Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1917-02-22

groes. feeling that she could not a1ord
10 keep them. buying a strong woman
who would serve all domestic purposes
To this woman the bedroom that was
never opened was q my stery. She oacs
mentioned the room To her mistress.
asking why II was kept locked, but 70
ceived no satisfaction. After that she
speculated a great deal about the room,
esllins the field hands that she "'spsct-
Cd Minsy Ab0rn had q liant locked up
u dat room" The settles. or. rather,
their wives, who knew OF the closing
Of this room pitied the poor woman.
whose husbs nd had doubtless been tor
tured and burned at the stake BY the
avages and would never return They
assumed that she hoped her husband
would come back to her and she wlah-
ed him 10 find his room ready for his
occupation.
Two years passed during which
Mrs. Aborn worked her farm ~ well
as she could. and her neighbors on their
return from their hunting expeditions
always supplied her with meat for the
coming winter and spring But It was
a forlOrn country In which 20 bring up
children, and she was often tempted
10 remove TO Indiana or Ohio. where
them an education. Finally she resolv
ed one autumn that II no tidings came
from her husband during the winter
she would sell her plantation and her
negroes. keeping her horses. and
mounting her children and herself OIL
them. would 90 10 some point on the
river bank opposite Ohio cross the riy
er and make home IN one OF the VII
lagos OF that state
The winter passed without the return
Of her husband or any news OF him
Friendly Indians came and went 10 and
from the settlement and the widow
never failed to inquire II any OF them
had knowledge OF white man she de
scribed to them But none OF them
could give her any news or him II
the spring she began her preparations
FOR removal
One night when she had put her emil
dren 10 bed she concluded 10 ride over
TO the house OF d neighbor 70 whom she
hoped 70 sell her plantation II was
stormy night but she was anxious 20
get an offer for the property and was
not deferred by the weather During
the evening a band or friendly Indians
came into the settlement and were soon
wandering about In search OF what
they could stcal One OF them appear
ed a. the kitchen. where Martha. Mrs
Aborn's maid OF all work. was at work
and, turning she saw him standing IL
tho doorway She was wiping a plate
which she straightway dropped Oh the
door. and It broke In pieces The saw
age In . cultural tone peculiar to the
Indian said
Me want bed Ne good Indian. Ne
no hurt any body"
Martha got up enough courage TO tell
the redskin that every room but one
was occupied BY the children and that
was locked. The Indian horriied her
by walking into the kitchen. taking
up tallow dip and proceeding to ex-
anime the house. Seeing the children
sound asleep In their beds he held the
candle over each one OF them In turn,
giving Il grunt Of satisfaction at the
sight Of their rosy faces. Martha foi
lowed him at distance. her complex
lon wearing the sickly light yellow OF
q frightened negro. She saw him 60
into her mistress bedroom. and when
he came out he had a key In his hand
Going 20 the empty chamber, he IN
locked the door and said to the woman
Me sleep here. You no tell
He accompanied his words with
savage look that tied her tongue com
pletely. She wished 20 tell OF the la
dian who had gone into the only va
cant room hnt did not dare. He would
surely know hat she had told and
would tomabawS her When her mi~
tress returnrl { was evident that the
negru had eAperienced a great scare
but though Mrs Aborn tried 10 induce
her D. tell what had frightened her
her Efforts resulted In failure As soon
rs Mrs Ab0rn had gone 10 her room
Martha went out and reported the In
iian's presence I'm the house But sh,
was either not believed or those she
told. considering that the group OF
red men who had come to the village
were friendly did not think the mat
ter worthy Of their attention. especial
" as the Ahorn house was closed To-
he nigh
Slumber finally reigned over the set
Element Martha slept in one Of the
negro cabins and early in the morning
returned 80 he mothers abode. dread
ing % ind both her and her children
murdered Entering the kitchen she
went from there into the other Dor
lions OF the house, and. finding every
thing quiet. the older children asleep
in their beds and her mistress Stun
bering with the smaller ones she made
MP her mind that the savage was less
than she had supposed him
10 he and set about getting breakfast
Presently she heard a cry Terrified
lest the Indian, after all. was about 10
tomahawk her mistress, she ran out OF
the kitchen into q ssageway. There
she saw Mrs Aborn in the arms OF the
Indian, whose face had lost It's coppery
hue during the night Mrs. Aborn's
head was hanging limp on the Indians
arm, II being evident that she had
tainted Martha. supposing IL to have
against the wall TO avoid collaps