Nebraska advertiser., 1863-09-19


telling what they did do under just such
circumstances, we will proceed to state
the facts that we wish to make known.
As one means of protection, and also
to destroy any game, troublesome or
otherwise, that might chance in their
way, loaded rife was always kept IN
the house. and this weapon both of the
sisters had learned to handle with nearly
as much skill as the master of the dwell
ing himself. In order, too, that there
might never be any lack of ammunition,
Parker, before enlisting for the war, had
purchased keg of pJwder in the city,
and stored 1t in the cellar, in little cell
prepared expressly for it, where it was
kept perfectly dry, and with little or no
danger to the inmates.
Now, one dark night at late hour
the sisters were aroused from their sleep
by rapid succession of laundering blows
upon one of the outer doors of their
dwelling, and they also heard several
gruf voices ripping out the most blasphe-
nous oaths and demanding instant admit
tance.
Sally" said Mrs. Parker, starting up
IN bed, "it's them cutthroats and robbers,
come to try their hand on u.s."
"Justso, Nancy" replied Miss Price,
springing out of bed and hurrying on
some of her clothes, land you know what
we always said we'd do in case they did
come"
"It's awful though, aint it 2" returned
the other, in a tone of considerable
alarm and dismay, as she FASTENED to
follow the example of her sister. "Oh.
my poor dear children if we should
fail, what will become of them ?''
"Die, s'pose, like we will" )" said the
maiden aunt. "But it won't doc to fool
away any time in talklng-we've got to
act-and that, TOO, before. the scoundrels
get in. I'll go and speak 'em fair, and
keep 'em from breaking in if / can,
whilst you run and get the powder"
will we need light !'' asked Mrs.
Parker.
"Yes, but I'll tend to that; you won't
want any to get the powder with, cause
it amt ourselves we want TO blow up"
With this both hurried out of their
bed room into a large apartment, which
occupied nearly the whole of the front
side of the dwelling, and was used, as is
customary in farm houses, as a sitting
room, dining-room and kitchen. From
this apartment door led outside, another
into the cellar, and third into a wing of
small dimensions, which was much newer
than the main building. and was princi-
pally used as kind of workshop and
store room.
''Who's there, and what do you want o.
screamed out Miss Price, as soon as she
reached the kitchen, while her sister
hurried down the cellar stairs to get the
powder.
"Open the door, you angel, and we ii
tell you" was answered from the out
side, accompanied with a laugh that was
neither merry nor musical.
"Well, you ought to tell US who you
are and what you want before we open
the door, cause we're only two lone
women, that don't like to let everybody
in at this time of night" rejoined Miss
Price, as she busted herself In lighting
candle.
"Oh, we're real gentlemen, we is
just the kind to suit two sech ladies as
you," said the same voice. "Come, be
quick now. will you? cause we're git
ting tired of waiting, and some on US
might take notion TO slave the door In.
dye see 2"
BY this time Mrs, Parker had reap
peared, with the keg of powder in her
arms, and, lighted and directed by her
sister, whose sharp features expressed a
desperate determination, she FASTENED to
place it in the shop-room, about half way
between the door opening from the main
building into it and another that led to
the party outside. Mss Price then took
down the loaded rife from the hooks on
which it resred, and, having reprimed it
from horn, fastened to set the candle
on, the floor, little beyond the keg of
powder, so that the light shone full upon
it.
"Oh, my poor children? God help us
all 20 said Mrs. Parker, in low, agita-
ted tone.
at will all depend upon one single
shot, Nancy" returned her sister, with
compressed lips and an unquailing eye,
as she placed a chair in the doorway,
between the larger and smaller buildings,
for her rifle to rest on while.she sighted
it. 81 don't hardly 'spect III live through
it, whether our plan succeeds or not, +"
she added, solemnly $50 just kiss me
goodbye. Nancy"
The sisters now embr aced, Mrs. Par
ker giving way to tears and sobs, but
Miss Price remaining firm and outwardly
composed.
There, Nancy" pursued the maiden
sister, as If she were giving directions
about some of the ordinary affairs of
life, "we're as ready now as we can be,
| 'spose-so just run and shove back the
bolts of the shop door, but don't make any
noise about it, and then hurry into the
bedroom, to your children, and pray for
all of Us. If God is pleased to smile
upon all our hopes, you and they most
likely will be saved, and my poor life aint
much matter one way or t'other."
"Oh, Sally" sobbed Mrs. Parker,
chow can | see you give yourself up to
die for mo and nv cb;ldron az