Connecticut western news., 1897-01-28
CANAAN CONN. THURSDAY, JANUARY 2s 1s97

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 explosives 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 hood potato rows, while another limped 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 flash before Dave's vision. each pecuharity 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 CTS; 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, rattsing shrilly 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 the swamp. and Dave calmly refilled his rife, 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 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 legs were thick and the chinks were we'll 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, she pleaded, meeting the earnest look bent on her face from beneath the brim of Dave's frouzy slouch bal II ain t afeer- ed toe burn !"
 His lips blanched, his knees were wobbly with fear, but he had not for gotten the enc boast of his poor, pinch ed life, uttered so long ago. Toe pur- tec' yo' honah an happiness 'ud throw away my wuthless life" He uttered the words again monotonously, finger ing the rife that was held Imply in his shaking hands
 Poor Suel There was no answering laughter in her soul now for those gro- tesquely septentious words which broke in husky monotone on her hearing like 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 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.
 Fall back and give him show; he s coming out boys!" She clung to him, pleading: "Dave, don'tl There's four to one Don't go!'' But he pushed her gently backward into the room.
 Bolt the door behind mer' 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 parked 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 carbiDes again and still again. One carbine only an- swered; then all was still; only the fret fnl warbling of a 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 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. CT the manner of faithful dog. to die, In the grave gray eyes that were raised to hers there was the light of the exal. taticn of 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.
 ''I done said that toe purtec' yo honah and happiness l would tn 'ow away my wuthless ife-an l done hit ' And Dave. with the crimson glory oi his "wuthless life'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 fragmen tary song to heaven, the perfume of the Cherokee rose filled the air of the fad ing day, and the setting sun. streaming through the cabin door, touched the still figure of Dave, wrapping him II molten splendor as though with the
 face of dying god
 l Poor Dayel Though coward all hii
 life long. he had earned the reward ot
 heroism at the very end. 'Greater lovt
 hath no man than this, that he lay
 down his l:fc for his friend '-Detroi
 Journal
 Mississippi Frozen Over.