Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1892-11-29

",vaai, l amt blamin Lee none A gal
who Kin shoulder her dads shot pouches
and his shootin iron. not ter mention
her bein ther pur,iest an best larnt gal
ON ther purary. IL enough ter create
kindly all gonene~s of any feller's heart
Mrs. Gillcrt could not rvprcss laugh
at the old bor,ierman's queer speech,
while Lois strove TO bury her blushes
under the shallow Of her sunbonnet
"Thar's Mary Jane an Betty Rowland
comm ter welcome you uns," he an
nounced. as his wife. . rotund little
woman of about forty-eight. with q
beaIning. kindly face. and the wife Of
one of the settlers hurried toward them
from the cabin.
"IIowdy do. Miss Gilbert and Loisy'
Mr. Jordan greeted them. Tin plumb
glad eve come. I've jest been a-worry.
In bout you uns way mp the river thar
by yerselyes ever sence we uns heerd
that them mean copper skinned var
mints was burnin cabins and chopin
I-ople ter pieces with thar tony
haichets."
Want you two scarei nigh to death
10 come all them three miles by your.
sslvesy" Mrs. Betty Bowland inquired
sympathetically.
"No." said Lois. mother and ] do
cidei To keep as cool ~ we could, Chsy'
ennes or no Cheyennes.
"Ysr'd sure been er soldier. Lois. sf
yer'd bsen a boy" old silas broke In.
But I'm plumb sure some chap with .
leetle yaller mustache who ranges on
ther purarie- south o. You uns l. mighty
thankful as yer Jest wot yer sir-a pow.
erful good gal.
Come On inter ther house. invited
Mrs. jordan sInilingly. 'silas would
Joke for solid week IL no one Rendered
him. even II ,her ole scratch was waitin
ter kerry him od."
"Ye-, yer women folk. 20 on IN. we
men folks hev got ter hy round. like q
grasshoppcr in = purary hre. an git
things more In shape for them rcd
scamJ-. said old Silas.
Lois started with the other women
into the cabin. but turned and came
hack 10 Hero's side. Laying one arm
earcssingly over his smooth neck. abe
sAidi
"Goo,iby, Hero. n the Cheyennes
get you. well never meet again"
"Tll lead him up inter ther bluG. whar
we uns h.s did iher other critters" aid
old Silas. Hell be safer up thar. an !
don't think ther injuns will 40 nosin
ruund them bluffs. They'll most likely
keep In s'arch o cabins"
Lois released her lat and suffered old
silas 20 lead him away toward the nver
Then she hurried 10 the cabin. where the
women were busy making such prepa-
raiions As were deemed best. Lois wAs
,oon assisting them In various ways
Therv was un abundance VI Loose rock
on the hill where old silas' cabin stood.
The few men outside hastily threw up =
wall. which would serve as . sort ~
breasiworks. before the cabin. They
also made numerous loopholes In the
sides of ,h, cabin and got their little
stock ~ W.. pons ready.
The woman wcr, Just n busy In their
particular department. They bakei
bread. cooked great quantities of meat,
and Lois ani Betty Bowland carried
bucket after bucket Of water till they
had filled large barrel
This PREPARATION was q wise one, Ia
.ay the least. should they happen TO b.
b-siegcd by the redskins for two OF
three days. n was not at all unlikely.
BY two o'clock in the afternoon the
rude preTarations were finished. AMI the
tired band u settlers gathered around
the table to partske Of their late din
ner.
The meal was not yet over when
Lois, who had begged to act as guard
while the o,herr dined. caught the out.
line of . long file of horsemen sweep
over u prairie ridge some distance away
Ia the south.
MIR. Jordan" she called. "come here
at once"
Something In the pretty. self APPOINT.
ed guard. voice. calm n u was, raised
afrcsh the apprehensions which the
neighborly gossip at the table had lulled
into slnmb.r.
All arose with one impulse aud started
toward Lois. who watched from the
ot-n door a, the front ~ the cabin.
Old Silas was the first 90 reach her
side. and one swift glance % hi. well
trained gray eyes, undimmed by his
hfty odd years. sufiiced to tell him the
truth.
The red imIs air comm an no mis-
taker' he turnei aud coolly announced
to those who crowded around him.
Every heart felt Its own peculiar emo
tions as silas Jor,lan's voice fell calm
AMI distinct on the ears Of that little
marty of pioneers. Some had nurset
vague hopes that the Indians might not
pass that way. But they were actually
coming.
While Jorlan and the men secured
the cabin and saw that their guns were
In readiness aid their ammunition near
at hand the women wer. everywhere
braveiy assisting their defenders for the
approaching attack.
The Cheyenne- rode boldly forward
across the prairie toward the little
blockhouss on the hill. An ominous
stiffness prevailed In the cabin. Every
man was at his po-t. Mothers pressed
their children TO their breasts, as II 10
quiet the tumult Of fears within.
The Indians advanced rapidly. and at
last their savage whoops reached the
ears Of the women huddled In the mid.
die of the room. Lois Gilbert's face was
very white. and her eyes looked as black
as midnight. Otherwise she gave no
evidence of terror. Outwarily calm.
shs went first To one. then 10 another.
whispering cheerful words.
The men. with stern. determined
countenances, were at their loopholes
watching every movement of the com.
ing foe. Not q muscle stirred. save
when each man grasped his weapon =
trifie more firmly.
There were fifteen Indians In the band,
all apparently well armed and we'll
mounted ON good ponies. There were
only six ~ the defenders Mt the cabin.
"I,ut we uns air COOL for thet many
polecats.- declared old Silas TO Dave
sevcry. who had remarked on the odds
against them. II reckon they don't
think thar's er hull arsenal waitin back
o. them Notifications 10 gin 'em s'prise
party. BE ready. boys. an make every
shot tell!'
The Cheyennes ascended the little
hill and pressed boldly toward ths cabin.