Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1878-12-25
WINNING A WIFE.

Cuihlaiy ySu, ~NHN'
report fresh sign in the noighbor-
hood. Some of the heathens may
be out laying on the watch foi
scalps or captives."
"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 mer-
riIy at the borderers' Swallowed
countenance, the two maidens
fastened away from the gate.
It was late in the summer OF
177S. Less than one week before,
Booneborourg had been surrounded
by hundreds of bloodthirsty saw
ages under Blackfish and CAPTAIN
Du Quesne. Stubbornly resisted,
the Shawanese lifted the siege and
retreated. Yet what was more
likely than some savage might still
be lowering near, hoping to part
" avenge the death of their two
score comrades whose lives ended
before the fire-breathing rifles Of
the besieged.
Henry Smith watched the young
women until the neighboring forest
shut them from his view; then he
turned away with a sigh. Had his
love been less strong he might have
followed them, and thus saved
much toll and suffering. But Anne
Midway was bit of coquette,
and just now she frowned on the
suit of the gallant Nirginian. For
nearly a year Smith had been pay
ing her his court, and never did
a mischievious maiden more as
siduously exert her power than
Anne. In her hands Smith was
toy. Yet, in his native State, he
had gained a name for his daring
courage and skill-rising to the
post of major. But James Med
way emigrated TO Kentucky, taking
with him his family. And six
months later Major Smith followed
him, TO renew his suit. He became
a favorite with Daniel Boone, and
during the great pioneers frequent
excursions, Smith was left in
charge of the settlement.
Anne and Jessie strolled idly
along the bank of the beautiful
river, plucking flowers or casting
sticks and bits of bark into the
rapid current, acting like children
Just freed from school. The warn
ing words of the young ranger
were forgotten-the settlement was
left far behind them.
"Look, Anne-a canoe! sudden
ly cried Jessie Moss, pointing to
where the stern of a bark canoe
protruded from clump of bushes.
at belongs to one of the hunt
ers, no boubt. Come, It's early yet.
Hammond's cabin is nearly op-
posite. Suppose we surprise
Lucy |"
"But the current is so swift" de-
INJURED Jessie.
"Nonsense I've not forgotten
how to paddle. Come, III be ferry
woman. Step in. Careful-that's
1t. Now off we oY'
Laughing merrily, Anne pushed
the frail craft from shore, and seiz-
ed the paddle. But she had unde-
restimated the force of the current.
The bark danced restlessly, and
Anne found it hard to manage.
Twice the canoe whirled quite
around, but as often resumed its
course, for now, fairly alarmed, the
maidens piled their paddles with
all their strength and skill.
"Pull, Annie-pull y gasped
Jessie. "The snag!"
Just below them the waters were
broken by jagged sawyer, that
half the time was quite hidden
from view. The current was fast
sweeping their boat upon this OBJ
stacle. For a moment it looked as
though their efforts would succeed,
but then a paddle broke, almost
casting Anne overheard.
The canoe whirled around, dane
ing uneasily. Then the swift cur
rent dashed it upon the snag. The
bark gave way like an eggshell,
and with cries of terror the girls
were cast into the water.
For moment they struggled
desperately, their shrieks half
stihed by the roaring waters. Then
Anne arose the water scarcely
reached to her waist. They were
upon a sand bar that reached near
w across the river. AS this fact
became plain, the terror Of the
girls changed to mirth and there
they stood, each laughing at the
ludicrous figure made by the other
in her wet, clinging garments.
Testing over their adventure, they
struggled through the shollow wa
ter. all unconscious of the gloating
gaze fastened upon them from the
bush. fringed shore.
aft the Hammonds should not
be at home we'd be in pretty"
A number of dusky, paint-be-
dsnbed figures spraug through the
bushes. and seized the girls. Their
sbrieks were quickly stified.
CboJxed into silence, half-fainting,
they sank helpless into the arms OF
their captors, who Immediately
i~AeusI.s. - -