The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1909-08-26

She rode on horseback down into the
grassy gulches or far up to the noun.
tain SUBMITS, where the snow lay in
little patches throughout all the sum.
mer days. Soon the color came to her
cheeks. Her thin shape grew rounder
and fuller.
The night of the 10th of Au-
| gust was one long remembered by
the jewellers on that mountain side
and by those in the gulch below. They
referred to it long afterward as 1.-THE
time of the big storm"
At o o'clock the wind abated its
fury. At 10 it had died away so that
no sound was heard but the pouring Of
the rain. Marcia and Kate Dooley
went 10 bed.
1t was ii o'clock when Aunt Nance,
rising to go to bed, stopped suddenly,
threw up her head and listened.
The rain was falling softly now, and
high above it's gentle sound she heard
a voice shrek out as If in mortal
terror. Then she heard mems voices
shouting wildly.
"What in the name of wonder is 60
in on up there on Taylor mountain
at this time of night?" she asked her
self as she hurried to a door and look
ed out into the darkness.
"Dear. dearw she said, with more
of irrtati than of fear in her voice.
IL wonder when this country's ever
goin' to get civilized so folks III live as
If they was Christians! There's mis-
| sof to- 7
Taylor mountain boys whsperin' to-
gether and lookin' savage when they
were down here to dinner today. I've
a notion to Who's that?"
The rear door of the room had open
ed suddenly and been closed.
Aunt Nance turned quickly. Before
her. his back to the door, his hands
spread out upon it as if he would hold
it against all resistance, stood hatless
and coatless young man. his clothes
drenched and tattered, his face ashen
pale, his eyes wild and staring, while
his slender form quivered with fear.
'Oh. please come in and shut that
door" he cried. stretching out one
hand imploringly. They're after me-
those men are! Can't you hide me-
| haven't done what they say ] have
Hide me! Hide mel"
Aunt Nance slowly closed the door
but seemed to hesitate.
"Ma'am." said the young man, eve
been wild for long time, but ! am
innocent of this wrong, and if you'll
help save me ! will live right life
, from this moment. I'll go back home
tomorrow-back to New Hampshire!"
"New Hampshire" Aunt Nance
: caught eagerly at the words.
"Are you from New HampshlreT
she asked slowly.
Eyes. yes. Oh, are they coming?'
"From what town." she asked eager
ly.
"The town of Rockingham"
"Now tell me your name, quick"
"David-David Merrick."
, She took his wet cheeks between her
hands and drew his face down to hers
, while she kissed him soothingly.
81 thought SOL thought So" she
: said. with her arms around his neck
"You've the Doolittle eyes, David
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 Davidr
, The tramp Of feet was heard out
, side. The look of amazement 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
looking 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
, vister had entered.
HE come in here, didn't he, Aunt
Nance?" said Joe Haskin, the leader
of the crowd. 1--WE 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
in here now, and, what's more, he's go
. in to stay in here"
"Do you know what him and another
Teller 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 thatll 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 wifes 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
rI.Af1 10 H. l.