Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1893-08-30


Don't be afraid"
The door of Marcia's room had opened
suddenly, and she stood there with a
shawl thrown lightly around her. Tho
next instant she cried out:
"Oh, it's David-my brother David ~
The tramp of feet was heard outside.
The look of amazement on the boy
face gave place to one of terror, and
Aunt Nance said, quickly:
''Go in there with your sister, David n
A moment later six or seven rough
looking men fled into the cabin. Aunt
Nancy knew them every one. She met
them standing with her back to the door
of the room David and his sister had
entered.
"He come in here, didn't he, Aun,
Nance2" said Joe Haskin, the leader OF
the crowd. Eve seen him, and We
want him. Nov, didn't he come il
here?n
Aunt Nance replied fearlessly, az don't
tell lies, snd l won't tell one now. He
did come in here, Joe Haskin. Ee's in
here now, and what's more, he's going
to stay in here!"
"Do you know what him and another
feller done?"
~ neither know nor care," replied
Aunt Nance, boldly, "but know this
you men aint his judges. Vengeance
don't belong to yOu-it belongs to
Him."
She pointed upward as sac spoke, an
then she added, "You can't lay your
hands on that boy tonight. He's in
this room behind me, and you are six oil
eight men to one woman, but there's moi
one of you that'll lay your hands on Int
to move me from this door.
"You wouldn't, ice Haskin, when you
remember how I walked three miles in
the worst snow-storm we had last winter
% nurse you back to life and strength,
when you was at deaths door with pneu
mony.
"You wouldn't, Hi Sanders, when
had you byou Eht right here and took care
Of you myself when you had that broken
leg last fall.
"You wouldn't lay hands on the
woman who closed your wife's eyes il
death less than year ago, Tom Lesson.
Every man Of you has set at my table
agin aud agin, with or witLSut money
it made no difference.
"Touch me? Why, 1 don't believe I,
myself, could keep you from using thai
rope you've got outside, on the mai
who'd lay rough hands on Aunt Names
Afford"
"No, you couldn't" said Joe Haskin
You're right-we'd make mince-mea
of him! An if you're goin' to stand Tor
that door and"
~ am" interrupted Aunt Nance, "ant
there ains no other way into the ROOM"
She waved her hand lightly toward
the open door, "Good nightw sh,
said.
They went out into the darkness.
Before noon the next day Joe Hsskir
rode up to Aunt Nance's cabin. Sh
went to the door, and he did not dis
mount.
"Well," he said, "if things don't turr
out queer sometimes! We got after tn,
wrong fellow, sure enough, last night
You see, there's been a garg of cut
.hro2ts and hoss-thieves lurkin' about o!
Taylor Mountain. The boys got tired o
EN-, an last night they took after
couple of the sneaks.
at seems that this young fellow toli
the truth when he said he didn't belon:
to 'em. he was wandering along o,
his way to Eagle Cliff, and took refu =
from tie storm with some O. the gang.
"Tne guilty ones was caught thi
morning down in Deer Gulch, and they
the grace to say that the young fellow
with EN- didn't belong to their gQug. l
you've got him in your cabin yit, 20
sort O. 'pologize to i'm for the little in
convenience we put i'm to last night, AN
say that we'll do anythin' we Con 70
him, nov't he's out O. bad company"
He was done with bad company fror
that day forth. The promise he ha'
mado in his terror he kept faithfully, a.
though he did not have to so back t
New Hampshire to keep it.
Invading lines of railroad have drive
the numbering old stage coaches an
their jolly drivers to other parts of til
mountains, and there is now litti
brown railroad station on the spot wher
the cabin of Aunt Nance stood.
1t is dinner station, famous all alon
the line; and if you travel that way, 70
would be likely to be met at the door b
a tidy and talkativc old lady, who woul
be no other than Aunt Nunce hersel!
while David and Marcia Merrick, /
homes of their own, may be found il
the prosperous little town but fe
miles distant.-Youth'S Companion.