San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-08-18
TIE DEFENSE.

Nehemiah Strong, a Jealous and faithful
Quaker, was smitten with the western
fever" some years SINCE and finally removed
to the regions where "squatter sovereignty"
was being experimental upon. But squatter
or any other sovereignty troubled Nehemiah
but little He was man true to his creed.
and wherever his lot might be cast, there
would he live in peace and quiet with his
fellow men. The proper location was soon
found, and when Nehemiah had made a
clearing and built a log house, he was mon
arch of all that 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
bad 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 common
purpose, rule a great number of more timid
or more respectable people, driving them
from their houses, or dealing with them as
they would.
Strong, Notwithstanding his blameless life
and gentle religion. did not long escape these
vutures of the west His home attracted the
notice of a desperate named Bob Bellows
who determined to possess it, inasmuch as it
would be easier than building house for
himself or perhaps driving away more de-
termined man Besides, the honest Quaker
had not forgotten wheat, potatoes, corn and
other provisions for a comfortable winter,
which season was now approaching, though
still quite distant.
Accordingly. one day, Bob Bellows. armed
to the teeth and looking especially ferocious,
rode up to the cabin and inquired for the
owner The Quaker CHANGED to be inside at
the moment and quietly answered the sum-
mons.
docs thee wish to see mer' he asked, gaz-
ing upon the intruder with some degree of
alarm, notwithstanding his peaceful nature.
"Wal, yes" grOwled the ruffian. 81
thought I'd ride over and see what in the old
boy you'd gone and set your house on MY
land fort That's all | wanted ter see We fer"
"Thee is mistaken" returned Nehemiah.
This land belongs solely to me, one Nehe-
miah Strong. thy humble servant"
you lie!" was the rejoinder; this is my
land, and now. as yer shanty is stuck on
here, jest in the place whar was goin' to put
my own, I'll be easy with yer, and say moth
in about the law if you'll just get out of here
and be beyond sight and hearin' to-morrer
morning What dye say to thatP'
verify, believe thee villain" returned
Nehemiah. finding that he was not to be i'm
mediately eaten up or run through. This is
my home, and the home of my family; yet
thee seek to turn me from it, and leave my
self and family to starve. Nay, l cannot
constrain myself to depart thus Thee has
no right nor title here to my knowledge. If
thee has produce it and will depart freely"
"Look We, you old robbern Kissed the des-
perado, II hev q claim here. | sarvayed
this land near ten years ago and made my
marks. If you have cut them down, Fll be
all the wuss for ye. I've plenty of witnesses
who know about it, and needn't tell thee
tbs bad scrape tew be guilty Of cuttin' away
yer neighbors' landmarks Now, shall be
here tomorrow mornin', and If ye know
when yer well off, 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 may have stated before. although it
NAV be quite as well to say here, that
Strong's family consisted of his wife and two
daughters, with a son, Mark, about IL years
of age. The daughters, hearty, buxom girls
of % and 20 years each, named respectively
Ruth and Naomi. were full of natural life
and decision, quite unlike what the daugh-
tiers of meek Quaker would naturally be-
come.
They, with the mother, middle aged gen.
tlewoman, who strove hard to live as peace
able as the tenets of her faith required, gath
cred about the husband and father. The
latter sank upon chair, seeming quite dis
couraged and disheartened by the event which
had just occurred
Verify, know not what course to pur-
sue," he mourned ~ can't afford to leave
this house and the growing crops smiling
upon us with promise of sustenance for the
winter fear this villain is rascal of utter
dye, who will not hesitate at bloodshed 1t
may be well to go, yet l must remain for a
time"
An anxious night was passed, and very
early the next morning all hands were astir.
The sisters had been engaged in consultation
during the night, and when they descended
from the loft Ruth drew her father aside
"What wilt thou do, father. in case those
bad men conner she asked
Verify, know not" be replied; az have
studied upon the matter all night, but my
mind is far from fixed. II they insist upon
it, suppose We shall b Obliged 70 dee; our