Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1891-08-21

glued against the pane, and staring with
an expression that must have struck to the
heart as surely rs her look pierced mine,
When she was almost upon me turned
/ and fed He'll could not have frightened
me, but he.,veu did; and for me that we.
/ man was heaven, whether he smiled or
| frowned, gagad upon another with love,
or raised a dagger to strike me to the
ground,
How soon met my mates cannot say
( In aleN minutes, doubtless, for they had
stolen after me and had detected me run
ming away from the window, | was forced
! 70 tell my tale, and told it uuheSitatug-
| ly, for | knew | could not save him-if
/ wanted to.-anG | asked that she be
| spared not Only from sharing his fate,
but from the sight of his death, for she
loved HIM,
This from me! No wonder the captain
stared, then laughed But | did not laugh
in return, and, being the strongest man
in the band and the SureSt with my rifle,
! he did not lriha long, but listened to my
J plans and, in part, consented to them, SO
that | retreated to my post ut the gate
way with something like confidence, while
he, approaching the door, lifted the knock
/ err and left it fall with a reSoundlng clang
| that must have ruug like a knell of death
10 the hearts within.
! For the Judge knew our errand; | saw
| It in his face when he rose to his feet,
and he had no hope, for we had never
failed in our attempts, and the house,
though strongly built, was easily assail-
able
While the captain knocked, three mep
had scaled the portico and were ready to
enter the windows il the Judge refused to
parley, or offered any resistance to what
was known as the captains will,
Death to the judge!" was the cry, and
it was echoed not only at the door but
around the house, where the rest of the
men had drawn Gordon re dy to wayIay
any one who sought to escape. Death to
the judge And the judge was loved 10y
that woman and would be mourned by her
till. But a voice is speaking, voice
from out that great house, and 1t asks
what is wanted and what the meaning Is
Of these threats of death.
Aud the captain answers short and
sharp:
1.-The regulator commands, but he never
explains What he commands now is for
Judge Hawkins to come forth. If he
shrinks or delays his house viii be entered
and burned, but if he will come ont and
meet like u man what awaits him, his
house shall go free aud his family remain
unmolested,'
"And what is it that awaits him2" pur
sued the voice.
-Four bullets from four merring rifles, "
returned the captain.
at is well: he will come forth cried
voice, and then in husEler tone: Let
me kiss the woman love, will To,
keep you long.
And then the captain answered nothing,
only counted out clearly and steadily,
"Cne-two -- three, mp to Il hundred;
then he paused, turned and lifted his
hand; wien instantly four rifles rose, and
at the same moment the door, with n
faint grating sound ! shall never forget,
slowly opened, and the firm, unshrinking
figure OF the judge appeared.
We did not delay One simultaneous
burst of fire, one loud quick crack, and his
figure fell before our eyes. A sound, n
cry from within, then all was still, and the
captain, mounting his horse, gave one
quick whistle and galloped away. We
followed him, but was the last to mount,
and did not follow long, for at the fash OF
those guns had seen a smile cross our
victims lips, and my heart was on fire,
and could not rest till found my way
back to that open doorway and the figure
lying within 1t.
There it was, and behind it house
mpty as my heart had been since that
day A mans dress covering woman
form-and over the motionless, perfect
features that same mile which had seen
in the room beyond, and again in Inc
quick glare Of the rifles.
had harbored no evil thought concern
ing her, but when beheld that smile now
sealed had fixed upon her lips, found the
soul had never know that possessed
until that day
srhe Hartford Times says that Of all the stories