Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1896-10-01
WOODBURY., N. j. THURSDAY, OCTOBER /, 1896

taAeH uoWn Eine tnat mad belonged to
Sues brother, who had also offered M
his life on the altar of the cause, leav-
ing his weapon to his sister as a means
of defense in just such emergencies as
this.
What you gwine to do, Dave?' the
girl persisted, coming closer and laying
her hand on his arm Dave shook sever
al cartridges into the cylinder Of the
winchester and waited in silence, ap-
parently not aware that Sue had touch
ed him. Only few more moments to
wait and then the last act in the com
monplace little tragedy A loud pound
ing at the rickety cabin door and de-
risive, imperative voice demanded:
Hi, in there, open up, or we'll
make splinters of yer ole door. " The
threat was garnished by several strong
expletives and accompanied with more
vicious pounding.
Then for answer went the spiteful
snap of the winchester, followed by a
surprised howl Of pain, more voluble
profanity and footsteps in rapid retreat.
Dave went to the window, and
though knothole in the shutter review
ed the situation Of the enemy Then
though the aperture the rife again spoke
with decisive, leaden emphasis, and
when the smoke cleared away the man
inside beheld one Of the besiegers lying
prone across the freshly hoed potato
rows, while another Imped painfully
In the rear of the retreating trio
In the short silence that followed the
last shot the arid topography Of Honey
path seemed to fash before Dawes
vision, each popularity standing out
strong and clear The fine, white sand,
covered everywhere with fat leaved
prickly pear and cactus that bloomed
perpetually in big butter colored flow
ers; the bright, blazing sky, the heat
that rose up and hung heavily over man
and beast, the many insects that sat out
III the furnaeelike sun, rattling shriIIy
with very JOY. Then the dense shade of
the murky shadowed 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 tho
swamp, and Dave calmly refilled 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 mani If ye
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 a leaden an
swer to this brutal challenge. He fin
gered the rife nervously and looked at
Sue.
"Oh. Dave, don't open the door, I" she
pleaded, meeting the earnest look bent
on her face from beneath the brim Of
Dawes frouzy slouch hat. II ain t afeer-
ed toe burn. "
His lips blanciied, 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 I 'ud throw
away my wuthless life " He uttered
thg rEaBd9 again monotonouslr -f-s---
Poor Suei There was no answering
laughter in her soul now for those gro
tesquely sententious words which broke
in husky monotone ON her hearing like
a last prayer.
In that moment Dave. who had al
ways been a 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 coming out, he called and
shooting back the bolt he stood on the
cabin step before them.
"Fal back and give him show; he's
coming out, boysr' She clung to him,
pleading: .Dave, don'tl There's four to
one. Don't gop' But he pushed her
gently backward into the room.
"Bolt the door behind meI' 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
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
figure on its 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 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
contortion of smile that broke into an
articulate murmur.
81 done said that toe purtec' yo'
honah and happiness | would th'ow
away my wuthless life-an done hit 7
And Dave, with the crimson glory of
his "wuthless life's'' blood streaming
from many wounds, passed to the judg-
laent reserved for him from the begin
ming of all things
The wren shivered out her fragmen
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 the
still figure of Dave, wrapping him in
molten splendor as though with the
face of dying god.
Poor Davei Though coward all his
| life long, he had earned the reward Of
heroism at the very end. Greater love
hath no man than this, that he lay
down his life for his friend Detroit
Journal
Henry James