The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-02-08
A Woman S Eye
For a Defensive
Position
BY SADIE oLcoTT.

My husband being away from home
a great deal and our house being In
the country. be proposed that | keep a
pistol within reach. told him that
than an enemy. but he said that quite
likely IL were cornered would sur
prise myself. He had been a soldier
in the Spanlsh-American war aud had
learned by experience that under the
excitement OF battle one forgets danger
He bought me a revolver, first show
ed me how II worked with empty
chambers. then filed them. We had
an old fashioned hatrack In the hall,
with little box on it for a hat brush.
place to keep the revolver. There was
a lid TO it with hinges. and the weapon
would be concealed there. If any one
came 10 the house with evil intent he
would come TO the door and | could
take up the revolver before opening
it. All Of which was very fine. but |
was sure that would never have the
nerve to shoot any one.
The thing remained 10 the box for
three years. never passed II without
a shudder. one day tramp came
along and asked for food. didn't like
his looks and would have told him 20
move on. but / was afraid of him. |
gave him something 10 eat and while
eating he was taking In the situation.
When be had finished the meal. which
Il was plain he didn't want. be arose
from the table and. instead of leaving,
walked upstairs.
was frightened out OF my wits. |
was willing that be should take every
thing In the house II he would only
let me alone. I heard him rummaging 1
upstairs and knew that be was help /
Ine himself to my valuahles. II did l
not take long for my mind to be turn 4
"a from fear 20 Indignation ~ the 4
mans appropriating my belongings. 4
There were some articles Of value
among them. but what excited my an
Ter was the thought that he would
AXE my engagement ring. which l had
eft on the bureau In my bedroom.
rom had given Il 20 me when he was
,cor. and II had cost very little money.
mt / priced il far beyond anything
nd
Listening 20 the man rummaging.
,ecame more and more indignant tin
q last ] got mad, not angry but mad
That's the only word 10 express my
ceilings
Then thought 4 bit TIE man
Fould come down the staircase after
skiing what b. wanted u occurred /
o me that with a revolver 10 my hand
would have a great advantage over
i'm ] lifted the I'd ~ the Box bot
rew back The pistol looked - dead
p Then . pat ms hand On Il and
1ok 81 out. holding Il fron me
A. that moment J heard the man 20
be- hnn absre and ] concluded that
were going to sare my prop
~ ] bad better be ~ aud doing
hs Thought II bis going away VITA
.y Engagement ring rut nerve into
- sud fNed my Hfteufion uu
Bough e d for ny rErpase-ou the
stolFer. but silu boidHg a0aF
'um me. rucke8 ~
Its nring room door wfs hung On
lch q vas that wher o. was aTen
az sfEua m fbs hnFis q maae uIfh
- wnu an1 thrDaah ~ spaes lsft
stpppr Hoaf rna usH ree rT tfsp strtr-
- snd - lHrceir rrrterrel rHn
ne tt.s NV8ur fp1n tgsk uu uns
an lsbnd ~ lrr-cf sef Fortress
id rrt fhe aurin ~ tls Frrairer
-onet - 1rsrinr ufer fhs u-sn
.rsszrrE 81 tiH bed 90 fhs s.EiF
rn~lr 9 wHs runG ta ftlrL hut fiae
rls ~ 1rr ~ ur ttiuzs - he'd tn
> 1Mnds HnH he trrur eFetses
re ms farast frst al q tsert p
re ftHu
zee Bust a-us fh1ss fffaEr g effsa
na rrrrr ~rs
lhs una stwred sns assfss sbaa