The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1878-09-19
WINNING A WIFE.
BY JOS. E. BADGER, JR.

BY JOS. E. BADGER, JR.
''You had better allow me to accom-
pany you, Anne. The scouts report
fresh sign in the neighbOrhoOd. Some
of the heather may be outlying on the
watch for scalps or caphves."
''No, thank you. For a month we've
been prisoners in the borough; to-day
we will breathe the air of freedom,
though Simon Girty himself be lurking
around. Come, jessie" and laughing
merrily at the borderers's shadOwed
countenance, the two maiden's hasten
ed away from the gate.
1t was late in the summer Of 177S.
Less than one week before, BOOnesbo-
rough had been surrounded by hum
dreds Of bloodthirsty savages under
Blackfsh and Captain DU Quesne.
StubbornIy resisted, The Shawanese
lifted the siege and Tetrsated. Yet
what was more likely than that some
savages might sill be lowering near,
hoping to partly avenge the death Of
their two score comrades whose life
ended before the fre-breathing rifles Of
the besieged.
Henry Smith watched The young wO-
men until the neighboring forest shut
them from his view; then he turned
away with sigh. Had his love been
less strong he might have followed
them, and thus saved much toll and
suffering. But Anne MedWay was a
bit of a cOquette, and just now she
frowned on the suit Of the gallant Vir-
ginian. For nearly year Smith had
been paying her his court, and never
did nischievous maiden more. assidu-
Ously.exert her power than Anne, In
her hands Smith was a toy. Yet. in
his native State, he had gained name
for daring courage and sllill-Tising 10
the post Of major. But james Midway
migrated to Kentucky, taking with him
his family. And six months later Ma
iOr Smith followed him, to renew his
suit. lie became a fayOrite with Dan
iel Boone, and during the great piOn-
eer's frequent excursions, Smith was
left in charge Of the settlement.
Anne and Jessie stTOlled idly along
the bank of the beautiful river, pluck
ing flowers OF casting sticks and bits of
bark into the rapid current, acting like
children just freed from school. The
warning words Of the young ranger
were forgOtten-the settlement was.lelt
far behind them.
"LOOk, Anne-a cancel" suddenly
cried Jessie Moss, pointing to where
the stern Of a bark canoe prOtruded
from a clump Of bushes.
''It belongs to one Of the hunters, no
doubt. Come, 'tis early yet. Ham
mond's cabin is nearly opposite. Sup
pose we surprise Lucy?"
''But the current is so swift" de-
INJURED Jessie.
"NonsenseI I've not forgotten how
to paddle. Come, I'n be ferrywomaD.
Step in. Careful-that's it. NOW-Of
we gol"
Laughing merrily, Anne pushed the
fraiI craft from shore, and seized the
paddle. But she had underestimated
the force Of the current. Tie bark
danced restlessly, and Anne found it
hard to manage. Twice the canoe
whirled quite around, but as often re-
sumed its course, for now, fairly alarm
ed, the maidens piled their paddles
with all their strength and skill.
"PuH, Anne-pUll!'' gasped Jessie.
1.-The snag!"
Just below them the waters were
broken by a Jagged sawyer, that half
the time was quite hidden from view.
The current was fast sweeping their
boat upon this obstacle. FOramOment
it looked rs though their efforts would
succeed, but then a paddle broke, al
most casting Anne overheard.
The canoe Whirled around, dancing
uneasily. Then the swift current
dashed it upon the snag. The bark
gave way like an eggshel, and with
cries Of terror, the girls were cast into
The water.
For a moment they struggled despe-
ratelv. their shrieks half-stifled bv the
roaring waters. Then Anne rose; the
water scarce reached her waist. They
were upon a sand bar that reached
nearly a third Of the way across the
river. As this fact became plain, the
terror of the girls changed to mirth;
and there they stood, each laughing
gleefully at the ludicrOus figure made
10y the other in her wet, Clinging gar
ments Jesting over their adventure,
they struggled through the shallow wa
ter, all unconscious Of the glOating gaze
fastened upon them from the BUSH
Cringed shore.
"If the HammOnds should not be at
home we'd be in a pretty"
a number of dusky, paint-bedaubed
figures sprang through tie bushes, and
seized upon the girls. Their shrieks
were quickly stiied. Choked into sill
ence, half-fainting, they sank helpless
into the arms Of their captors, who i'm
mediately plunged into the forest.
1t was near sunset before the pro-
longed absence Of the maidens excited
alarm at the settlement. Then, his
heart beating wildly, Smith took up the
trail and followed it until lost by the
water. The canoe had left its trace
the truth was easy read. Ten minutes
later the trail-hunters were searching
the opposite shore, and then the terri
bic truth was known.
Tie moist sand still retained The i'm
prints Of the maidens' feet-but beside
them were others, deeper, brOader-the