The Cooperstown courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., N.D.) 1902-1913, 1903-10-22

child asleep "a the crib bsside NJ. tn
little one awOk1s crying ont "a sudden
fsar. Az she turned 70 sootlke Asr Il!
thrust itself with quick, noiseless step
between her bed and the crib. She
felt through her soul the hortor OF the
unspoken threat, but she leaned toward
the child and quieted It. Then some
thing new and strong rose up within
her. and through the darkness she
looked full where she felt, It's face.
you shall never touch the child"
she said. Il viii NIL her Life 90 full oe
love and courage that there viii b no
room in It for you to come. You may
darken my life % you win, but the
child shall never know that you exist. -
It drew closer, and - she faced It's
nearing presence she knew that It's
face was distorted by . thousand pas
sions; but the child's hand lay in hers,
and though she trembled, she smiled q
tho dark.
Often the man she loved was called
from home, and through the long
night and stormy days Of that winds
cursed country she fought With 1T for
the child. When the boy came she had
double strength, and with the baby
she knew herself invincible. They
grew up happy and unafraid; for Il
terror threatened their childish hearts
1t vanished before loves magic touch.
Love filled their days and nights, and
ruled their world, and gave them wis
dom for an impregnable defense. Alb
sorbed IN this struggle the woman
fought her own fears no longer, and
thought of them only when she must.
Her consciousness Of It became TO-
cused in q determination to keep q
like consciousness out Of her children's
lives.
The years passed by. Never once
had her old desire been granted to
her-to see the vague terror take the
tangible shape Of danger before her
eyes, that she might face her fear and
find in its actual presence either the
freedom for which she longed or. the
death to which she had once been in
different.
But one morning when the man she
loved was away from home and the
children were at school she glanced
up from her sewing and saw two men
come in at the gate. Either Of them
might have been It made visible to the
eyes Of day, SO evil were their faces.
The old house was q detached one.
set In large yard, and there was no
one on the place at the moment ex-
cept herself and the housemaid. 40.
customed to forestalling the fears Of
others rather than to thinking Of her
own, she went herself to the door;
the maid, she knew, would be fright
ened. She opened the door little way,
and in answer to the younger mans
demand for money replied she had
none to give him. The man swore Q
great oath, which was echoed by his
companion. She had opened the door
such little way that they knew the
house was empty save for women.
I'VE will come in and see what you
have got" said the man, .'and whit we
want we will take" He set his aAoul-
der to the door.
A sudden rage rushed upon her and
swept her out beyond all knowledge Of
herself. She flung the door wide and
stepped up close to the man, her eyes
blazing into his. She spoke in . new
Voice.
81 will give you ten seconds 70 get
outside that gate," she said. '.Now go. =
They turned and fed. She stood and
watched them as they ran down the
walk, under the pickering shadows Of
!, the elms, her anger still hot within
her. Then she leaned against the door
way, trembling, for she caught sudden
/ " the sound Of q stealthy step. which
fed before the men, and knew that
three passed out at the gate. The
mems shoes clattered ON the brick
walk; but the sound, that rang to
heaven was the hurrying tread Of the
silent football, whose terror had filled
4 her life. She stood listening through
!, the clear sunshine until it ceased,
knowing that 1t ceased for all time.
Then she turned and went into the
house with the light Of freedom on
!; her face.-N. =. Independent.
| To the Letter. Z;
Il - - I u