The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1874-03-27

sessed upon the bench, the arouse,
wife silenced him with 3 gesture.
You are not equal to this matter
Judge Ashman,' she said, NOR ar
your legal forms. During the pas
night l have seen my own gray,
open, and in it buried life, youth anC
happiness. What is far worse
have seen the yawning grave of ny
husband, and l know it to be tht
mouth of hell. And do you ask me
to go to law about such mattersi
Harry Hill and his kind are digging
these graves. Inever realized it be
fore. Surely he does not. Unless
ne is a iend, he win cease his vile
traffic when I tell him the truth.
tell you l e0iU go, if go alone! You
may as well ask the lightning not tC
strike when the storm is at its
heightr
George, cried Mrs. Ashman in s
voice of anguish, how often has you
own son been drunk at the same
Harry Hilps?'
The judge turned pale and ab
ruptly left the room.
You shall not 60 Alone continu,
ed Mrs. Ashmun, sobbing on Mrs
Elliott's shoulders "a score of women
that know of, smitten by this ter
rible curse, viii go with you, if you
will but lead the way. Some are
rich and some poor, but We all have
common ground in this matter. ]
will send them word
After little consultation it vas
arranged that we should start from
Mrs. Judge Ashmun's at eleven
Much as I shrank from the under
taking, 1 determined to remain at
the side of my beloved Mrs. Elliot.
We called on few personal friends
and stated our purpose, but so far
from joining US they seemed dis
mayed at the very idea.
Mrs. Elliot then returned to her
unconscious husband. One look at
him seemed to turn her delicate
frame into steel, and at a little be-
fore eleven she walked to Mrs. Ash
mans with as firm a tread as ever a
soldier marched into battle.
I shall never forget the group that
we found assembled in the judges
parlor. There were young faces
present besides that of Mrs. Elliot.
But all were pale and lined with care
all we-e solemn with an earnest
purpose, and touched with the pa
thos Of suffering.
Ladies this is Mrs. Elliot said
Mrs. Ashmun simply.
All rose to receive their leader,
and she assumed control with the
simplicity and dignity which only
noble natures can attain.
in the main you are strangers to
me- she said, but our common dan
ger and our common wrong knit our
souls together as one. The evil
which threatens our lives and homes
has grown so desperate that it seems
to require a desperate remedy. 1t
is a terrible cross for US weak timid
women to go on this mission. 1t
brings back to us the days of martyr
dom. Yesterday 1 thought I would
rather die than do this. Now 1 feel
that 1 would die if I did not go, for
a dearer life than mine is in peril.
believe that 1 but imperfectly ex.
press the feelings Of each one here.
God seems to be enabling our sisters
in other places to save their dear
ones. In His name let us go forth
to like rescue, and before We go, let
US kneel to Him in silent prayer for
help and guidance
We knelt, but the prayer was not
silent. There were sobs and groans
and involuntary cries,
At last we sailed forth, pale, but as
determined q little phalanx as ever
assaulted a death swept breach. Ii
was Sleeting, but we carried no um-
brellas. This was not a pleasure ex-
cursion. We marched as soldiers do.
Our appearance upon the street
soon attracted attention. People
spoke hurriedly and excitedly to-
gether.
'By thunder, It's broke out hereF
1 heard one man exclaim. Where
will they strike frstT
Harry Hills, as you live,' was
answered, for that's Yint. EIliott's
wife leadin','
The news spread fast, and soon
We had an ample but nondescript
following. Still the crowd was re-
spectful. The worst man who had
caught a glimpse Of Mrs. Elliott's
face could not have been otherwise
By turning corner we came sud
denly upon the entrance of Hill';
saloon. There was a hustle within
as if they would lock the door against
us, but we were to prompt for them
and entered. The crowd thronged
in after us, and with those already
there, filed the place completely.
Mrs. Elliott advanced at once to
the bar, and we grouped ourselves
around her, and such q group as had
never been seen in our city before
where is Mr.. Hip asked oui
leader in a firm voice.
The bartender stared at a blank
dismay, aud then called out:
Mr.. Hill, here, quick, for Gods
sakel'
Yes, tell him to come for Gods
sake and hum anity's, said Mrs. Ell
liott giving deep meaning to the fel-
lows profanity.
what the devil does this mean?
asked Mr.. Hill, appearing from ar
inner room with a face on which sui
prise and anger contended for the
mastery. He was q fOrid, low brow
ed, thick set man, shoWily dressed
and with q hard sinister eye. After
one glance at him, ] hoped little
from Mrs. Elliot's appeal. l turned
to looked at the crowd for q moment
in order to see on whose side theil
sympathy would assert itself. buf
the expression at this time wal
mainly one of eager curiosity and e1
citement. But imagine my unmeas
ured surprise when l saw aside doc
open and Vinton Elliott appearing
over the scene, with white sppall
ed face. But all were too intentupor
the scene before them to note his en-
trance. for with a voice that urembled