The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1898-03-08
CHAPTER 1.

1T reappeared crossing the hill, half
mile away. 1t lay yellow and warm in
the summer sunshine. From the long
grasses Of the meadow came the rhyth
mic click of the insects Occasionally
frogs in the hidden brook made !. pecul.
lar chug ohug sound as if somebody
throttled them. The leaves of the wood
swung in gentle winds Through the
dark green branches Of the pines that
grew in the front yard could be seen the
mountains far to the southeast and in
expressibly blue.
Mary's eyes were fastened upon the
little streak of road that appeared on
the distant hill. Her face was flushed
with excitement, and tho hand which
stretched in strained pose on the sill
trembled because Of tho nervous shaking
of the wrist. The pines whisked their
green needles with soft, kissing sound
against the house.
AT last the girl turned from the win.
dow and went to the head of the stairs.
We'll, just know they're coming
anyhowl" Gho cried argumentatively to
the depths.
voice retorted with the shrillness
and mechanical violence Of occasional
housewives. The girl swished her skirts
dcfiantly and returned to the window.
Upon the yellow stream Of road that
lay across the hillside there now was q
handful Of black dots-horsemen. A
cloud Of dust foated away The girl
flew to the head Of the stairs and whirl-
ed down to the kitchen.
They're comingl They re comingr'
1t was as If she had cried "Firer'
Her mother had been peeling potatoes
while seated comfortably at the table
She sprang to her feet mo; it can't
be How you know it's them? Where?"
The stubby knife fell from her hand,
and two or three curls of potato skin
dropped from her apron to the floor.
The girl turned and dashed up stairs.
Her mother followed, gasping for breath
and yet continuing to fill the air with
questions, reproach and remonstrance.
Tho girl was already at the window
eagerly pointing. There Therel See
'em See em!'
Rushing to the window, the mother
scanned for an instant the road on the
hill. She crouched back with a groan.
Its them, sure as the world. It's
them |" She waved her hands in de.
spalrlng gestures.
The black dots vanished into the
woods. The girl at tho window was
quivering, and her eyes were shining
like water when the sun flashes Hush!
They are in the woods. They'll be here
directly" She bent down and intent
ly watched the green archway from
whence the road emerged. "Hush l
hear them coming," she swiftly whis-
pered to her mother, for the elder wom-
all had dropped dolefully upon the mat
tress and was sobbing. And indeed the
girl "G;id Cuia haaar ihiaaar the, a,quick, dull trample
of horses She stepped tSssi i1ie with s"1.
den apprehension, but sho bent her
head forward in order to still scan the
road.
Here they arep'
There was something very theatrical
In the sudden appearance of these men
to tho oyes Of the girl. 1t was as if
scone had been shifted. The forest sud-
denly disclosed them, dozen brown
faced troopers in blue, galloping.
"Oh, look!" breathed the girl. Her
mouth was puckered into an expression
Of strange fascination.
The little troop rode in silence. At
Its head was a youthful fellow with
some dim yellow stripes upon his arm
In his right hand he held his carbine
slanting upward, with the stock resting
upon his knee. He was absorbed in O
scrutiny of the country before him. At
the head OF the sergeant the rest Of the
squad rode in thin column with creak of
leather and tinkle Of steel and tin. The
troopers glanced for moment like cas-
ual tourists and then returned to their
study Of the region in front The heavy
thudding of the hoofs became small
noise. The dust hanging in sheets slow.
ly sank.
The sobs Of the woman on the bed
took form in words which, while strong
In their note of calamity, yet expressed
querulous mental reaching for some
near thing to blame. "And it'll be
lucky for us il we amt both butchered
In our sleep--plnndering and running
off horses--old Santos gone-you see
If he ain't-plundering'
But, ma" said the girl, perplexed
and terrified in the same moment,
"they've gone.
ooh, but they'll come backr' cried
the mother without pausing her wall.
lney IL como DacR-CruSG tnem Tor
that-running off horses. " She sudden.
ly lifted herself and sat rigid, staring
at her daughter. Mary" she said in
tragic whisper, "the kitchen door ism It
locked" Already she was bent for.
ward to listen, her mouth agape, her
eyes fixed upon her daughter.
Mother faltered the girl.
Her mother again whispered, "The
kitchen door isn't locked" Motionlass
and mute, they stared into each other 8
eyes.
At last the girl quavered, 1--WE better
we better 60 and lock It," The moth
or nodded. Hanging arm in arm, they
stole across the floor toward the head of
the stairs A board of the floor creaked
They halted and exchanged look OF
dumb agony.
AT last they reached the head of the
stairs. From the kitchen came the bass
humming Of the kettle and frequent
sputterings and cracklings from the
fire. These sounds were sinister. The
mother and the girl stood incapable OF
movement. "There's somebody down
E there whispered the older woman. &
Finally the girl made gesture 81