The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1895-10-18

The child was sleeping now Tn
mother had thrown herself beside ii
and with her arms still around it wa
breathing deeply. as the tired do il
their sleep. Suddenly he started hi
senses were wide awake now. A low
muilled sound reached his ears /
was the steady tramp, tramp, tramp o
horsemen. With face white as deatl
he turned toward the door of the cabin
and looked longingly and lovingly on
mother and babe and then, like
flash. he was off. disappearing in thu
woods.
The horsemen had made their way
steadily and silently for some time to
ward Old Creek Bend. They carrieC
themselves like men of intense pur
pose Their faces were unmaskcd anc
CLEANED strong and cruel in the moon
light. The horses were of shaggy
mountain breed: across the pomme
each man carried a rifle. An outrag,
against the hard earned and slowly
accumulated property of these men was
more heinous than an outrage upon
human life. The latter they might for
give. but the former never. The life
of his horse was as dear and necessary
to his family almost as his own; his
COW afforded sustenance to his
children. The holocaust which had
been visited upon Jim Silhey's proper
ty could be avenged but with one pun
| ishment. and that was death. Each
neighbor felt himself bound by the
ties of friendship and common inter,
est to see that justice, swift and sure,
was measured out to the culprit.
The party had emerged from the
woods into a clearing, when the voice
of their leader rang out, Halt -
Every man pulled in his horse and
peered into the road. There stood
trembling before them the figure of a
man. Every one recognized in the
moonlight the pale face of Tom Lowell.
well, sub. y exclaimed Abe Toby.
the leader, yer runnil' the wrong
way. Mebbe you didn't know We were
on the way to pay you a visit. "
80 knowed it, ] knowed it" ex-
claimed Tom, TREMENDOUSLY, "an'
come fer ter meet yer
An incredulous "humph" from the
men.
"Yer don't sesso, ~ reioined Abe,
sarrastically. I'VE didn't count on
seen heatry welcome.
As ne spoke ne Slowly uhwonna
rope from his saddle and approached
Tom, but Tom put out his hand dep
recatingly.
aon resist you IN go peace
any but don Tie me.
Somewhat taken aback by the mans
acquicscent attitude and disappointed
ID lhelr expectation OF a scene, the
men closed round him and rode back
mo Wy WOODS 70 spot Whlci mao
Thoy s,nn negh h agre3b upon pfeaiouss
ne! stopped peIealh blg OAK Tree
lhein III neheulctioh' Whiie the muir
iurlnE ; leaves Wh'sher.4 sanctissima
pul as RUE heed ana the rough woods
. .p pay 10 me 3eanty OF the spot as
tnc ahclent heathen 10 the sacredness
ereu thelr captlVcs'
men were 'here VINO had invited
the prisoner 10 ms ilrst drink VINO haa
iausneu al ms t9ollshness when tlpsy,
VINO had scorned ms disgrace when
oFuIh ana now III ms crime they
were crying shoot nm.
~ I"'N', ''""''
d rope paced around ms meek every
man shouldered ms rifle and stepped
Dack few PAGES.
. lom Lowell. spoke Abe Toby, |
we give you 1lye minutes to pray or
10 say why you shouldn he'v justice |
Tor burnln Jim Slbley's barn and
critters,
Yes; | done 1t boys. | amt de
1yln that. an mebbe ! deserve what
you are goin' TEL, give me. | know I'm
2nery but declare fore God | didn't
10 IL intentional went there TO go
asleep. l lit my pipe an must "a
trapped some fire, but faint that l m
Sorryln' over, boys; for Gods sake
ton't let her know what happened to
ne. III get ON my knees to beg you
nat. l don't ask for my life, it amt
yuth IT, but | do ask you, don't let
Maggie know.
How in the devil kin she keep from
IT, said rough voice. I'VE amt
'oln' ter present her with yer carcass,
tut she'll be sho' TO hear bout yer
Misfortune.
Tom Lowell had apparently thought
t out beforehand. Without moments
he begged
{ ,JpG' lpt one pf Yer do tho cbpntip' |