News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1886-03-25
A STORY OF THE WEST.
WIVES AT NOON, WIDOWS AT sUNsET-A
STAND AGAINST THE APACHEs AT
NC GILPIN's.

It was June day in Arizona. At
Roberts's Ranch, on the Gila, there was
feeling of perfect peace and security
as the sun climbed high into the
heavens. Roberts was planting in field
half mile from the stout log cabin,
while his wife was busy with household
cares. There were horses and cattle in
an enclosure quarter of mile from
the house, and a pony, which was per-
mitted to ramble at will, cropped the
grass around the cabin.
Such was the situation when the wife
heard two or three rife shots and the
war whoops of Indians. She sprang to
the door to see that her husband was
making for the house at his best speed,
while three Indians followed him up and
fired as thev ran.
Geronimo's Apache devils had broken
loose and taken the war path.
The ranchman's wife understood at a
glance what was occurring. Her heart
gave one great throb, terrible weak
ness overcame her for an instant, and
then she seized the Winchester rife
from its hooks, grabbed the long barrel
led Navy" from it's holster, and ran
with all speed to meet her husband He
fell before they met, shot in the back !;
his left arm had been previously broken
by bullet.
said as she came up and kneeled beside
him.
''If there are only three we can beat
them off, she replied as she made ready
to open fire.
The Indians had halted within rife
shot to counsel Her first shot bored
one of them through and through, and
the other two retreated to broken
ground half mile away.
''rll carry you to the house and then
watch for them" she said, as they dis
appeared. Blood was pouring from his
wounds and oozing from his mouth, and
it was plain that he had been mortally
hit
"It's no use," he groaned. "Tve got
to die right here. In half an hour
there'l be fifty of 'em and they are sure
to capture you"
'Tll stay with you"
''Not another momentl Run to the
house, get all the cartridges, and then
mount the pony and ride to Gilpin's.
The upper trails clear"
fOh, George, can't leave you"
The revolver was under his hand. His
fingers clenched over the butt, and he
whispered,
"Mollie, kiss me-"
She bent over him with sob in her
throat, and his hand worked the revol-
yer around until the muzzle touched his
side. There was a smothered report,
and she sprang up to see his limbs stiff
en- in death. She did not scream out
she did not totter and faint. She i'm
printed kiss on the dead face, and as
she rose up her teeth were set hard and
her eyes had the glare of wounded
VOLTS. She ran to the house taking
rife and revolver with her, and in five
minutes was ga!loping toward Nc Gil.
pins, having neither saddle nor bride,
and holding fast to weapons and car
tridges. AS she left the ranch bullets
whistled about her head, and shouts of
vengeance came to her ears.
1t was just such June day at McGil-
pins five miles above. The sun beat
down with a warmth which called the
crickets from their nests in the grass,
and kept the wild bees humming their
satisfaction The ranchman was fashion
ing a new helve for his axe in the shade.
and his wife had the MONDAY meal
ready for the table Suddenly the old
man looked up, and next Instant he
was on his feet and shading his eyes
with his hand
'Jehosaphatl Quick, mother-fasten
the back door, down with the windows
and pull the shutters to. Roberts's wife
is coming up the trail with dozen In
juns after her. Hell has broke loose
again.
He seized his Winchester and ran
down the trail to coxer the approach of
the woman. Her pony seemed to under
stand that it was life or death, and was
straining every nerve. The Indians had
not followed her from the ranch, but
had come in on her from the Santa Cruz
River trail, and had kept her under fire
for the last two miles. AS soon as the
ranchman appeared the Indians, eleven
In number, drew rein.
"Whar's George3" asked McGilpin, as
the pony halted beside him.
"Deadp'
''And the bucks are in war paint. Go
inside, woman. It's no time for grief"
Owing to the river on one side and
thC WIZ ICHCc OH tHC OIucT, inc luulaUS
could not scatter at once. They must
approach the ranch under the ranch
mans fire, if at all He waited for them,
but they hesitated and held consul
tation. During this respite the women
made the house secure, filed a barrel
with water, and turned a number of
horses loose and forced them to cross
the river. While they were accomplish
ing these objects part of the Indians
were cutting the fences, and the rest
were in consultation. The ranchman
stood like a rock, his eyes noting the
slightest movement, his breath coming
faster, and feeling in his heart that
this was his last day on earth. A pillar
of black smoke told him that Roberts's
ranch was being destroyed to the west,
and another to the east betrayed the fate
of another neighbor.
When the Indians had cut the fences
to give them fair approach to the house,
warrior started up the trail with a
white handkerchief in his hand as a flag
of truce. Approaching within a revol-
yer shot, he halted and called out:
"Indians no hurt Indians want din
nerP'
The quick eye of the ranchman detected
two dismounted redskins lodging from
cover to cover to gain the rear of the