The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1903-10-23

child asleep in the crib beside her, the
little one awoke, crying out in sudden
fear. AS she turned to soothe her 1t
thrust itself with quick, noiseless step
between her bed and the crib. She
felt through her soul the horror 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 81 will fill her life so full of
love and courage that there will be no
room in it for you to come. You may
darken my life as you will, but the
child shall never know that you exist"
1t drew closer, and as 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 in
the dark.
Often the man she loved was called
from home, and through the long
night and stormy days of that wind
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 if
terror threatened their childish hearts
it vanished before loves magic touch.
Love filled their days and nights, and
ruled their world, and gave them wis
dom for an impregnable defense Abb
sorbed in this struggle the woman
fought her own fears no longer, and
thought of them only when she must.
Her consciousness of 1t became TO-
cused in a determination to keep
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 1t made visible to the
eyes of day, so evil were their faces.
The old house was detached one,
set in large yard, and there was no
one on the place at the moment ex-
cept herself and the houSemaid. Ac-
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
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.
1--WE will come in and see what you
have got" said the man, "and what we
want we will take" He set his shoul-
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 to get
outside that gate," she said. Now 60"
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
ly the sound of stealthy step, which
fled 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
her life. She stood listening through
the clear sunshine until it ceased,
knowing that it ceased Tor all time.
Then she turned and went into the
house with the light of freedom on
her face.-N. Y. Independent.