Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1882-04-05

had cleared away at last, She got up,
unable to compose herself Immediately,
and went to the window, The moon
was indeed shining brightly, As she
stood looking at the peaceful scene
before her, she saw down the road for
1t was as bright as day, several horse
men. II was such al unusual sight at
that hour that she stood watching them
as they came nearer. To her surprise
they turned up the lane leading toward
their house and on reaching the gate
came into the yard. Now, almost
paralyzcd with fear, she saw that they
were masked, The truth almost blind
cd her, They knew that she was alone,
that she had the money, and they had
come to get II. For u moment she was
paralyzed, She remembered Harry's
last words; "You must guard 1t with
your life, il necessary"
She ran to the sleeping Sarah, aud
awakened her. She got down Harry's
rife, which he had loaded and taught
her to use. The sleeping girl was
soon thoroughly awake, and shc ex-
planned to her their condition.
SITS the tramps that done it,"
"Thc tramps! No, Sarah, the key,
the key to the attic !"
She flew up the stairs, unlocked the
paddock and opened the trap. The
man sprang up at the sound.
"Come come with Inc" His own
sense alert, and hearing the noise of the
horses below and steps about the house,
he followed her without a word. AT
the foot of the stars she stopped.
81 have large sum of money in
the house, and those men have come to
get it, thinking am alone. If they
kill me, that money must be guarded"
"What have you, pistols, shotguns?
he whispered, taking in the whole situ'
alton.
"Here is my husbands rife. 1t il
loaded"
"Hist. Where are they going to
break in?" The steps came boldly on
the piazza to the front door.
sect behind me. will fire at the
first man that enters. How many
barrels are therc"
"Six; all loaded"
every we'll. Keep this cane in your
hand for me, in case I need it,"
There was no storming of shutters
They heard the key applied to the door
softly. 1t opened, and man followed
by two others, confidently entered
The first figure walked directly to the
stairs. He had taken but step, when
three shots came in rapid succession.
There was heavy thud; this man
dropped, and the orher two turned and
fled. Sarah ran to the window, and
two horses galloped down the lane.
"Don't faint, madam; there's work
yet to do," said the tramp.
Mamie caught hole of the rail for
support, and then went into the room.
"Get candle, Sarah"
They..lighted candle and gave it to
the tramp, who went down stairs, the
two women followed with brandy and
ammonia. The man had fallen back
ward and lay with his face up and his
head toward the door.
"Raise the mask and give him air
first, madam"
Mamie raised the mask, and fell
back with wild shrek.
"Do you want to know now why
her hair is white ?" he asked.
"It was Harry Wells" l answer
ed. "It was that smiling, popular
young scamp"
It's no use to ask why he did it. l
don't care. Motives don't matter
much in such a case. But she, Mamie
Mrs. Wells--she has her gray hair,
but there is no trace of that midnight
tragedy IN her face.
81 believe she was i'll for long
time," answered my friend. "They
say smallpox cures some one or other
disease. Well some griefs are like the
smallpox; they cure you OF lesser
weaknesses tenderness of heart, for
example. This, 1 think, was one OF
them"
"And the tramp"
"He and Sarah were of course the
witnesses at the inquest. The next
day he was off on his journey, and l
have never heard of him since"