Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1896-08-21

! CA5S tAAO DA AGAU, OA6sAA0S oAJ ulA0 Il6ttG
that rose up and hung heavily over man
and beast, the many insects that sat out
in the furnacelike sun, rafting shrilly
with very joy. Then the dense shade of
the murky Swallowed swamp and the
big scaly back scorpions and dainty null
ticolored lizards that played an eternal
game of hide and seek among the rot
ting rails of the old snake fence.
The trio had disappeared into the
swamp, and Dave calmly reflled his
rifle, waiting as though lost in thought.
Presently from the rear of the cabin
came the harsh command:
"You cowardly bushwhacker in there.
come out an fight like a man! If We
don't, we'll burn ye an yer shanty an
the gal with ye. -
There was no opening in the rear of
the cabin, the logs were thick and the
chinks were well stopped with clay, SO
that Dave could not return leaden an
swer to this brutal challenge. He fin
gered the rifle nervousIy and looked at
Sue.
ooh, Dave, don't open the door, " she
pleaded, meeting the earnest look bent
on her face from beneath the brim of
Dawes frouzy SLOUGH hat. II amt afeer-
ed toe burn
His lips blanched, his knees were
wobbly with fear, but he had not for
gotten the one boast Of his poor, pinch
ed life, uttered SO long ago. "Toe pur-
tee yo' honah an happiness 'ud throw
away my wuthless life. " He uttered
the words again monotonously, finger
ing the rifle that was held Imply in
his shaking hands.
Poor Sue! There was no answering
laughter in her soul now for those gro
tesquely sententious words which broke
in husky monotone on her hearing like
last prayer.
In that moment Dave, who had al
ways been coward, who had all his
life long borne meekly the scorn and
opprobrium attached to the character,
he whom heretofore nothing could
arouse to a sense of his degradation,
calmly arose to the very pinnacle of her.
oism.
"I'm co-n. 3 o.lt," he called and
shooting bacA h bolt he stood on the
cabin step before them.
Fall back and give him show; he's
coming cut, boysr' She chung to him,
pleading: "Dave, don'tl There's four to
one. Don't gol' But he pushed her
gently backward into the room.
t'Bolt the door behind me!'' he said
and passed out.
Sue stood motionless in the center of
the room waiting for it to begin. Dave
pulled the trigger of his gun and turned
the corner and instantly four weapons
barked with one voice.
Sue heard something heavy fall
against the side Of the cabin; then in
stantly the sharp, clear utterance Of a
winchester answered the carbines again
and still again. One carbine only an
swered then all was still only the fret
full warbling Of wren in the nearby
Cherokee rose hedge breaking the tense
silence of the drowsy afternoon hush.
Anxiety conquering terror, Sue drew
back the bolt, throwing the door wide
open. A broad stream of yellow light
and rush Of heat met her, passing over
a figure on it's knees that always trem-
bled at the sight Of deep water. Dave
was gasping his last breath. Bleeding
and shattered, he crept to her feet, aft
er the manner Of a faithful dog, to die.
In the grave gray eyes that were raised
to hers there was the light Of the exal-
tation of a passing spirit, triumphant
over the shadow of death which already
darkened them. His lips moved in the
80 10 h,,o1>~ sv,ko
articulate murmur.
II done said that toe purtec' yo'
honan and happiness l would th'ow
away my wuthless life-an I done hit. "
And Dave, with the crimson glory of
his "wuthless ife's' blood streaming
from many wounds, passed to the judg-
ment reserved for him from the begin
ming of all things
The wren shivered out her fragMe9-
tary song to heaven, the perfume Of the
Cherokee rose filed the air of the fad
ing day, and the setting sun, streaming
through the cabin door, touched tho
still figure of Dave, wrapping him in
molten splendor as though with the
face Of dying god.
Poor Dave! Though coward all his
life long, he had earned the reward of
heroism at the very end. "Greaser love
hath no man than this, that he lay
down his life for his friend. Detroit
journal.