Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1896-07-30

ny ~ lnc TlChety CdOln uOOr ana D
risive, imperative voice demanded:
Hi, in there, open up, or we
make splinters Of yer ole door. IT
threat was garnished by several stroI
expletives and accompanied with mo
vicious pounding.
Then for answer went the spitefl
snap Of the winchester. followed by
surprised howl Of pain, more volub
profanity and footsteps in rapid retrea
Dave went to the window. an
though knothole in the shutter review
ed the situation of the enemy. The
though the aperture the rife again spok
with decisive, leaden emphasis, an
when the smoke cleared away the ma
inside beheld one of the besiegers lyin
prone across the freshly hoed potat
rows, while another limped painful,
in the rear Of the retreating trio.
In the short silence that followed tn
last shot the arid topography of Honey
path seemed to fash before Dave'
vision, each popularity standing ou
strong and clear. The fine, white sand
covered everywhere with fat leavet
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
in the furnacelike sun, rattling shriIly
with very JOY. Then the dense shade of
the murky shadowod 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 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 q 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 rife nervously and looked at
Sue.
"Oh, Dave, don't open the door, " she
pleaded, meeting the earnest look bent
Oh her face from beneath the brim of
Dawes frouzy slouch hat, II aim t afeer.
od toe burn. F"
His lips blanched, his knees were
wobbly with fear, but he had not for
gotten the ono boast of his poor, pinch.
I'd life, uttered so long ago. "Toe pur-
ec' yo' honah an happiness l 'ud throw |
sway my wuthless life" He uttered
he words again monotonously, finger.
ng the rife that was held Imply in |
lis shaking hands.
Poor Suei There was no answering
aughter in her soul now for those gro
esquely sententious words which broke
n husky monotone on her hearing like
last prayer.
In that moment Dave who had al
7ays been q coward, who had all his
lfe long bono meekly the scorn and
pprobrium attached to the character,
Q whom heretofore nothing could
rouse to a sense of his degradation,
almly arose to the very pinnacle of her
ism.
"I'm coming out" he called and
looting back the bolt he stood on the
abin step before them.
Fall back and give him a show; he's
oming out, boysr' She clung to him.
Dave, don'tl There s four to ,
ne. Don't goI" But he pushed her {
entity backward into the room. L
Bolt the door behind me!' he said l
I'd passed out.
Sue stood motionless in the center of
10 room waiting for it to begin. Dave g
llled the trigger of his gun and turned :
e corner and instantly four weapons
Lrked with one voice.
Sue heard something heavy fall T
,ainst the side of the cabin; then in
antly the sharp, clear utterance of a 4 !
answered the carbines again -
ID still again. One carbine only an q
cred; then all was still only the fret q
warbling of wren in the nearby II
lerokee rose hedge breaking the tense
ence OF the drowsy afternoon hush.
Anxiety conquering terror, Sue drew z
OK the bolt, throwing the door wide u
en-. A broad stream of yellow light "
d rush of heat met her, passing over h,
igure on its knees that always trem- h,
I'd at the sight of deep water. Dave &C
IS gasping his last breath. Bleeding 10
d shattered, he crept to her feet, aft g
tho manner of faithful dog, to die. tf
the grave gray eyes that were raised ee
hers there was the light of the exal- o. o.
ion OF % passing spirit, triumphant A
n the shadow Of death Which already ed
'kened them. His lips moved in the ar
ltortion of smile that broke into an
iculate murmur. q,
i done said that toe purtec' yo' su
lah and happiness l would th'ow
ay my wuthless life-an done hit. " Oh
And Dave, with the crimson glory of
wuthless life's" blood streaming In
M many wounds, passed to the judg- 1
Mt reserved for him from the begin co
g of all things. oil
The wren shivered out her fragmen- or
song to heaven, the perfume of the
9rokee rose filled the air of the fad ,r,
day. and the setting sun. streaming tle
ough the cabin door, touched the M
figure of Dave, wrapping him in
item splendor as though with the be
of dying god. rie
'oor Davel Though q coward all his
long, he had earned the reward of -
oism at the very end. Greater love sn 81,
h no man than this, that he lay =;
IN his life for his friend. Detroit p,
rnal. ~,
------ biz
The Doctor and the Lawyer. an
Now you know the details of the af. liz
)" said the doctor to the lawyer few in
S later. What would YOU advise me- tc stf