Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1880-01-01

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sharpness in the reply.
"And how could / win your" he per-
severed.
"By fighting ten red coats at once"
"Give me the chance and III do it,"
Sally quilted the room for the nuts or
some such dessert, and young Lathrop
demanded his silver piece of the Squire.
But the old gentleman refused it, and
they had an argument about the merits
of the wager, that was 10 interesting and
made such laughter that they minded
not the lapse of time.
1t was getting 50 dusk that the forms,
but not the faces, were visible, and the
Squire was for lighting the candles,
when the kitchen door was thrown open.
"Don't you hear them?" said Sally
Wages But as long as he lived, Squire
Scribner insisted that it was not Sally
Wages who spoke, albeit he could not
deny that her body stood in the door
way, and that her eyes, even in the dusk
that the freight frightened, sparkled,
and her lips moved.
AS for young Lsthrop he was beyond
all power of making out the meaning of
it, so surprised was he; and surprised as
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.
"Will you be stupidT' she said; "will
you sit there with your pig and pie
driving you into a doze, and let them
come and prison you and do worse for
the women? You may sit still if 30 be
it's your will, but Pll fight them till
they kill me"
She went to the corner of the room,
and lesping upon chest that stood
there, reached up and took down mus
ket that hung up the wall. Amazed as
young Lathrop was at this action, it did
not fail to escape his notice that the arm
that she put up when she reached for
that musket was worth more than q
moments notice, not only because Of the
whiteness, but also because of the grace
full swell of it.
"What 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 flintlocks for
walking sticks.
Tell me where are your ears" Sally
answered, not yet dismounting from the
table, but pouring powder from the horn
into her hand and tremendous charge
of shot, she loaded the weapon and then
primed it. Then she put the butt upon
the table, and bracing herself Herewith
leaned over and opened the window.
Listen, now" she said. "Hear you
not the red-cost Britishers firingf
They're coming this way. They'll arson
the houne ~ live. See the light of the
flames. Where can be the borough
The reports of musketry we're 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 ard lac Squire seemed to
awaken to the business before them.
"And YOU" said Sally Wages, going
up to young Larhrop; "will you stand
there like Tom Perkins lad at school
with ounces cap on2 What will you
do? Will you go with US or will you
hide under petticoat|
Young Lsthrop hesitated not min
ute.
"In truth, Sally Wages, you are a
young woman of spirit. You'll not
find nae 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 a 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-
bing, and sad work they were making,
too, he added. For their coming was
so sudden, and so many of the young
men were away with the Continentsls,
that the few lads who tried to stop them
on Rdgetield 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"
Glow many are there, Tim, to the
best of your knowledgeTn asked the
squire.
"Not more thsn two dozen nor less
than q 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. III 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"