Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1886-09-29

"This way, gentlemen" she said softly;
and she turned toward door situated
midway between the bedroom of the in
valid and the pantry, She opened tia little
way. "Do you hear him brcathcs" she
asked.
ayes, yes" answered the ruilions; but
it was tho heavy breathing of Mrs. Stacy
in the loft above that they heard.
Laura threw the door wide open; it
opened inward. The men saw dark
void and pressed eagerly forward, not
even stopping to throw the light of their
lantern on the place.
At this instant Laura sprang back and
threw herself with all her force upon the
rear man; and the next instant there was
heavy fall, n crash of the broken Ian
tern and volcy Of oaths, for both men
lay at the bottom of the cellar.
But the danger was not over by any
means. Laura knew that the men would
mount the ladder at once, and there was
no way of fastening the door; and, If
there had been what lock would have
withstood the power Of two desperate
border mf1iansl
To rouse her aunt would be useless;
she could give no assistance; and so
Laura sprang to the fireplace and caught
Louis's revolver from the rude mantel,
while she offered prayer for courage
and strength.
She heard the deep curses of the vii
lains as they searched for the ladder, and
the next instant head appeared above
the threshold. The candle threw q faint
light on the scene, but it was enough to
enable Laura to see.
"Backw she cried; but the order was
not obcycd.
The robbcr raised his pistol, and Laura
knew that unless she fired at once she
was lost-Arthur too.
With these thoughts flashing through
her mind she lcvcllcd her deadly weapon
at the man, and as sharp report went
ringing through the cabin, deep groan
and the sound Of heavy fall came from
the cellar.
But the crcaking of the ladder showed
that the other robbcr was about to dare
his fate, and he appeared above the
threshold, pistol in hand. But Laura
was too quick for him. A second report
rang through the cabin, and again came
a groan and the sound of heavy fall.
The brave girl, overcome at last, sank
to the floor just as her aunt came rushing
into the room, frightened almost out of
her senses, and the door Of Arthur's
room opened and he appeared, wan
and ghost-likc to inquire the cause of
the shots which had reused him from his
sleep.
"Grcat hcavcnsw he cried, as he saw
Laura crouching en- the aoor care you
hurl2 L1ura, my darling, speak to me
Arc you injurcd'"
Perhaps in that moment of terror Ar
thur Morris heart was revealed to him,
and he knew he loved tho niece Of this
Arkansas hunter.
"No, no." faltcrcd the girl, rousing
herself. ~ am not hurt. But | shot
two men in the ccllar-and-and"---
But she could 80 no further, for hcl
eyes closed and she lost consciousness.
Perhaps Arthur's kisses were more eff
cacious in restoring her than her aunts
dippcrs OF cold water. But the faint
was not a very long one, and she was
soon able to tell the whole story of thu
assault.
Arthur's thanks were expressed as wei
rs his emotion would permit; but thu
moisture of his dark blue eyes and tn,
changing of his countenanCe told NOR
than any language could have dom
; what he felt.
1t was decided to leave the bodies il
the cellar until morning; but at the frs
gray sign of day Laura mounted tn
rough little pony and started for tn
nearest town to ask help. Before til
day was over the whole settlement kncy
of the attack, and officers reached III
cabin by noon. They were shown tn
bodies, and at once pronounced them t
/, be those of two men who had filled tin
: country with alarm for years past, an,
v had committed several hanging offences
1t was long before Laura entirely re
hcovcrcd from the effects Of her midnigll
, adventure. Her nervous system had rC
: ccvcd n severe shock. and for weeks hc
NitUlllS NtlC llINtHlCNt W bilO NlNNN
u faces of the dead Williams, and sh
seemed to hear again their dying groan'
1t was therefore, only natural tina
y Louis should give u ready consent to III
" niccc's marriage as soon as Arthur
health was entirely restored.
IA So there was a quiet wedding in tn
- cabin in the carly Summer and the CIR
who had traly earned her right to he
~ husband, set out with him on a journc
" to u comfortable home within the bo
u dcrs of civilization, where there was n
danger of being murdered by bord'
y >, dcsparadocs.
or Black Chewing Gum.
+ Lately there has crcpt into the Dctro