Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-11-14

manner. This lady has nothing TO do
with you. Take yourself off at once.
or l Will tel Mr.. Seabright that you
are trespassing on his grounds"
''Mr. Seabright, indeedr' returned
Davies, jibingly. Il don't care blow
for him-nCr for you, either, for the
ma tier of that
IncenSed by the mans rude speech,
Captain Legendre made a threatening
gesture, which Davies accepted as a
challenge to fight. At an instant he
few at Captain Legendre's throat,
while Violet uttered a piercing scream
and ran toward the house. 1t flashed
through her lovers mind thai s1v
thought only of herself and cared lit
tie for his welfare. Then he grappled
with his opponent. They were both
powerful men. Davies, perhaps, had
a little the adyantage as regarded
strength, but Captain Legendre was a
scientific wrestler, and knew all the
tricks Of the game. For a few sec
OndS nothing could be heard save the
short, hard breathing Of the combat
ants. Then Captain Legendre saw his
opportunity, and with a neat hitch of
the leg tripped his opponent up. Owen
Davies fell so heavily TO the ground
that for moment he lay still and
dazed. Slowly he regained an upright
! position, and with his coarse, brutal
face distorted with passion. shook a
hairy fist in Legendre'S face.
{ Darn your eyes!' he muttered; you
shall pay for this, or my names not
, Owen Davies"
/ SO saying, he sloped off in the direc-
, ton of the works. Capt. Legendre
for sole answer, laughed defantly.
, On entering the house he was met
by May Foster.
/ Violet has gone to bed" she said
She seems to have been frightened
I by some rough man. But. dear me!
what is the matter with you? There
is blood on your cheek" And she
looked at him with concern.
1T is nothing-a mere scratch" he
! returned.
"Oh, Capt. Legendre, is there any
thing 1 can do to help you?"
Il wonder you don't want to bolt
off to bed Also
He felt little sore at Violet's be-
havior. He thought she might have
stuck to him
IF 1 could help you 1 would May
said, earnestly.
The household had gone to rest
Everything was still, save for the dis
, tant hooting of an owl. The first faint
streakS of dawn were beginning to
show in the horizon. Capt. Legendre
had not yet undressed; his mind was
in a turmoil, and he was agitated, and
not altogether sure of the wisdom
Of the step he had taken-or all but
taken.
"a few seconds more and 1 should
have proposed" he unused. "Who
knows ?-perhapS the intervention of
that laundering rascal may prove a
blessing in disguise. Nice little thing,
May Foster She looked genuinely
concerned when she thought 1 had got
a bit knocked about"
Suddenly he heard a noise. At first
it sounded faint and far off; then, AS
he listened intently, he fancied he
could hear the tramp of mems feet
in the distance. He drew the curtains
aside and looked out AS his eyes
gradually grew accustomed to the
darkness, he distinguished a large
body of men about a quarter of a
mile distant, advancing in the direc-
ton of the house A minute or two
later he recognized Owen Davies
marching at their head. Then he APP
pretended danger and went hastily to
his hosts room.
Get up Immediately" he called out.
THE strikers are marching toward the
house. Goodness knows what mis-
chief they mean perpetra tingl Call
up the servants and let us barricade
all the doors and windows If the
men see that we are prepared for
them, it is just possible they may not
proceed to extreme measures.
Both Nj. and Mrs. Sea bright seemed
dazed with fright. Capt Legendre
took it upon himself to give all the
necessary orders, and saw that they
were promptly carried out Indeed,
there was no time to lose. The men
could now be heard quite plainly, and
as they marched they sang song not
pleasant to their listeners
Capt. Legendre had collected some
firearms together and apportioned the
able bodied men at his disposal to
various posts. JUST then Violet Pom
er0y and May Foster appeared. The
girls had put on their dressing gowns,
and both looked somewhat pale. Their
different characters were startlingly
apparent. In this critical moment VIC
let thought OILY of herself, and an
noyed every one by asking series of
foolish questions. May, on the other
hand, went about assisting the men
aud doing ali she could to prove help
full. Violet clung to Capt. Legendre
in the most irritating fashion, implor-
ing him to save her.
There is no particular danger that
know of if you will only keep your
head" he responded. THE soldiers
| will be here in a few hours. 1t is 3
/ O'Clock now" looking at his watch.
The miners by this time had sur
! rounded the house. and proclaimed
! their presence by sending a storm Of
! stones against the windows The