Connecticut western news., 1886-10-06

"This way, gentlemen" she said softly l; and she turned toward a door situated midway between the bedroom of the in valid and the pantry. She opened it little way. 'Do you hear him breathe?" she asked.
 "Yes, yes," answered the ruffians; but it was the heavy breathing of Mrs. Stacy in the loft above that they heard.
 Laura threw the door wide open; it opened inward. The men saw a 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, crash of the broken lan- tern and avolley 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 ruffians2
 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 vil- lains as they searched for the ladder, and the next instant head appeared above the threshold. The candle threw faint light on the scene, but it was enough to enable Laura to see.
 s'Back p she cried; but the order was not obeyed.
 The robber 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 levelled her deadly weapon at the man, and as sharp report went ringing through the cabin, d eep groan and the sound of heavy fall came from the cellar.
 But the creaking of the ladder showed that the other robber 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 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-like to inquire the cause of the shots which had reused him from his sleep.
 "Great heavens!" he cried, as he saw Laura crouching en the floor. "Are you hurt2 L ura, my darling, speak to me Are you injured9'
 Perhaps in that moment of terror Ar thur Norris heart was revealed to him, and he knew he loved the niece of this Arkansas hunter.
 'No, no," faltered the girl, rousing herself. I am not hurt. But I shot two men in the cellar-and-and"-
 But she could go no further, for hel eyes closed and she lost consciousness.
 Perhaps Arthur's kisses were more eff. cacious in restoring her than her aunt's dippers of cold water. But the faint was not very long one, and she was soon able to tell the whole story of the assault.
 Arthur's thanks were expressed as well as his emotion would permit; but the moisture of his dark blue eyes and the chlnging of his countenance told more than any language could have done what he felt.
 It was decided to leave the bodies 1T 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 tn. day was over the whole settlement knew of the attack, and officers reached tht cabin by noon. They were shown tn. bodies, and at once pronounced them tt be those of two men who had filled the country with alarm for years past, anc had committed several hanging offences ! It was long before Laura entirely re covered from the effects of her midnigh ] adventure. Her nervous system had re ceived severe shock. and for weeks he dreams were haunted by the wicked faces of the dead williams, and sh, seemed to hear again their dying groans
 It was therefore, only natural tha Louis should give a ready consent to hi niece's marriage as soon as Arthur health was entirely restored.
 So there was quiet wedding in tn cabin in the early Summer, and the girl who had truly earned her right to he husband, set out with him on a journe to a comfortable home within the bor ders of civilization, where there was n danger of being murdered by borde desparadoes.
 Black Chewing Gum.