The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1869-07-29

/ nicuuIHS neFseiI 10 Illil VINO Is TIE
/, protector of the widow and the faith
erless. But she had not closed her
eyes before there was loud rap upon
the door.
g Is that you, Bridget?r she asked
hopefully. eu 80.
"No," was the dnswer, and her
heart sank like lead within her; g no,
I am stranger; have lost my way.
and you must let me in ..f.aa
II cannot. cannot 1 am q poor
lone woman. dare not let you in :
:. You need have no fear. As there
is a God in Heaven, L will not harm
you. L am an escaped convict-an in
noeent one-and. as you have mercy
in your heart, open the door" .eat.
/ When was such an appeal made 10
an Irish heart in vain? An escaped
/ convict, and wanting succor! That is
talisrnan to open every door-to
/ have the best potato or piece of bread
forced into the hungry mouth. Yes,
it is truly the open 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 the assurance that he
would do her no harm, but, on the
contrary, protect her, and having also
seen him stretch himself upon the
floor before the remnant of the peat
fire, she again sought the side of her
I sleeping children. But even then she
was not allowed to rest. At first her
fears kept her awake, then came an
other loud rap for admission, and
both she and her stranger visitor
arose. i.
- Is this part of your gang ~ she
asked, in-trembling whispers. o7.ya
&" call Heaven to Witness" he an
swered solemnly, sthat such is not
the case. Ask them what they want" !"
She did so, and was told that they
knew she had money iii the house, and
were determined to have it.
e Tell them," whispered the strang-
er, that you have a friend with you,
and that it will be dangerous for them
to enter" sr1E HTsi.s q sfs'1
i have friend here" she said 60
ing close to the door, :. a man who
will protect me, and you had better
not try to get in.v . a=.a
al know better, laughed female
voice, that of Bridget the servant
girl; 81 know there is no one in the
house except yourself and the chill
dren." te =
"What shall I do? What shall
do ?" the poor woman asked, wiring
ing her hands,, I.- a..zira
"Tell them," again whispered the
stranger, "that have pistols, and
will shoot the first one that dares step
his foot within the door. God help
mel Iwould not have blood on my
hands ;but promised to protect you
with my life, and I will. Warn them
yet once more" r
"Bridget!" shouted Mrs. OBrien,
" the friend 1 have here has pistols,
and will certainly kill you. 1 warn
you to go away" =. .t-.r.,
Again the bold, bad laugh of the
servant girl rang out and her voice
could be heard urging them on.
"It's only talking she is. Devil a
one is there in the cabin but the chill
dren. Break down the door and be
done with it. Itell you there is more
than a hundren pounds hid between
the beds. ' -. .,..
" Stand baek,1 whispered the con-
vict to the hostess; "their blood be
upon their own heads!"
Scarcely had the words been utter
| ed before heavy blows fell upon the
door and made it tremble upon its
hinges, The self-appointed protector
stood little one side, calm and firm.
In either hand was pistol, and his
manner showed that he was no strang-
er to their use. "la zaa
"Down with the door," shouted
Bridget, cor else stand aside and give
me the axe" NHeg 4l.. zas..f
a A shower of heavy blows and il
fell. The false servant girl entered
and dropped dead with bullet buried
in her brain. The foremost of the
men met the same fate, and the 9TH
eFs fed. They had quite enough of
blood shed. ''.a ','.l
To leave the helpless woman thus
was not to be thought of by the kind
hearted stranger; and, though prison
OF transportation stared him in the
face, he comforted her as well as pos:
; sible, Strengthened the corpses,a and
: then hastcned to the nearest magis
trate and told the entire story, mo-
, even denying who and what he was
The facts were too evident to beal
even enquestioning, and, as reward fol
his bravery, the convict was pardon
ed, subsequently found to have beer
convicted innoeently, and, when tht
husband and father returned, he wa
, readily persuaded with his family tt
emigrate to the United States.
: Now, in one of the Western States
Terrence ODrien has house by tn,
, side of a beautiful river, and not ia
from it is another where the once fu
give convict has a wife and children
. ! of his own to protect, and both will
give as an heirloom to their descend
. ants the little but true strry Of how
pardon was won,
= A BLIND horse wandered into Whit
" river, at Indianapolis, and getting be
y yond his depth, swan around in cir
= Gle to find his way out. His distres
o attracted another horse not far ava
20 from the bank, who first went to tn
le waters edge and tried to direct tn
h blind horse by neighing. Failing i