trading and would not be
back for another day. The youth and
the child had lost their mother three
years back, but their father had gone
below-the usual manner in which Ore
gonians refer to San Francisco-and
was doing fair. he wrote to them once
year anG sent box Of things
Laurel didn't belong to them. Her
father died crossing the plains, The
mother was most dead, so the train lett
her, with the baby and the wagon and
other belongings, at the hut.
.Bu, Laurel be growed inter COM
fort t. me, added the grandmother,
.san th' young uns take t. her mighty.
We Couldn't git long nohow 'thout
Laurel. y
.eIt doesn't seem safe for you, . said
Wilmot, ''to live here SO far from any
one else. y
.sHugh! Yes, answered the old voice.
s'It be perfectly safe. We don't see no
one fur moons t'gether. N thur beant
no more trouble with Injins here bouts.
Onct IN awhile one comes long, but we
don's mind 'em. Tn gran 'ther hid tn
hut way up here oct O sight when him
n me wus young folks N nobody
much don't know't we be here. The
farm be tn leetle good spot O. groun
Jest out thar In tn desert. He iotted
out f. build big house down thar, but
'pears like we dunno how t. tear QUIZ
sel's way from th' old place. ] s'pose
some folks nd think 1t be lonesomelike
liyin so by oursel's. But thar's tn
beasts. They be a heap O. comp'ny. /"
The two men looked at each other.
The wind moaned out cry of terror,
and the pleasant cracking Of the fir
wood in the huge fireplace turned to a
ghastly sound. The young girl came
into the room while the grandmother
was speaking and paused just where
the Pickering light touched her slight
figure
"Some days, she said. with a little
culver in her voice-"some days I'm
feared when thar beant no need to fear,
N some days, ag'in, when thar be-,
seems like tn fear do all go. I shook at
ev'ry noise I heer'n all day, n t'night
I couldn' open my mouth when | seen
you, been that feared. I"
It was an eerie figure, young, slight
and fair, standing in the wavering light
and uttering those uncouth words in
that tender, thrilling tone Craymer
shivered and drew near to the fire.
.sDon't be afraid tonight, I" said Will
mot. ssWe don't pretend to great bTav-
cry, but We'll do our best to take care
Of you and the grandmother and the
child
She did not answer, though she stood
with hands locked before her until he
; had finished She went to the youth, a
sturdy fellow, who had fallen asleep
on the skin covered lounge, and aroused
him gently. Then she drew aside some
curtains of skins and displayed recess
containing bed and tiny washstand.
sThis be yo'r place" :" she said to the
strangers .It be all clean ag'in tn
comp'ny's comm. -
Then she slid a long wooden bar
through iron loops to fasten the outer
door, wound the clock and with swift
silence set the chairs at rights. Mean
while the grandmother covered the en-
bers with ashes. When all was done,
they each said "Good night t. yo' "
and disappeared.
The two men sat before the ash COW
ared embers until the candle burned
low. Then they arose silently and pre-
pared for bed.
.It's the eeriest place Twas ever in, y