The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1880-01-03

l
a token," said young Lathrop.
80 he said to Sally as she brought a
pitcher of cider in and put it by the
'Squire's place:
sally, what would you do if you was
hing George of England?"
She looked at him only, and the others
smiled.
"sally," he continued, perhaps lit.
tie lrrltsted, would you 'troth yourself
to me if asked you2'
Not till you won me-" she answered
without seeming to be conscious of anv
sharpness in the reply.
"And how could / win you?" he per.
severed.
"By fighting ten red coats at oncen
Give me the chance and Pll 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 30 interesting and
made such laughter that they minded
not the lapse of time.
1t was getting so 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 Lathrop he was beyond
all power of making out the meaning of
1t, 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 doze, and let them
come and prison you and do worse for
the women? You may sit still if so be
it's your will, but I'll 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 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 a
moments notice, not only because Of the
whlteness, 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 fiintlocks for
walking sticks.
Tell me where are your earsW 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-coat Britishers firing?
They're coming this way. They'll arson
the houae IS live. See the light of the
flames. Where can be the borough
militia?"
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; will you stand
there like Tom Perkins lad at school
with ounces cap on? What will you
do? Will you go with us or viii you
hide under petticoatW
Young Lathrop hesitated not a min
ute.
"In truth, Sally Wages, you are
young woman of spirit. You'll rot
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 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 Continentals,
that the few lads who tried to stop them
on Ridgeheld Hill were of no more avail
than 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, Tim, to the
best of your knowledge?? asked the
squire: - 49,.
| 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
| Pll 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 | would do and will do.
Perhaps the darkness coming; that will
help us or | mistake. Now, father, go to
the great barn and take the three Ian
terms 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 muzzle
either. | will be back myself in the
space of FIVE minutes or Whereabouts"
Squire Scribner 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 in