The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1917-02-09

telling the field hands that sho "'epect-
ed Missy Aborn had liant locked up
In dat room" The settlers, or, rather,
their wives, who knew Of tho closing
of this room pitied the poor woman,
whose husband had doubtless been tor.
tured and burned at the stake by tho
sayages and would never return. They
assumed that she hoped her husband
would come back TO her and she Wish
ed him to find his room ready for his
occupation.
Two years passed, during which
Mrs. Aborn worked her farm az 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
forlorn country in which TO bring up
children, and she was often tempted
to remove to Indiana or Ohio where
she would have facilities for giving
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 on
them, would go to some point ON the
river bank opposite Ohio. cross the riv-
or and make home In ono 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 TO and
from the settlement, and the widow
never failed to inquire II any OF them
had knowledge of white man she de-
scribed 30 them. But none Of them
could give her any news Of him. In
the spring she began her preparations
for removal.
One night when she had put her chill
dren 20 bed she concluded to ride over
to the house OF n neighbor to whom she
hoped TO sell her plantation. II was a
stormy night but she was anxious TO
get an offer for the property and was
not deferred by the weather. During
the evening a band OF friendly Indians
came into the settlement and were soon
wandering about In search OF what
they could steal One OF them appear
ed at the kitchen, where Martha. Mrs.
Aborn's maid OF all work. was at work.
and, turning she saw him standing In
the doorway She was wiping a plate,
which she straightway dropped on the
floor, and It, broke in pieces. The saw
age In a cultural tone peculiar to the
Indian said:
me want bed Me good Indian. Me
no hurt anybody"
Martha got up enough courage 30 tell
the redskin that every room but one
WINS occupied by the children and that
was locked. The Indian borrifed her
by walking into the kitchen, taking
mp a tnllow 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 grunt OF satisfaction Mt the
sight Of their rosy faces. Martha fol-
lowed him at distance, her complex
ION wearing the sickly light yellow Of
a frightened negro She SOW him 60
into her mistress bedroom, md when
he came out he had key In his hand.
Going 30 the empty chamber, he IN
locked the door and said TO he woman:
"Me sleep here. You no tall
He accompanied his words with
savage look that lied her tnngue com
pietely. She wished to tell Of the In
dian who had gone into tho only va
cant room, but did not dare, He would
surely know that she had tod and
would tomahawk her. When her mis-
tress returned II wns evident that tho
negro had experienced q great scare;
but though Mrs. Aborn tried to induce
her TO tell what had frightened her,
her Efforts resulted In faflure AS soon
as Mrs. Aborn had gne 10 her room
Martha went out and rvpWted tho In
dams presence in the houae. But she
was either not believed or those she
sod, considering that the group Of
rcd men who had como to the village
were friendly. did not think the mat
ter worthy Of their attsntion. especial
" az the Aborn house wns closed for
the night
Slumber finally reignsd over the set
Element Martha slept IN one Of the
negro cabins and early tn the morning
returned to the mothers abode, dread
ing to find both her and her children
murdered. Entering the kitchen, she
went from there Into tho other por-
ions of the house, and, f1nifing every
hing quiet, the older children asleep
n their beds and her mistress Eun-
,erfng with the smaller ones, she mads
~ her mind that the savagp was less
nurderous than she had supposed him
% DO and set about gsttfng breakfast
Presently she heard a CRY. Terrified
est the Indian. after Ell, was about to
omAhawk her mistress, shs ran out Of |
he kitchen into passagsway. There
The saw Mrs. Abon In the arms Of TIE
indian. whose face had lost its coppery
rue during the night Mra Aborn's
lead was hanging limp On the Indians
Irm, 1t being evident that she had
Martin er,nn0einp n IN hava