The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1909-09-03

,
Don't be afraid"
The door of Marcia's room had
opened suddenly, and she stood there
with a shawl thrown lightly around
her. The next instant she cried out
"Oh, it's David-my brother Davidw
The tramp of feet was heard out
side. The look of ama&emcnt on the
boys face gave place to one of ter
ror and Aunt Nance said quickly:
"Go in there with your sister. David"
A moment later six or seven rough
locking men filed into the cabin. Aunt
Nance knew them every one She
met them standing with her back to
the door Of the room David and his
sister had entered.
"He come in here. didn't he. Aunt
Nance?" said Joe Haskin, the leader
of the crowd. I'VE seen him, and we
want him. Now, didn't he come in
here"
Aunt Nance replied fearlessly: 81
don't tell lies, and | won't tell one now.
He did come in here, Joe Haskin He's
in here now. and, what's more, he's 60
in to stay in here!'
DO you know what him and another
feller done?"
Il neither know nor care" replied
Aunt Nance boldly, "but know this
you men amt his judges. Vengeance
don't belong to you. 1t belongs to
Him.
She pointed upward as she spoke,
and then she added: "You can't lay
your hands on that boy tonight. He's
in this room behind me, and you are
six or eight men to one woman, but
there's not one of you that'll lay your
hands on me to move me from this
door.
You wouldn't, Joe Haskin, when
YOU remember how l walked three
miles in the worst snowstorm we had
last winter to nurse you back to life
and strength when you was at deaths
door with pneumony.
You wouldn't, Hi Sanders, when |
had you brought right here and took
care of you myself when you had that
broken leg last fall.
You wouldn't lay hands on the wo-
man who closed your wife's eyes in
death less than year ago. Tom Lee
som. Every man of you has set at my
table ag'in and ag'in. with or without
money-it made no difference.
Touch me? Why, | don't believe
myself could keep you from usin that
rope you've got outside on the man
who'd lay rough hands on Aunt Nance
Afford"
mo, YOU couldn't said Joe Has
kin. You're right-wc'd make mnce-
meat of him! And if you're goin' to
stand fore that door and
"I am interrupted Aunt Nance,
"and there amt no other way into the
room"
She waved her hand lightly toward
the open door. Good night" she said
They went out into the darkness.
Before noon til" next day Joe HaSkin
rode up to Aunt Nance's cabin She
went to the door, and he did not dis
mount
"Wcll.' he said, IF things don't turn
out queer sometimes! We got after
the wrong fellow sure enough last
GiGht, You see, there's been Il gang of
"utthroatS and hoss thieves lurkin'
1bout on Taylor mountain. The boys
got tired Of 'cm, and last night they
took after couple Of the sncaks.
1T seems that this young fellow
told the truth when he said he didn't
IDlun@ to EN-. He was Wanderin'
along OH his way to Eagle cliff and
took refuge from thc storm with some
, TIA" gang.
"lhr guilty ones WIS caught this
mprnin' down in Deer gulch, and
th"yd the grace to say that the young
'F".iuW with 'cm didn't belong to their
GHn-. If you've got him in your cabin
Yt You sort o pulogizc to i'm for
The li,tlc Inconvenience we put i'm to
'aSt night and say that We'll do any
thing we can for him nOw't he's out
. bad company"
He was done with bad company
from that day forth. The promise he