Connecticut western news., 1891-05-13

| could not have frightened me, but heaven | did; and for me that woman was heaven | whether she smiled or drowned, gazed upon another with love or raised dag ger to strike me to the ground. How soon met my mates l cannot
 say. In few minutes, doubtless, for | they had stolen after me and had de-
 tected me running away from the win dow. was forced to tell my tale, and | told it unhesitatingly, for I knew | could not save hin-if wanted to-and | knew I should save her or die in the | attempt.
 "He is alone there with a girl," I an
 nounced. Whether she is his wife or | not cannot say, but there is no cross | against her name, and I ask that she be spared not only from sharing his fate, but from the sight of his death, for she l loves him."
 This from me! No wonder the cap tain stared, then laughed. But I did not laugh in return, and being the strong est man in the band and the surest with my rife, he did not trife long, but lis tened to my plans and in part consented | to them, so that I retreated to my post at the gateway with something like con- | fidence, while he, approaching the door, lifted the knocker and let it fall with resounding clang that must have rung like knell of death to the hearts within. For the judge knew our errand; I 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 men | had scaled the port1co and were ready to enter the open windows if the judge re-
 fused to barley or offered any resistance l to what was known as the captains will. | "Death to the judger' was the cry, and
 it was echoed not only at the door but around the house, where the rest of the men had drawn cordon ready to way ! lay any one who sought to escape. Death to the judge! And the judge was loved | by that woman and would be mourned | by her till But voice is speaking, a
 voice from out that great house, and it asks what is wanted and what the mean. ing is of these threats of death. | And the captain answers short and sharp:
 "The Ku-Klux commands, but never
 explains. What it commands now is for
 Judge Hawkins to come forth. If he
 shrinks or delays his house will be en- tered and burned, but if he will come
 out and meet like man what awaits
 him his house shall go free and his
 family remain unm olested."
 | "And what is it that awaits him?" pur- sued the voice.
 | "Four bullets from four unerring | rifles" returned the captain.
 | "It IS well; he will come forth," cried the voice, and then in husher tone: | "Let me kiss the woman love. Twill
 not keep you long,"
 only counted out clearly and steadily, | tOne-two-three," up to a hundred; | then he paused, turned and lifted his hand; when instantly our four rifles rose, and at the same moment the door, | with a faint grating sound shall never forget, slowly opened and the firm, un-
 shrinking 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,
 8 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 flash of those guns had seen smile
 across our victims lip, and my heart
 was on fire, and I could not rest till I
 had found my way back to that open
 doorway and the figure lying within it.
 There it was, and behind it a house
 empty as my heart has been since that
 day. A mans dress covering a womans
 form-and over the motonless, perfect
 features that same smile which I had
 seen in the room beyond and again in
 the quick glare of the rifles.
 I had harbored no evil thought con-
 corning her, but when I beheld that
 smile now sealed and fixed upon her lips
 found the soul I had never known that
 I possessed until that day.-Anna Kathe-
 rine Green in Philadelphia Times.