The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1877-05-19
IN A MOMENT OF PERIL.

1t was most benighted pIace-quite
the end of the world" The nearest
lpg-hut was five miles away, and the
nearest settlement-the Old Red Ranch,
as it was called-thirty. The Forest
family had pitched upon it quite by ac-
cident, when they had migrated from the
old country ten years before. Mr.
Forest had purchased vast tract of I'M
cultivated land on the Red river, and
had settled there, like the patriarchs of
old, with his wife and children, his
men servants and maid servants his
focks and herds and everything that was
his.
Since then everything had prospered
with him. Wide ranges of prairie, mag
nificsnt sweeps of forest and wood, green
hills and dales, belonged to him. He
was literally.and truly monarch of all he
surveyed. His family consisted of his
wife, three grown up sons, and one
daughter. Nancie a sweet, mischievous,
dark-eyed damsel, aged eighteen, whose
capacities for flirting and mischief were
as fully developed as any town bellies.
One would not have imagined that there
was much scope for these special accom-
plishments in the wilds of Texas; but
there was not young fellow within fifty
miles of Forest Hill who was not in love
with Miss Nancie's bedur ye,tr, and not
one but would have ridden twice the
distance for kind word or sign of favor
from the somewhat capricious but always
charming young beauty.
The Observation-Disclosures relatives of
the Forests-were the owners of the Red
Ranch settlement, place one degree
more civilized than Forest Hill, mas
much as il boosted one shop and post
office. Young Fred Northcote, the
eldest son, was one of Miss Nancie's most
devoted slaves, and as such, was tyran-
nized over quite numerically. The
young fellow was always finding his way
over to Forest. Hill on some pretext OF
other. He had spoken his wishes plainly
enough long before, but Miss Nancy wa.
tiirt. She would not say " Yes" but
she would not say "No;" and mean
while Fred was kept i'll suspense, chatting
and impatient enough, and yet bounC
hand and foot to his willful, charming
lady love, and perhaps, man like, loving
her all the more for her caprice
1t was brilliant morning in April
summer weather in the far west, the SUI
already blazing down fiercely and prom
ising Il tropical MONDAY.
Mr.. Forest ard Fred Northcote, whc
had been spending a day or two a
Forest Hill, were standing together be
fore the picturesque porch of the Ions
farmhouse. Fred was a brown-faced
blue-eyed young fellow, strong anc
athletic He looked very handsome il
his careless backwoods costume of knick.
erbockers and CATERS, stripped blue and
white shirt, light loose jacket, and
broad brimmed hat shadowing his manly
frank face, with its soft mustache and
bright keen eyes. 4 black horse of great
beauty, deep-chested, strong limbed, wa.
standing beside him, paving the ground
and tossing his handsome head under his
masters earessing hand Hotspur wa.
an English horse, almost thoroughbred
For nifty miles round there was not hi
equal for. speed or endurance, nor. il
Freds opinion, for beauty either. Mr.
Forest was speaking.
hear the prairie has been on fir,
away by the North Forks. Mind YOU d,
not get caught. The wind sets riqb
from there, and it is just the weather fo
fires"
I" No fear" laughed the young fellow
a he put one foot in the stirrup; Nv
run many race with 3 prairie fire befor
now. Goodbye, sir"
Cousin Fred, | want to go to the Re
Ranch; YOU must wait for men' cried
pretty, imperious voice, just as Fred
horse had made a step forward, and a tall
slight girl came running down the veran
da steps, her nut brown hair shining Xix,
FURNISHED gold in the sunlight, brigh
color III her fair arch face Fred wa
down instantly, his face assuming an ex
preston of surprise. Not half an hour
before he and Nancy had had high words,
and that she should voluntarily seek his
escort now was somewhat unaccountable.
But most of Miss Nancie's caprices were
unaccountable.