Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1858-05-07

The little fellow, in his struggles, had 5
raised his hands, and Armstrong had them
both firmly clenched with the hair. When
the mother first looked the boys head was
bent back, the white throat upturned, and
the cleaning knife raised for the fatal
stroke. In few moments more the wo-
man would be childless.
"JoHN !" she cried, in tone of such
exquisite agony that even the mailman
stayed his hand and looked up. I
The mother knew that the respite could
be but for few short seconds. Great
drops of fine, thick foam were gathered
upon the madman's lips, and his eyes
burned more fercely than before. Ii she
moved towards him, the blow would sure
ly fall and if she did nothing it must fall
A CLEAN of hope shot through her soul.
With a mighty effort-an effort such as
men sometimes make to seem calm in the
face of death-she assumed a pleasant
look, and smiled upon the undetermined
man.
"Joln," she spoke, as calmly and hon
estly as though she were calling him
from peaceful quiet, "you cannot do 1t
so. Let me hold the boy, and then you
ont his head off Wouldn't that be the
better way!"
Egad, it would" the man returned,
with great satisfaction.
"Oh don't kill me, mamma !" the poor
boy shrieked. The girl was so crushed
that she could not speak.
You must die, Andrew the mother
returned, with cold look, but with a
pang at the heart that gave her pain for
months.
"Now hold him tight the man said,
passing the two little purple hands out
for Susan to take.
"Never fear" she replied, She said
no more. Armstrong stood with his back
10 the door. and as he released his hold
upon the boys hands, she gathered all
her reserved strength for the effort, and
leaped against him like bounding pan
ther. With her bowed head and with
her clenched hands she struck him full
in the pit of the stomach, and he fell
backward upon the broad stepping-stone
like a gnarled log. In an instant Susar
shut the door, and in another instant She
had showed the stout oaken bar into it
place.
The mother gathered her children tt
her bosom and bore them to her bed
The boy was almost senseless from fright
while the girl was totally overcome b,
the cruel pressure she had been subjecte'
TO. But ere Susan could bestow turthe
care upon them the mailman had revived
and commenced to kick at the door. II
cursed and swore, and kicked with a
his might, but the stout bar withstood a
his efforts. The trembling woman dare
not speak-she could not. At lengt
Armstrong gave up the effort and wei
away. Susan ran to one of the window
and she saw him 60 into the shed. Whe
he came out he mad an axe in his hand
And now the maniac swore that eve1
head should be split open if the door w
not unbarred. Susan Winter spoke NJ
she only prayed to God that her husbal
might come. Soon the blows of the sha
axe began to fall quick and hard up
the door. The mother shrank away
the side of her children and listened.
AT length large splinters fell upon t
floor of the cabin-another blow-ano
er-and another-and the bar was {
in twain As the door flew open
frantic woman uttered one wild, pierci
shrek, and sank upon the bed, gatheri
her children beneath her bosom.
But bark What sound is that ? I
heavy tread of the manufacturer ano
er tread, light and bounding-then
sound, as Of heavy blow-and thel
quaking of the cabin, as a ponder'
body fell to the floor.
SUSAN! WIFE!
She started up and saw her husba
She put forth her arms, and, pale ;
cold, without power, without lie, she 81
upon his bosom. He laid her gently
on the bed, and then, with the cord VIII
was still upon the floor, he securely
the arms and ankles of the inanimate
MAC.
When little Andrew could speak
told his father all he could rememt
but ere long Susan revived sufficiel
TO relate all that had transpired. AT
Peter Winter determined to ride A
strong off to Jail but upon second thor
he concluded to watch by him till he
recovered. And he did so. On