The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1868-02-13
NUMBER 3.

| Ou iSSu uSNc no tS7tTs AS tlere "a
a God in Heaven, | will not hara you. 1
am an escaped convict-au innocent oae
and as you have mercy in your heart,
open the door,
When was such an appeal made to n
Irish heart in vain ? An escaped con-
vict; and wanting succoF! That is a
! taisman to open every door-to have the
last potato or bite of bread forced into the
hungry mouth. Yes it is truly the sopen
/ sesame to an Irish heart, and it operated
| so in this case.
The woman arose, opened the door.
gave the fugitive food, and having again
received assurance that he would do her
no harm, but on the contrary protect her.
and having also seen him stretch himself
on the floor before the remnant of the peat
fire, she again sought the side of her sleeps
ing children.
But even then she was not allowed to
rest. At first her fears kept her awake.
Then came another loud rap for admis>
sion, and she and her strange visitor arose.
''ls this part of your gang :" she asked
in trembling whispers.
81 call Heaven to witness" he answer
ed, solemnly, ''ihat such is not the case.
Ask them what they want"
She did SO, and was told that thev
knew she had money in the house and
were determined to have it.
''Tell them," whispcrei the stranger.
that you have n friend with you, aud
that 1t will be dangerous for them TO en-
ter"
81 have friend here" she said. going
close to the door, "a man who will pro-
tect me, and you had better not try to get
in
al know better" laughed female
Voice-that of Bridget, the servant girl.
Il know that there is no one there bur
the children"
"What shall i-shall do - asked the
poor woman, wringing her hands
"Ieli them," again said the stranger.
that have pistols, and will shoot the
first one that dares to step his foot within
the door. God help me l would not
have blood on my hands, but l promised
TO protect you with my life, aud 1 will.
Warn them once more"
Bridget" shouted Mrs O'Brien. ssthe
friend l have here has pistols and will GER
talnly Kill you. | warn you TO get away"
Again the bold, bad laugh of the ser.
want girl rang ont, and her voice could bs
distinctly heard urging them on.
''Its only talkin' they are. DiviI
one there is in the cabin but the chill lren.
Break down the door aud be done with II.
l tell you there is more than "A hundred
pounds hid between the beds
stand back whispered the convict
70 his hostess, ''their blood be upon their
own heads"
Scarcely had the words been uttered
before heavy blows fell on the door, and
made It tremble upon its hinges
The self-appointed protector stood
little on one side, calm and firm. In
either han | he held q pistol, and his mafi>
ner showed he was no stranger to their
use.
''Down with the doorl !" shouted the
girl, ''or else stand aside and give me the
aye"
A shower of heavy blows, and it fell.
The false servant girl entered aud dropped
dead with a bullet buried in her brain.
The foremost of the men met the same
fate, ard the others fled. They had quite
enough of bloodshed.
To leave the helpless woman thus was
not to be thought of by the kind hearted
stranger, and though prison or transporta-
ton stared him in the face, he eouforted
her as we'll as possible, Strengthened tho
dead bodies, and then hasteniaG 10 the
nearest magistrate told the entire story.
not even denying who and what he was
The facts were too evident to even bear
questioning, and as an award for his
bravery the convict was parIoned-s-.b-
sequently found to have been convicted
innocently, and when the husband ant
father returned, was readily persuaded Ia
emigrate with the family to ''the land Of
the free and the home of the brave"
Now in one of the Western S.stes
Ttrence OBrien has house by the side
of beautiful river, and not fer from i is-
another where the once fueitir. esuyict.
has wife and children GF his own to nro-
tect, ana both families viii give as an heir
loom to their descendants the little bus
true story of how pardon was woa,