Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1891-07-30

| ting along under cover Of the garden
wall There. nqSs, go and pluck that
fine fellow, my beauty, and don't be
long about it, or we might be tempted
| TO serve you in the same way"
Leah, who had shrunk timidly into a
| corner, started up in alarm when she
| heard the threat, and n. lie her way out
to the spot where the bird had fallen.
| Randolph Darrell, alarmed at the shot
was just on the point Of dashing out of
his cover to go to the rescue Of the fe-
males when he saw his afianced rush
out and bear tho turkey hastily TO the
house.
In moment he OWNED the cause Of
the firing; and not apprehending any
immediate danger to his sweetheart, so
long as the Tories we're only anxious TO
appease their appetites, he went back
TO his cover.
The quick eye of the Tory leader took
in the graceful outlines OF the fair
girls figure, as she rushed from the
house; and, on her hasty return, his
brutal passions were instantly fred by
single glance at her lovely, anxious
face.
by the beard of King George!' he
exclaimed, admir- ingly, who 'ould
ave hexpected to see such halgel in
petticoats ere. Come, my lass. and
give US one kiss from that rosebud Of
mouth
you dare lay your cowardlY hand on
my Lean, cried the enragcl mother,
doubling up her great. bony fist 'and
I'll strangle you like a curH'
"Why, you squint-eyed old beauty"
retorted the Tory. mockingly, II took
you for a hanged, but find you are
wickeder than a she wolf with whelpsr
The rest Of the gang laughed bolster
ously atthis weak attempt at wit. Then
turning to Leah, with a gallant smile.
the Tory inquired how long it would
take to pluck and cook the fowl.
Leah, answered in a modest tone Of
womanly anxiety, that it would take at
least three hours to serve it to their
liking
But, she added, in a tone of concil-
iation, ''we have piece of roast pork
and some cold potatoes and corn-cake in
the pantry, if they Will answer"
The hungry party, who had been some
hours fasting, declared that the articles
named were good enough, and that they
would forego the turkey on this occasion
for her sake.
With great alacrity, but with an anx
iously- beating heart Leah spread the
homely board, and brought forth the
promised viands, which she laid out
temptingly before them. She then
,,1o B.t ali, s,.t, hn
afforded around the table, and politely
invited her unwelcome visitors to be
seated
Complying with her invitation, the
Tories carelessly stacked their carbines
near an open window, and, seating
themselves at the table, fell to, greedily
devouring the repast.
Mrs. Hart, in the meantime, with
heroism superior to her sex, had watched
her hungry guests till she saw she was
not observed by them, when she slipped
out slyly from their midst, and, noise
lessly approaching the open window, she
succeeded in drawing out three of the
carbines before her little game was dis
covered.
The moment the Tories perceived the
deadly purpose Of the giantess, the three
nearest the window sprang to their feet
in terrified astonishment
stand backl' she cried, in a threat
ening tone, presenting one Of the loaded
carbines with an air Of resoiute deter
mination. "The first villain OF you that
stirs step I'll shoot and the first one
that touches another mite Of that pork
I'll blow his brains out"
Without needing her blazing eye, or
her stern verbal warming, the Tory
leader sprang fearlessly toward the
stack OF arms; but before he could reach
them there was report OF a carbine,
and the advancing ruflian fell to tho
floor, while the slug, which had passed
entirely through his body, struck an
other in the temple, who was seated at
the table, killing him instantly.
A third, rendered desperate by the
trying situation, made reckless at.
tempt to get possession Of one OF the
carblnes, and Instantly paid the penalty
with his life.
Throwing the second empty carbine
aside, Mrs. Hart caught up the third
one, with which she now covered what
remained of the terrified party.
There were but four left, and not
one Of the four dared 10 move finger
Leah, blow the dinner-hornw cried
the mother, in a tone OF resolute tri.
umph. 1T is safe now TO call in Silas
and your father"
Tho young girl, half-terrihed out Of
her wits, promptly obeyed the maternal
command, and long, winding blast
echoed and re-eohocd through the in
tervening woods
She bad left the house and joined her
mother on tho outside, before she es,
| saycd to blow it and as She lowered the
horn from her lips, now rendered color.
less from her recent fright, her anxious
/ eyes were bent in the direction of the
! distant cor,I-feld. where her father,
/ and brother and faithful negro scrv-
/ ant were at work, although a narrow
i belt Of timber stretched between them,