The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1877-11-02
saved ny LIEhtnInE.

saved by LIGhGnIng.
sit looks like q shower, don't
it, ReubenS' said 9 young, fair
looking matron, standing in the
doorway OF . cabin just as the
sun was dropping behind the tree
tops to the west, in one of the
froatier settlement of Minnesota.
"A young man, hardy and strong,
was coming up from the "clearing
doWn.by the river. with the ak he
had been welding all through the
day thrown over his shoulders.
These words from his wife salut-
ed his ears as he came near, and
caused him to turn his head and
glance away, to to the southwest,
where q great bank OF sable
clouds was piled high against the
evening sky.
Eyes, Ruth, il does look like
It." ne answered. 81 thought /
heard it thunder just before 1 left
work.
at looks as though it would be
Q heavy one" she said, a little
apprehensfvely, for to tell the
truth she was q little coWardly in
this respect.
To this,-her husband made no
reply, but playfully pushing her
aside from the door way, he en-
tered the cabin, and at once took
down his rife from the hooks
where it was hanging.
"What have you seen to shoot,
Reuben?" she said. ''Don't go
out again tonight. for supper is
waiting now"
81 am not going" he answered
quietly. 81 am only making sure
that my rife is in good order
but still 1 may have occasion to
use it before morning"
The young wife turned pale.
h"You don't mean to say that
the eavages are here AGAIN." she
asked.
"You may as well know the
truth at once, Ruth" said her hus-
band, looking her full in the face.
"There are redskins hanging about
here, and I'm afraid they mean US
mischief. I've seen no, less than
three at one time within an hour,
skulk along in the edge of the
wood. Their motions tell me
that we had better be on our
guard to night-were they friendly
they would have come openly to
me or to the cabin"
ooh, Reuben, what shall we do"
and her eyes sought the bed where
a rosy checked boy of some two
summers was lying fast asleep.
sseWe must do the best we can.
The cabin is stout and strong,
and I doubt their being able to
break in should they try it. But
you must have lots OF courage,
Ruth. Maybe it won't be needed.
and hope it won't. Now let US
make sure that the cabin is all
right, and then we will have that
supper which you say is waiting"
He spoke cheerfully, but could
not dispel the fears that filed her
heart, and made her face as pale
as death.
The heavy oaken shutters of
the two small windows were put
n place and made secure there,
and then the door was closed and
barred, and large stick of tim
Der that was kept for that purpose
was placed against it. When the
preparations had been completed
Reuben announced that he was
ready for his supper. This was
soon placed upon the table, and it
must be confessed that the danger
which hoYered over them did not
In the least diminish his appetite.
But Ruth could hardly swallow a
mouthful, and she won dered how
it was that her husband could.
She was thinking only of the
danger that menaced them. and
listening for the slightest sound
that came from without.
The darkness increased, AMI
tie sound OF distant thunder
broke upon their ears. Through
9 cAink in the shutter they saw
that the cloud in the south was fas
rising and spreading itself owe
the heavens, hasting on the fast
coming darkness.
!, 1--WE shall get a good shower,
said Reuben.
81 hope So" answered his wife
eff there IS it may keep the say
ages under cover of the forest to
night"
"Harkw said Reuben; "wha
: was thatr'
Both were silent, and holdini
their breath to listen. In a me
ment the sound was repeated
1t was a footsep without. Rut
trembled with apprehension. The
I another and another was heard.
The redskins were about th
e cabin.
S "They have come" cried Rutl
in a low tone.
eyes," said Reuben, "Hark! |,
: us see what they mean to do"
A minute later, and the dot
! was shaken violently. Then
4 savage without exclaimed in brol
d en- English:
Il sWhite man open door. Injir
e want to come in"
ri To this appeal Reuben made I
= answer. He had no idea of gran
= ing the request, and words l
knew would do no good. Agai
i the demand was made. But, /,
it before. no answer was returne,
. Then there came q few momen
2 Of silence on their part. II
a mutterings of the thunder we
nearer and deeper. The tempe
]. was fast coming. Suddenly the
lie came ao fearful 4 blow unOn fl