Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-08-11
PRESS, NEWPG aT NEWS. VA. SUNDAY AUGUSTA 1907
81
: Is a REAL HEROINE * y y
Ns @@GS&GG&S @@GGG@ @GG@&@s ~

his prey, just as cat steals within
cnsy jumping dstance of mousse
and could not move.
Three times he stole along and
| ila,tcnc.l his body for fatal spring.
and three times our darling was spa.
| ed. opened my lips 10 cry out. but
they gave no sound. My whole heart
went out In one yoicoloss. desperate
prayer Tor littlo James life.
THAT aeoni2cd prayer was v,r,
| strnngcly answered. my dcars. II was
then that was enabled to do that
which had never imagined | ever
could do; went silcntly AMI swiftly
across tho floor ana took prandrath.
er's old British muskot from it's pegs.
II rested II carefully upon tho sill
of tho open window toward the nan.
thor. and raised II until II was aimcl
directly between the brutc's cleaning
eyes
Il was not myself as sighted along
ihat polished barrel SO cody that /
wondered how my father kent the
steel lock from getting dull ana rus.
". Every nerve was like iron. and |
felt MS would feel when under the
mesmerism OF ano;hcr's viii.
"The great. tawny brute gidcd ror.
ward again and paused; | rc;t that 4:
was the last time that the next In.
stant he would leap upon orr lari
ing.
1 changed my aim hastily ana fir.
cd-then skncw nothing more for
some time. The old nusket never
WAS put back upon the pcgs: IL YOU
ike, | will show YOU the pieces OF 1t
sometimes, my dcars.
ut was never restored To It's Mace
OF honor, for that charge lairst Il. and
nearly shared the fate of the nan.
Their; here grandmother Ruth paused
with a sweet smile, ana lifted the
SOFT white hair from her forehead.
showing us Il long, white scar hut
Killed the savage brute. children.
The bullet went through one cleaning
eye and lodged In his cruel brain.
lie made the spring but he mis-.
calculated his distance. lie Went d,.
rectly over the little James head.
! leaving her unframed, AMI was dead
when he struck the ground.
Thc boys came running from tho
loft with startled bouts when thoy
| heard the report of The old Britisl,
musket, and paused In amnzcmrnt at
| the sight Cf that motionloss form
little Jane screamed and sobbcd at
the danger which she had escaped.
| ana which her childish imagination
! could not cXaggerate.
The girls dashed water in my face.
wildly imploring me To speak Just
once moro and tell them If was
dead
Edward took the little birch canoe
ana started for father ana mother,
padding so excitedly that the little
craft made dangerous progress.
Joseph started for mcc's folks
at n breakncck speed. shouting that
was killed. and John was divided i'm
! his anxiety for me ana his admiring
awe of the grent, motionlcss figure
by tho tree,
My uncle and aunt soon came.
followed closely by my frightened.
!et cufious.consins learned all OF
this aftcrward; | had not recovered
consciousness when they came
was sitting by the window when
inther and mother came In sight.
the new nclghbor was helping him
pole the boat long. ana my mother
sat in the bow very calm but very
pale. watched them in n darcy
way while they landed ana came hur-
riedly up the path felt rather
weak and ircmbly. and had n brond
Dandaee around my head.
u did not break down and cry
when my stern, strong father. with
thankful tears streaming down Ills
brown checks. took me into his arms
and blessed me. adding In Il solemn
voice: You know now, daughter
huth. that even Il coward can be
brave In the faithful discharge of du.
W You understand mo at last. my
dear child
My mother sat near us hugging
litiIe Jane as If she could never let
her so again. while uncle and aunt
and the children were wondering.
CRYING laughing and talking In II
strange chorus.
i nave never touched gun since
that day think that never shall.
know that stronger hand than
nine aimed that old msket. n higher
power sent that bullet crashing npon
It's GRAND of death and deliverance.
! know that | never could have done
such deed by my own strength
never my dears!"
But we. who have not orr uear
grandmother's unqucstioning faith.
VIII ever think of her proudly ms n
real heroine. and not rs the coward
which she would have us remember.
baltimore News.
'----<s~---a--
The Girl-Thcre is a cave in South
America whCrp tbo oir Il, .o ,,-..t.,.