Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1898-01-01

ioaShco VIC ioWH tuey cHule 10 uAll
One OF them said:
Now, boys, we don't want to take
any reckless chances in this business,
so we had better be little cautious.
Iguess that editoris spindle -shanked,
goggle-eyed old rooster from the East
who'd drop dead at the sight of q
pistol, but still he may be a raiment
of different color. For all we know
he may turn loose and 60 to pumping
lead into us at the rate of about sixty
bullets minute. 1t will be safest to
kind of slip up on him and take him
unawares."
The others agreed to this PROPOSE
ton, and accordingly they rode quietly
into town, dismounted and tied their
horses, and noiselessly approached the
Eagle office. A light was shining
through n window of the little one.
story box building, and by one com
mon impulse the cowboys stole cau-
tiously forward TO this window with Il
view to peeping into the room to see
now the land lay.
On one side of the room they saw a
rickety old typest!nd containing q hall
dozen cases of type. On the other side
stood an old army press, while in the
center there was zinc-covered goods
box which answered in the place of an
imposing stone. Up at the end of the
room was small table ut which was
seated woman.
The woman's elbows rested ON the
table and her face lay between her
hands. She was sitting directly in
front of the window, apparently look
ing straight at it, so the cowboys had
u good, square view of her features.
They saw that she was young and
pretty, not much more than a child,
and very sad. There was deeply
troubled expression ON her face, and
once they saw her brush tears from her
eyes.
"The EDITORS wife or daughter,
reckon, one of the cowboys whispered
''Guess so," one of the others re-
piled; "and like as not the old whelp's
been abusing her."
''Im going in and talk to her," the
first speaker announced. "You chaps
wait outside till I come back"
ga good idea," another agreed.
"We want to see a little more into
this business before we do anything
rash" "
The cowboy walked around to the
door and entered the office. He passed
across the floor and stopped just be-
fore the little table at which the wom-
an was sitting. He took off his hat,
made an awkward bow, and said
"Good evening, lady. L hope / find
you we'll"
A shade of fear passed over the
woman's face and startled look came
to her eyes when she saw the man 8
huge pistols and noted his cowboy at
tire. Still, she answered calmly and
bravely enough:
Il am quite we'll, thank you. Is
there anything / can do for you?"
''Why, L don't know. L reckon
maybe I'd like to see the editor of this
paper"
II am the editor"
"Well, but 1 want to see the man
your father, or husband, or whoever
lie is.
''There is no man here. am all
alone"
"You don't mean that you are run
ming this paper all by yourself?"
"Yes, sir, except for the help of o
boy, who manages the press for me. "
The cowboy whistled, then stood
staring at the woman in amazement.
At last he ejaculated:
"Well, if that don't stump me! A
woman running q paper all alone,
with no men folks to help her Gee,
but it must be lots of hard work."
"It is, but l don't mind that. I'd
be willing to work night and day if
could just manage some waysto keep
the paper going"
"You're not figuring on stopping it,
are you?"
eyes. I'll have to stop it. 7 can't
ga enough money to buy any more
paper. My mother is sick and have
to buy medicine and things for her.
Poor mother! ! don't know how I
shall provide for you now."
The girls voice trembied and her
eyes filled with tears. The cowboy
looked on a moment, then paced rapid
ly two or three times across the room.
Finally he said:
"You wait here for me. I'll be
back in a few minutes.
He hurried out to his companions
who were waiting at the door. He
drew them to safe distance from the
Office and then told them all he had
discovered. They heard him to the
end.
$50 that woman" one of them said,
''wrote that piece about Ryan"
"She did"
''Then, If we kick up fuss with
anybody, it's got to he with her?"
at has,"
'In that case I guess we won't kick
up any fuss"
"Not if can help it. It's all right
enough to pile onto man and squelch
him, but it's different thing when it
comes to n poor, lone woman strug-
Cling bravely to support her sick
mother
"The paper is going to quit any
how" someone remarked, $50 it's all
right to let it alone. 1t can't do any
more damage"
The man who had come from the
room was silent and thoughtful for a
moment, then he said:
81 reckon the papers not going to