Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-11-28
that the freight frightened, sparkIed,

rs IOI young 14dtlIOp u0 was beyond
all power of making out the meaning oi
it, so surprised was he; and, surprised
rs he was, he was quick enough to see
that there was something about this
young woman's look and manner now
that forced admiration from him.
CIVIL you be stupid?" she said
"will yon sit there with your pig and
pie driving you into doze, and let them
come and prison you and do worse for
the women? You mr1l fight them till
they kill me-"
She went to the corner of the room.
and, leaping upon chest that stood
there, reached up and took down a
musket that hung upon the wall
Amazed as young Lathrop was at this
action, it did not escape his no.
tice that the arm that she put up when
she reached for that musket was worth
more than moments notice, not only
because of the whiteness, but also be-
cause of the graceful swell of it.
fWhat mean you, girl ?" said Grand.
father Scribner, whose mind went back
to the year when the settlers in these
parts were ready for surprises, and even
went to meeting with their fiint-locks
for walking-sticks.
TEL lie where are your ears ?" Sally
answered, not yet dismounting from the
table, but, pouring powder from the
horn into her hand and a tremendous
charge of shot, she loaded the weapon
and then primed it. Then she put the
butt upon the table, and, bracing her
self Herewith, leaned over and opened
the window.
Listen, now" she said. Clear you
not the red-coat Britishers firing !?
They're coming this way They'll arson
the house as I live. See the light of the
flames. Where can be the borough mi
litia?"
The reports of musketry were distinct,
and the light that came from over the
hills showed the track of the invaders.
Then it was that Grandfather Scribner
seized his gun and the Squire seemed
to awaken to the business before them.
"And you," said Sally Wages, going
up to young Lathrop; g will you stand
there like Tom Perkins lad at school
with q ounces cap on? What will you
do? Will you go with us, or will you
hide under petticoat ?"
Young Lathrop hesitated not minute.
In truth, Sally Wages, you are
young woman of spirit. You'll not find
me wanting"
Just then old Tim Wages, faint with
running and terror, came in, and, spite
of his anxiety, his first thought was of
his stomach, and he begged for mug of
flip, or cold, if they hadn't hot water
ready. So they gave him mighty mug
OF liquor that he made short ado with,
and then told them that a handful of
British had given the Continental coast
ers the slip, and were marching up from
the coast, shooting, burning and rob-
blng, and sad work of it they were MAX
ing, too, he added. For their coming
was SO sudden, and SO many of the
young men were away with the Cont
nertals, that the few lads who tried to
stop them on Ridgetield hill were OF no
more avail than a breath of wind.
''And they've heard Of your cattle
and rum, Squire Scribner, and it'll not
be two hours later before they are here"
Chow many are there, lin, to the
best Of your knowledge ?" asked the
Squire.
"Not more than two dozen nor less
than a score, Squire
But we are no match. There are
only four men, including you, Tim, who
are more likely to run than fight" said
the Squire.
"Not more than four. I'll venture I'll
give the red coats cause to think that
there are more than four, or twice four"
said Sally Wages.
"And what would you do. Sally?"
'This is what I would do, and will
do. Perceive the darkness coming that
will help us or mistake. Now, father,
go to the great barn and take the three
lanterns and light them. Mr.. Lathrop,
you light the two you will find on the
beam back of the kitchen oven, and,
Squire Scribner, if you have your heart
in it, prepare powder and shot, and suffer
grandfather to load the guns the while,
and put no rabbit shot in the muzzles,
eiuher. I will be back myself in the
space of five minutes or thereabouts.
Squire Scrlbner said long after that
it surprised him, as he thought it all
over, that he did not conjecture that this
stupid girl was out of her head, instead
VI 1O11OW1lS3 tIlS SOuiuudutiS
she gave them.
In five minutes, more or less, the form
OF q man appeared in the dining-room
with a gun in his hand, and so much oil
a stranger that the bewildered women
were in a great state of CONSERVATION,
and it was not until the man spoke, and
spoke with the voice of Sally Wages,
that confidence was restored.
Indeed, the form seemed that of a
man, because Miss Sally had upon her
head the cooked hat and on her body
the regimental coat that Grandfather
Scribner had worn in the French war,
twenty years back, and, as for the short
clothes and stockings, the mystery of
the arrangement by which Miss Sally
made herself appear from the knees
down like heavy-limbed young fellow
was never explained.
Give men of us" she said, and with
no such thought of the picturesque,
perhaps comical, picture she made as
fitted through the quick brain of young
Lathrop.
She led them out to the hill that
tanks the highway by which the British
must come, a matter of hundred rods
from the house. Then she commanded
her father To foctoD tho Hxo lon+oypc RI