The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-01-27

She heard mice scurrying about among
the pans that Aunt Sally had left on
the table when she went to her cabin
for the night. and she shrank from ven-
turing into the darkness below. But
as she hesitated. peering anxiousiy
down the flight ,groan from another
room ended her reluctance. Lifting
her skirts she ran quickly over the
stairs, for Edward. her husband, had
been seized at midnight with violent
headache, the result of riding too long
10 the sun in the afternoon. and was
begging deliriously for ice. So ice
Molly must have, even if it meant
Drawing the terrors below.
/, The refrigerator was in lean-to
opening from the kitchen. Mrs. Car
son found the door shut and fastened
securely against all her pushings and
shakings, and the end of the key
glinted maliciously at her through the
keyhole, as if taunting her inability.
Running up stairs, she left the can
die on the table in the dining room. and
went out of doors to try to open the
outside shed door. The moon shone
dimly through fleecy April clouds. and
q whipporwill called insistently from
nearby field. in the note that sounds
more melancholy in the North Carolina
mountains than anywhere else in the
world.
The outer door proved as obstinate
as the inner. Molly ratified in vain,
and then fell to pulling at the wire net
ting over little window beside it. The
tears rolled down her cheeks as she
tugged with no success. A ragged bit
of gauze tore her fingers, but she did
, not mind the pain. The sound Of Ed
wards voice inside the house. rising
and falling in the babble Of delirium,
spurred her to continued effort. and
deafened her to the cry Of the whip
poorwill. She did not even hear the
sound of approaching footsteps, until
G: man came around the corner Of the
house so quickly that he almost ran
into her.
"Heavensr' she cried at the same
moment shaking from head to foot.
and hardly able to articulate. what
do you want?"
I Her heart thumped furiously. but
through her fear there ran the thought
that whatever happened Edward must
have the ice.
The man regained his self-possession
as he saw her fright.
.'It looks like we-alrs IN to the same
business" he chuckled. pointing to the
window, and giving her poke in the
arm with dirty thumb.
II don't understand you: I am Mrs.
Carson" said Molly, throwing back her
fair head, haughtily. Then. recalled by
his gesture to her occupation she for
got her terror In the thought that here
was a mana strong man-who could
help her. She began to work fever
ishly at the netting.
.'Mr. Carson's very i'll. He's out of
his head, and 1 want to get some ice
for him. The door from the kitchen is
locked" she explained. "There" tri-
umphantly, as one corner gave way in
response to vigorous tug. "Now you
pull on that" she commanded, and the
would-be burglar. nothing loath, gave
Jerk that brought off the whole cover
ing.
"Splendid. exclaimed Molly, and
prepared to climb in at once.
''No, you don't Ma am, said the man.
"Let me go in first and assist you-all."
Sallaatly.
He pushed his bulky frame through
the small easement, and then helped
Molly. with caution not to 'laxerate"
herself. Without a thought for the
strangeness Of her position, loc-ed into
the shed with this rough fellow. Molly
went at once to the refrigerator.
unlock that door at the left.
please" she said. You'll find can
die and matches on the shelf over the
kitchen table. Now" with uplifted
voice as she heard the sputter of the
match, bring me pan to put the ice
in. Thank you. What a relief it is to
have this"' and filling the tin she
crossed the kitchen and began to go
I'D stairs. so absorbed in her purpose
that she no longer noticed her compan-
ion.
Here you, Ma'am. don't you-all go
back on your pal that-a-way." said he.
with a return of the audacity Of which
her air of command and her uncon-
sciousness of the situation had robbed
him.
Molly paused midway on the fight.
"Oh, I'd forgotten. You came to-er
get things. 1 suppose? I'm sorry" "
she went on politely. but I'm afraid
there isn't thing you'd care for. You
see, this is a furnished cottage. and all
the silver is plated. which isn't any
use to you, of course. And we never
' keep any money III the house, though
I think-I think with an effort at
remembrance. that have two quar-
tiers in my purse: if that would be OF
any service to you tentatively.
The man seemed about to express
his disappointment. when Mrs Carson
thought again of her husband.
- II mustn't stay here talking. I've
been ages getting this ice.' and
straightwav sne ran I'D stairs. leaVins