Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1894-02-22
A HEROINE.

sarv purchases, they did 1t with many
misgivings. Little Grow and his band
had been committing some recent dep
relations several miles away, but had
been followed by two regiments OF
government troops and driven over
the Dakota border. There was really
no cause for alarm, they said, but
neighbor had kindly offered to send
his colored woman servant, lately
brought from Kentucky, to look after
household matters and stay with the
children, and Mr.. Gardner told his
wife that they could not leave the
house in better care The family con-
sisted of Katherine, a girl Of IA; Har-
vey, aged 9; and Bruce, the baby, .
years old.
With many injunctions as to the
care of the colt in the stable, to look
out for prairie fires, and to keep the
children from straying too far away
on the prairie, Mrs. Gardner departed
feeling that she was very unreasonable
to entertain for a moment the vague
fear that filled her mind and made her
pause with her foot on the wagon
step, uncertain whether even at this
last minute it would not be better to
abandon the journey.
At last, however, they were off, and
once out of sight of the house she felt
her misgivings grow weaker.
A few hours after they went away a
strange sultriness was apparent in the
atmosphere.
what makes the light so queer, sis
ter?" asked Harvey, standing IN the
open door.
katherine went to the door and
looked around. Twelve or fifteen
miles to the north belt of wooded
country-the Great Wood of Mime
sota-rose clear against the horizon,
while in every other direction the
prairies stretched away in undulatlng
slopes, yellow with golden-rod. No
clouds were to be seen in the sky,
which hung above them, dull and
murky, like a copper dome. The sun
looked like a brassy sphere suspended
in midair.
A close, sultry atmosphere sur
rounded them, dead calm, only re-
lieved by an occasional puff of hot
wind that passed by and left the same
dead calm as before.
Beulah, the colored woman, came to
the door and stood looking off to the
west, her hand shading her blinking
eyes.
Laws Miss katherine, dat al
colt am whin' yin right smart. KANT
be he gwine to die on us, honey? Yer
nav tnk GOOD look at him las ing
70 he lit out, shuah?"
She waddled along slowly, for the
day was warm and Beulah was fat, to-
ward the lumber shop, or stable
where the colt was kept at night
being tethered on the open prairie
during the day in sight of the house
katherine, more swift of foot, flew OF
before and quickly gained the summit
of the gradual ascent on which the
barn was built
Her hand was on the latch and sh'
was about to enter, when on the dis
|
tant horizon she saw a sight that helc
her motionless with sudden terror
The Indians were coming
Away to the northwest an irregula
line of horsemen were riding directl!
down upon them, and though at tha
distance she could not distinguish
clearly she knew by their pecuia
mode of riding that they were no
white men. For one moment he
heart sank in terror, the next her res
olute spirit asserted itself.
Save themselves they must, bu
how? Poor, foolish old Beulah, cleve
enough at concocting choice dishe
over the kitchen range, was an adde
burden in this emergency. Coul
Katherine take the children with he
on the colts back and ride with theI
to the nearest cabin. What IN such
case would become of Beulah?
She and her brothers might gain tn
sides of the ravine near by unobserve
and hide securely in the caves alon
. the sides, but there was Beulah.
IF papa was only here, 81
thought, and with the thought cam
like an inspiration, suggestion OF
, hiding place.
She turned to Beulah, who had ju
waddled up to the stable, Unite Il
colt and turn him loose, Beulah" 81
spoke rapidly and with authority