Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1886-04-22
THE DEFENCE.
Rochester Courier.

western fever, some years since, and
finally removed TO the regions where
''squatter sovereignty" was being ex.
perinented upon. But squatter, OF
any other sovereignty troubled Nehe-
miah but little. He was man true
TO hrs creed, and wherever his lot
might be cast, there would he live in
peace and quiet with his fellowmen,
The proper location was soon found,
and when Nehemiah had made clear.
ing and built a log house, hewas mon.
arch OF all he surveyed and staked
But Strong was not allowed long to
remain in peaceable possession.
Bolder and more evil men lived
in these western regions than he had
ever before met, and in the absence Of
any very positive or very available
law, they did not hesitate to take the
management OF affairs into their own
hands. A few reckless men could thus,
by combining for a common purpose,
rule great number OF more tinid or
respectable people, driving them from
their houses, or dealing with them as
= they world
Strong, notwithstanding his blame
less life and gentle religion, did not
long escape these yultures of the
West. His home attracted the
notice OF a desperado named Bob Eel
lows. who determined to possess it
inasmuch as that would be easier than
building a house for himself, or per
bars driving away a more determined
.snau Besides, the honest Quaker had
pot1orgottea wheat, potatoes, corn
: and other provisions for comfort
s able winter, which season was now
S approaching, though still quite dis
tant
Accordingly, one day Bob Fellows
armed TO the teeth, and looking
especially feroeious, rode up to the
cabin and inquired for the owner. The
Quaker CHANGED to be inside at the
moment, and quietly answered the
summons.
s-Does thee wish to see me2" be
asked gazing upon the Intruder with
some degree OF alarm, notwithstand-
sng his peaceful nature.
tttWal, yes,s growled the ruffian.
thought I'd ride over and see what in
the old boy you gone and set your
house an my land fort That's all |
wanted to see We fer. y
Thee is mistaken. returned Nehe-
n,iah This land belongs solely to me,
one Nehemiah Strong, thy humble SER
want,
slou lie,' was the rejoinder," this
Is my land, and now, as yer shanty is
stuck on here. just in the place whar |
was soiu' to put my own, III be easy
with yer, and say nothin' about the
law, if We II lest get out OF here and be
beyond sight and hearin' tomorrow
mornin'. What dye say to that?n
s.yeeily, believe thee n william re-
turned Nehemiah, finding that he was
not immediately to be eaten up or
run through .9This is my home, and
! the home of my family; yet thee seeks
10 turn me from it, and leave myself
/ and family TO starve, nay | cannot
constrain myself todepart thus. Thee
has no right rtitle here, to my knowl-
edge If thee has, produce it, and /
viii depart freely"
Look We. you old robberl" Kissed
the desperate, II hev a claim here. /
surveyed this land near ten years age,
and made my marks. Ifyou hey cut
them down, it'll be all the wuss for
you. I've. plenty of witnesses who
know about it, and needn't tell ye
It's a bad scrape to beguilty ofcuttin'
away yer neighbor' landmarks. Now,
/ shall be here to morrow mornin' and
II yer know when yer well of, you'd
better not be here at the same time.
With this unmistakable threat the
outlaw turned and rode away, leaving
the Quaker in no enviable frame OF
mind
We might have stated before, al
though it may be quite as well to say
here, that Strong's family consisted OF
his wife and two daughters, with ia
son Mark, about twelve years of age.
The daughters, hearty, buxom girls OF
twenty-five and twenty years each,
named respectively Ruth and Naomi,
were full OF natural life and decision,
quite unlike what the daughters of a
meek Quaker would naturally become.
They,with the mother middle-aged
gentles,oman, who strove hard to live
as peaceable as the tenets of her faith
required. gathered about the husband
and father The latter sank upon q
chair, seemingly quite discouraged and
disheartened by the event which had
had Just occurred,
Verify, ] know not heproper course
TO pursue" he moaned. Il can't al
ford 10 leave this. house and the grow
ing crops smiling upon us with prom
lse OF sus. enance for the winter. i
fear this william is rascal of utter
dye, who will not hesitate at blood
shed. Ii may be well to 90, yet Unjust
remain for n time.
An anxious night was passed, and
very early the next morning all hands
were astir. The sisters had been en-
gagged in consultation during the night,
and when they descended from the loft,
Ruth drew her father aside.
Mhat wilt thou do, father, in case
those bad men conner" she asked
verify, know not, he replied, 81
have studied upon the matter all
Unights but my mind is far from fixed.
II they insist upon ii, Isuppose we
Fhall be Obliged TO flee; our religion
< x4 ~ lot ttAAON us W li5nt WIN Ssiho
weapons"
Let US manage that, father" the
girl insisted Truly we cannot fight,
+ .or We have no worldly weapons, but
nuen think, IL we arelrot sadly mis-
taken, We can induce these outlaws to
b then ownway"
III u pray that thou mayest, my
laughter" the father returned,
"a though know not how women can
pessuade such fearful beings. -
But thou wilt leave the matter to
Naomi and myself il they Gomez"
Aes, daughter, was the reluctant
assent, the can have thy way; but.
: pray thee do nothing rashly,
The maiden went her way well salts
'efi, and ina short time had a yigor-
PMS Kettle over the FIRE containing q
small quantity OF water. When this
sas brought to a bou-piore was add
u until the kettle was nearly full.
Surely, Ruth, thou dost notintepd
70 wash to-day" the mother remark
eu, seeing these preparations
Never mind. mother" was the sig
Plneant reply. Naomi and / may
Feedto do q little washing, but / shall
pot distnrh thee"
The young ladies were quite accns-
2med 20 have their own way, 50 no
enluf ives made, although az attack
ON Sutiaws was every moment ex-
eeted
The .snornsng meal was asten with
ototional fear, and almost before the
ADies had been cleared, Bob Fellows,
krofApanied by FIVE or six rascals, like