The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1878-10-10
WINNING A WIFE.
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 heathen may be outlying on the
watch for scalps or captives."
mo, thank you. For month we've
been prisoners III 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 1878.
Less than one week before, Bo0nesbo.
rough had been surrounded by hun
dreds of bloodthirsty savages under
Blacklish and Captain Du Quesne.
Stubbornly resisted, the ShaWanese
lifted the siege and retrrated. 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 fire breathing rifles Of
tn besieged.
IIen-y Smith watched The young wO-
men until the neighborng forest shu.
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 q
bit of a coquette, and just now she
frowned on the suit Of the gallant Nir-
ginian. For nearly year Smith had
been paying her his court, and never
did miSchievous 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 Skill-riSing to
! the post of major. But james Midway
migrated to Kentucky, taking with him
his family. And six months later Ma
! jor Smith followed him, to renew his
| suit He became favorite with Dan
iel Boone, and during the great pion-
eer's frequent excursions, Smith was
Anne and Jessie stroled idly along
the bank of the beautiful river, pluck
ing flowers or 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.lett
far behind them.
Look, Anne-a cancel" suddenly
Led Jessie Moss, pointing to where
the stern of a bark canoe pI6truded
from a clump of bushes.
at belongs to one of the hunters, no
doubt. Come, it's early yet. Ham
mond's cabin is near,y opposite. Sup
| pose we surprise Lucy?'
But the current is so swift" de
INJURED Jessie.
"Nonsense I've not forgotten how
to paddle. Come, I'll be ferrywoman.
Step in. Careful-that's it. Now-of
we go."
Laughing merrily, Anne pushed the
| frail 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.
Pull, Anne-pull!' gasped Jessie.
| 1.-The Snag!''
Just below them the waters were
the time was quite hidden from view.
| The current was fast sweeping their
boat upon this obstacle. Fora moment
| it looked as though their efforts would
succeed, but then 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 eggsheIl, and with
cries of terror. the girls were cast into
| the water.
For a moment they struggled despe'
| rately, their shrieks half-stified by The
roaring waters. Then Anne rose; the
water scarce reached her waist. They
were upon sand bar that reached
nearly 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
Uy the other in her wet, clinging gar
ments. Testing over their adventure
they struggled thrOug the shallow Wa
ter, all unconscious Of the gloating gaze
fastened upon them from the bush
fringed shore.
"lf the Hammonds should not be al
home we'd be in pretty"
\ number of dusky, paint -bedaubed
figures sprang through the bushes, and
seized upon the girls. Their shrieks
were quickly stitled. Choked into sill
ence, half fainting, they sank helples:
into The arms of their captors. who I'M
mediately plunged into the forest.
r 1t was near sunset before the pro
J longed absence of the maidens excited
alarm at the settlement, Then. hi