Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-05-14
WARNED AWAY.
But Tom Proved That He Was Grit to ths
 T:,St.

L;lst.
 He stood in front of the postoffice iii the mountain hamlet holding a letter ill his hand, the first and only one he had ever received. It was for him because the post master said so There was writing on the envelope, but he could not read it. The man carried the letter across the street to the village blacksmith and said
 "Jim make it out fur me-"
 The blacksmith drew the heating iron from the fire, wiped his hands on his leather apron and slowly and hesitatingly tore open the envelope There was sheet of writing paper incloscd. In the center of it a rude hand had sketched skull and crossbones, nothing more. The blacksmith held it up to view, and for half a minute nothing was said. Then he queried:
 'Yo' know what it is, Tom?'
 Reckon so.
 "It's the warnin to go.
 "ReckOn 'tis"
 "They'n put the next on the doah of yo'r cabin"
 "Then they'll kill yo'." ''Sartn to. Tho blackmith handed him back the let. ter without another word and turned to his forge. He did not even look up as Tom passed out to mount his mule and ride homeward. No words were necessary. If Tom moved away, he would escape death. If he remained, he would be killed. It had been so in 20 other cases, and why shouldn' it be in his? An hour after he had reached home, and when he and his wife were seat ed on tho doorstep, with pipes alight, Tom broke a long interval of silence by saying "Got the warnin today.'
 "Hu?' she replied without raising hel eyes.
 First warnin."
 "Hu?" "The next will be nailed on the doah. Reckon we'll find it Friday mawnin." "And then?'' II hain't gwinc ter go."
 "Hu?"
 "I won't be driv."
 "They'll kill.' ''Shore to, but so will I.''
 Not another word was said for five min utcs Then she turned, with a look of pride in her eyes, and whispered: ''Tom, yo' is grit. II low it, Judy.'' "They'll kill yo, Tom, but yo' is grit and everybody'll say so.'
 Reckon they will" That ended the conversation on that subject She did not ask how he had beer 
 ter Their doors had never been locked al night. Why lock them now? They went to bed to sleep soundly and peacefully as ever, and they arose in the morning tc eat their bacon and corn bread and gc about their routine labors as usual. Not word of the warning was said to travel CTS or nCighbOrS There was law at the village hamlet, but it was not invoked. 'Found it on the doah,' said Tom Fri day morning as ho held piece of paper out to his wife. "Hu! Skull and bones!' But they can't drive" "Reckon they'll como tonight"
 "Likcly. Yo'd best go over to Joe's." "Of co'sc." ! Not word Was said during the day |, When the sun went down, she put on hel sunbonnct and said: "Rcc'lon I'll go now" ''Ycs' She took the path through tho woods and he reached down his double barrclct shotgun and went out and took cover be hind a great stump. He was there at 1( o'clock, at midnight, at sunrise, when tho wife appeared and said: ''Tom, yo' is grit clar grit, ] When sundown came again, it was tn, same thing ovcr At 10 o'clock all wa | quiet but the notes of the frogs and crick | cts At midnight Tom heard the tramp | ing of horses and the muttcrings of mon ! Thirty horsrmcn dismOuntcd a few rod | away; 20 men ill disguise approached th' | cabin. There was a double report, ant two of the maraudcrs fell in their tracks | There were a blaze of fire, Q vollcy. a hur | rah and the men had accomplished thci1 | errand At sunrise Toms wife camt | again. She saw him lying there, saw tha he was cold in death, but therc was nt weeping and wailinG. She simply stoot and gaZcd down upon his white face, ant | she said: "Hu I'd best go and tell Joe. Ton | said they couldn't drive and Tom wa | grit NJ. QUAD.