The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1888-10-19
A Romance In Real Life.
BY James Otis

BY James Otis
Robert Myron was the son of an
English tenant-farmer, who in the
year 1S4S found his family expenses
increasing SO much faster than his
income that it was absolutely nee
essary to decrease the former, since
the latter could not be made longer.
In the hope of being able to assist
his father in some way, Robert came
to this country, and, failing to find
employment near the metropolis,
walked fromtown to townuntil when
near Rochester, New York, he was
hired IS a farm labOrer by Judge
James +. Berry. During six years
young Myron worked industriously,
sending nearly all of his earnings to
his parents, and then came the sad
news that both father and mother
had died OF the same day. After re-
covering from this shock it was but
natural the young man should begin
to think of establishing a home for
himself, and quite as natural that
his love should go out to the daugh-
ter of his employer, who plainly
showed her preference for the young
man who had so devoted himself to
his parents. But Judge Berry, while
he recognized in Myron aninvaluable
farm laborer, had notthe same views
regarding him as a son-in-law that
Miss Bessie had, and the consequence
was that thelovers, finding it impos-
sible to change the fathers opinion,
resolved to elope, and build up for
themselves home in the far West.
In 1885, with but a few hundred
dollars and the judges curse, the
young couple were married and set
tied at Green Lake, Michigan, where,
at the beginning of the year 1862,
they were in reasonably prosperous
circumstances, with two children to
make glad their humble log cabin.
Their farm was situated several miles
from any settlement, and although
the Indians were rising against the
whites in many portions of the State,
neither Mr.. nor Mrs. Myron felt any
u~neasiness, because they believed
they had succeeded in establishing
the most friendly relations with such
of the "forest children" as they came
in contact with. Therefore they were
by no means alarmed when II day
five Indians stalked gravely into the
cabin, just as the monday meal was
served. 1t had ever been Mr.. Myron's
custom to invite such visitorsto par
take of food, and on this, as!on other
occasions, they readily accepted the
invitation; but greatly to the sur
prise and uneasiness of their host, in
stead of placingtheir rifles in one cor
ner of the room, as usual, they held
them between theirknees, the muzzles
of the weapons showing just above
the edge Of the table.
Mr.. Myron was too well versed in
Indian customs not to know that
such action on the part Of his guests
meant mischief. With the view of
showing them that he understood
the meaning of this breach ofhos-
pitality, and in the slight hope of in
timidating them, he ros from the
table, took from the rack on the wall
his rifle and fowling piece, and care
fully examined them to show they
We're loaded. Why the savages did
not attack him then is one of the in
e~Xplicable things in Indian warfare.
Instead of making any hostile
demonstrations, theystalked gravely
out of the house, disappearing be-
hind a ciump of bushes.
For the moment Myron believed he
had wronged his guests and that
they had taken umbrage at his
movements when their intentions
We're peaceful. Still holding his rifle
in his hand Myron stepped to the
open door for the purpose of ascer-
tanning whether his guests had really
departed. When the farmer appeared
on the threshold the report of a rife
was heard, and Myron fell, with a
dangerous but not necessarily fatal
wound in his side.
Women who live on the border,
where they are constantly menaced
by danger. learn early in life that they
must deny themselves Woman's privi-
lege of fainting. When Mr.. Myron
fell, his wife sprang to his defense
rather than assistance. Toclose and
barricade windows and doors was
but the work of a moment where
everything was prepared for
such occasions, and then the
heroic woman turned her at
tention to her husband and children.
The fathers wound bled but little,
and save to stanch the blood, the de-
voted wife could not aid him, except
by piling the bedding around him in
such a way that, in a sitting posture,
he could face the closed door. The
temporary safety of the children was
secured by fastening them in the eel
lar, where they would be beyond the
reach of any bullets their late visitors
might send, and after she had per-
fected their plan of defence she began
to assume the offensive.
By removing the mud that filed
the crevices OF the logs at the end of
the house loop-holes were formed,
and through these the husband and
wife began an assault upontheirfoes.
With his rifle Myron shot one of the
Indians, and at the same timehis wife
killed another with the fowling piece.