The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-05-25
CHAPTER ".
(Continued.)

CHAPTER ".
(Continued.)
"Don't-don'tw The honest girls
eyes were full Of tears. II wonder
now" she began; and I waited,
eager for her next words. Sure. mas.
ter's ut cards in the parlor. and II be
drunk by midnight. Shall pass the
night by the kitchen fire, if Only thou
make no noise
But your mistress-what will she
say"
SIS in heaven these two years: and
ont of masters speaking distance for
ever. So blow out the Light and follow
me gently"
Still feiGning to silver. l followd
her down the ladder, and through the
stable into the open. The wind by
this time had brought up some heavy
clouds and mass'd them about tie
moon; but twas freezing hard, never
theless The girl took me by the hand
to guide me; for, save from the one
bright window in the upper floor, there
was no light at all in the yard. Clearly
she was in dread of her master s
anger, for we stole acToos like ghosts,
and once or twice she whispered a
warning when my toe kick'd against
a loose cobble. But just as I seem'd
to be walking into stone wall. she
put out her hand. I heard the click
of a latch, and stood in a dark, narrow
passage.
The passage led to second door that
open'd on a wide, stone-pav'd kitchen,
lit by a cheerful fire, whereupon q
kettle hissed and bubbled as the vapor
lifted the cover. Close by the chimney
corner was q sort of trap, or buttery
hatch, for pushing the hot dishes con-
veniently into the parlor on the other
side of the wall.
"Sit," WHISPERED the girl, "and make
no noise, while I break rackpunch
for the men folk in the parlor." She
ierked her thumb toward the buttery
hatch, where had already caught the
murmur of voices.
took up a chair softly, and set it
down between the hatch and the fire
place, so that while warming my
knees ] could catch any word spoken
more than ordinary loud on the other
side Of the wall. The chambermaid
stirrd the fire briskiy, and moved
about singing as she fetch'd down bot
ties and glasses from the dresser
Lament ye maids an darters
For constant Sarah Ann,
Who hang'd herseP in her garters
All for the love o man, &c.
All for the"
She was pausing, bottle in hand, to
take the high note; but hush'd sud-
denly at the sound Of the voices sing
ing in the room upstairs:
"Vivre en- tout cas-
Cest le grand soulas
Des honDetes gens!"
'aThat's the foreigners" said the
chamber maid, and went on with her
ditty:
"All for the love of souljer
Who christ ming name was JAM"
"A volley of oaths sounded through
the buttery hatch.
And that's the true-born English
men, as you may tell by their speech.
Tis pretty company the master keeps
lhese days."
She was continuing her song, when
held up a finger for silence. In fact,
through the hatch my ear had caught
, sentence that set me listening for
more with a small heart.
."Confound the Captain" the land
Drd's voice was saying; Il warn'd n
agen this fancy business when sober,
cool-handed work was toward"
Settles way from his cradle"
growpd another; land times enough
I've told n; 'Cap'n,' says I, there's
no sense O. proportions about ye.' A
master mind, sirs, but a III be hangd
for hen-roost, o sure as my names
Bill Widdicomb."
ugly wortls-what creeping in
fiuence has that same mention O. hang
1ngw piped q thinner voice.
Hold thy complains, Old Mortifca-
Hon." put in 4 speaker that recog-
nized for Black Dick; "sure the pretty
maid upstairs is tender game. Hark
how they sing"
And indeed the threaten'd folk up
stairs were singing their catch very
ehoicely, with a girls clear voice to
lead them:
Comment dit papa
-Margoton, ma mle! =:
"Heathen language, to be sure" said
the thin voice again, as the chorus
ceased; thinks I to myself, they be
but Papisters,' an my doubling mind
is nightly reconciPd to man
slaughter"
II don't like beginning 'ithout the
Cap'n," observed Black Dick; though
I doubt something has miscarried.
ELSE, how did that young spark ride
IN upon the mare"
"An' that's why thy question should
ha' been, Dick, with pistol to his
skull"
He'll keep till tomorrow"
"We'H give Settle half-an- hour
more" said the landlord. Mary" he
push'd open the hatch, so that 1 had
barely time to duck my head out of
view; "fetch in the punch, girl. How
didst leave the young man j. the loft?''
ASLEEP, or nearly" answered Mary.
"Who hang'd hersei in her gar-ters,
All for the love O. man"
"Anon, anon, master wait only till
get the kettle on the boil"