River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1897-08-12

i courage Men nave SHOWN WHIT lhey
could do in this war; viii show what
girl can do"
Already her quick ears caught the
sound of the grating of a boat upon the
/ beach. She ran to the window ard
/ looked out. Sailors and marines, hid
/ ed by coarse-looking man clad in the
uniform of an officer, came trooping
up the beach.
/ She stepped back hastily and lighted
the fagots upon the hearth. As the
small fame licked the wood and the
+ ire started, there came loud rap upon
the door.
4 The IRE, though small, was burning
briskly. Placing herself with her back
against the door leading TO the extern
sion, win one hand upon the handle
+ of the bellows, she said: Come in"
Rat they had not waited for her to
answer, and, treading close upon one
anothers heels, the officer and three
men entered the room, the rest OF the
company remaining outside. The oti-
Ger was a coarse-featured, eruellook-
ing man.
Where's the old man." he shouted.
I'VE want TO see him, and quickly,
too"
4 am the only one at home" she an
swered.
That's a pretty lie," he said. but
it won't do. We're going 10 search this
house, anyway. If we find the man
we think you've hidden, or rebel goods.
Wen burn the house"
Il have a little sister who is very
sick" she said; you can search every
where you wish, but in her room"
Not search there! Why, that is the
very place we'll search. That dodge
has been played upon us too often.
Hasn't it, my boys he said, turning
to his men as if, even cruel as he was,
he would have their support.
The flame on the fireplace was grow
ing larger; the ashes of the burning
wood fell with white glow upon the
bricks. Barbara saw that with this
man entreaties would be of no avail.
You can search everywhere but
there" she said. Give me your word
that the room will not be entered. and
you may go over the whole house, hut
l will not allow you TO enter that
room!'
.Will MOI allow it," The British off
Ger repeated her words, as If he could
not believe his ears. will not allow
it! Well, that is the most preposterous
thing | have ever heard. You know
what that remark has cost you?-a
kiss. l am going to give you a kiss
a remark that deserves kiss.
. hsas III lon
of the hills came the sharp crack of a
rifle; a moment more ard from another
direction came the duh report of mus
ket
The officer pricked up his ears. The
people were rising. Those reports
meant that they knew the British had
landed, and that they were tiocking to-
gether and would soon be lowering
about him.
Come on, men!" he said; I'VE will
search the house quickly, but viii have
my kiss first" And he stepped for
ward.
stand back" Barbara said.
Without knowing why he did so, he
obeved her. Something about that
1.-the, graceful, resolute figure looked
dangerous, even though it were only
a girl. lie hesitatcd but for moment,
ami then took a rapid step forward
At the same moment he saw line OF
fire suddenly spring from the embers
on the hearth; then The huge Chin
ney. as if il would itself protect its own
hearthstone and the girl beside IT.,
leaned over; here was the deafening
crash of an explosion, and the chlm-
nev hurled itself forward.
The British officer and his men went
down as if they had suddenly met the
fire of a masked battery.
Barbara. protected in great meas
ure by the huge wall of the chimney,
found to her surprise that she was still
living, aud had only been hurled
against the doorway. Even la her
dazed condition. she saw there was only
one of the men who was crawling to-
ward the doorway. The officer did not
stir as he lay before the demolished
fireplace.
just then the door was pushed open
by the rest of the boats crew, but they
halted on the threshold. Through the
blue haze of he explosion they saw
their comrades lying upon the floor,
wounded or unconscious. Barbara
straight, girlish figure was outlined
through the smoke against the back
ground of the door she guarded. Her
face, pale and wan, yet firm with cour-
are and -esOlye, confronted them
through tn, haze. Even as they looked,
a piece of Il { chimney, which had been
lcosened by the explosion, but which
had not as yet given way, fell with a
crash at their feet
The peculiar character Of the explo-
sion. the condition of tn comrades,
the loss OF their officer, and, last of all,
the mysterious look of girl alul fac
ing them. caused a strange d sad TO
creep over the superstitious sailors,
and, as if to heighten il, there came the
sharp crack of rifles now close at hand.
A panic seized them, and their cry was
Pack TO the boats." Lifting their
fallen comrades. they rushed out of the
door, and the house was again free
from intrusion.
Barbara ran to the window and
looked out She saw them retreating
hastily toward the DOals WHlIc, even
now ant then, from behind some bush
or bowlder, came the report of a gun
as the farmers, who had come TO help
her. fred.
She saw them al last reach the boat.
She saw the boat return TO the frigate.
Sire saw the frigate weigh anchor.
Then. with Wild sob, she ran to her
sisters room aud fell fainting across
the bed.
There her uncle found her, beside the
sister she had protected.-Leslie's
Monthly.
SAVED WITH a CRUTCH.
| The Heroic Act of a Lame Indian
BOY
We are accustomed to read Of Indian
f...,..or..- ttr..Tar. % n.-affau.av4 ~ battle