South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1889-06-21
II Little Heroine.

Il
dollars TO take care Of and no neigh
bors 10 summon in case of danger.
My father Was overseer at the mines
two miles distant. and this money had
been paid in this day TO settle with
\ the men.
had noiiced while We were cou Mt.
| Ing 1t over two miners were watching
! US from the window but thought no
more Of the matter. Father did not
like 70 60 away and leave me alone
With so much money, but was rath.
er glad to show him that l was not n
coward, and finally he kissed me re.
luctautly as If still in doubt. and went
away.
After he had gone took TIE mon
| ey up TO my room and Hill it in the
tin box-where kept Tom Earrings
lette:s-the sailor boy who was com.
ing home soon to marry me.
When 9 O'Clock came I slipped off
to bed and was soon in the land of
dreams. About midnight l was q.
reused by the sound of voices and
4 noise as If some one was working at
the door.
What do you want l called out
boldly. If you don't want me to
rouse my father you had better 60
away
Your father is miles away. my
girl: so you'd better let us ln.'
To this made no answer, so they
continued.
WED like drop Of beer, too, IL
you have it handy. Will you let us
in or not?'
This is my fathers house. an
swered. In his absence | admit no
strangets.'
We'll show you T. they scornfully
replied.
Aad once more cbisel and hammer
fell boldly to work. Ohl how I
blessed the trusty lock, and when at
last they ceased their useless efforts,
and their footsteps died away, / fell
on my knees in transport Of graft.
tude that had escaped the danger.
But it was, alas short lived. From
it | was aroused by q crash which
made the walls tremble. The men
had Withdrawn, and arming them
! selves with a huge log as a bsLtering
ram. assailed the door. saw the
bar shake and knew 1t could no: long
stand their united pressure. With
strength almost superhuman | drag
ged what furniture could To It's de-
Tense, pilins it up as barficade, fear
being lost in frenzied indignation at
this outrage to helpless girl. Then
speeding up stairs. l took the money
from the place where / had deposited
it, and placed it in my breast, deter
mined 10 protect it with my life. As
/ turned TO 60 down again my eye feI
on my fathers gun, and With almost
g sob of Thanksgiving 1 seized it in
my grasp. As did so another blow
was struck, followed by another and
! another.
Il am ARNOLD cried through the
door. Ifyou force nc entrance [ will
kill you.'
A scornful laugh was the only re.
ply, as the blows fell thick and fast.
1 the men retreating far enough to
move forward with newly acquired
strength. Once more l glanced a
round the room. The FIRE was dying
on, /; only few embers were left in
the ashes. You can fancy my white
face with blazing resolute eyes and
stout young heart facing the unseen
enemy, not knowing at what moment
my sole defence would yield. Ano-
Their blow the timbers crack. Soon,
stout as they are. they will give away.
But few moments must elapse before
they are destroyed. Once moro |
shout through the door:
Men, If you enter, it Is at the per.
IL of our lives BE warned in time I
Again q scornful laugh is my re-
| ply.
You sball pay we'll for this work.
40 no more OF your threats they say,
and l obey them.
What is my best defence ? Back
of me is a window loR 10 the ground.
Have they a spy at the resr2 This
must risk, and trusting to the noise
! and darkness, slip silently the bolt.
and raising the sash, leap TO the
ground, just a., with an awful crash,
my barricade falls 20 the floor, the
door gives way and the men leap into
the now deserted room.
The open window betrayed me.
They rush forward. There 10 but one
chance. raise tie gun and empty
both barrels in space; then clu,Ching
the money, pressing it tight to my
breast, / foe into darkness. On an I
on l go until / pause to listen for
the footsteps following, but the beat
ing Of my own heart IS the only sound
hear. Then sink, faiDting for the
first time in my life, upon the cold
ground. When / open my eyes they
peer into my iatheTs pale anxious
face, who bends and kisses mo.
The monoy-is it safe 2 is roy first
question
'Yes,my brave girl-lhanks TO you,
every dollar ofit.'
'AEd those men 2
'Onc has gone In uoct bis reward
at a higher tribunal than ours, and
one lies bound in jail
Then, when I grew stronger, they
told me all-how the ball bad pierced
the heart OF one Of the men Lud The
ii ILL. 4