Little Falls weekly transcript. (Little Falls, Morrison Co., Minn.) 1894-19??, 1898-05-31
THE INDIANS MILLY SAW

uCCl6 log house tu6t WH0 ueS uoAuo oAIu eo1S~
desolately across the river valley to the hills,
two miles away, and up and down the length
of the valley, winding but level, as far as she
could see.
The early spring landscape did not please
her eyes, for they had gazed upon the wooded
hillsides of Ohio during the II years OF
her life, and to them the new Kansas, the
Kansas of II years ago, was barren and lone
some. "a.
The green had not yet begun to assert itself
In the dried brown Of the prairie grass, nor in
the strip of trees that followed the Narrow
high.banked river, upon whose edge their
house was built-the ba,e-boughed trees that
now roared and crashed in the strong wind
that swept of the hills
"Papa and mamma said they would surely
be home by noon, and here its quarter
past, and I'm getting 90 scared. Last night,
when they thought was asleep, papa was
reading about those dreadful Indians that
have broken away from the reservation and
are going back to the north through Kansas,
and they are burning all the houses and kill.
ing all the people, and they are only a hun
dred miles west of US.
She was shivering now until her teeth
shattered and her brown eyes were large and
bright, as she went on. speaking in half
whisper.
"And mamma was scared, too. I know,
cause she commenced to cry and said: oh,
John! what if they should come here! What
would we dor"
Milly turned and looked up the valley. The
high, bleached prairie grass waved and bent
in the roaring wind, and save for that the
valley was unbroken-but yet, what was
that, 20 far away, rising above the waves:
Milly turned whittier yet and her heart
seemed to stop beating.
A dark line rose in sight afar oF7a con-
fused mass. with something bristling aloft:
That surely was not there when abe" had
looked before. To her frightened eyes that
narrow streak Of black was band of the
dreaded Indians, bearing aloft their battle
spears.
She looked helpelssly out south, where, at
the foot Of the first hill, their nearest neigh
Dor lived-two long miles away. . .
"Somers have big family" she painted.
"and they would just "a soon take care OF
me, too, and they won't be afraid, cause
Bert,s most 10, and heard him say the
other day that he would like to have a
chance at Indian fighting. I'll saddle Pony
and hurry right over"
Still white and trembling, though now &C
tive, she ran to the barn and buckled tho
saddle on her little pony. She was too hrf.
ried to go of after her bonnet, so che
snatched off her gingham pinafore and tied it
about her head.
As she urged her pony out of the barn
yard she could almost hear the yells Of tho
Indians and the sound of their horses feet,
but she could not be certain because Of tho
wind roaring in her ears, and she did not
have the courage to turn her head and look
at them.
Milly had always boosted that Pony, tho
only consolation she had in her enforcement
from her old home, was feeter, in spite OF
diminutive size, than any horse in the coun'
try, but to-day she told herself that he posi-
lively crept, and that it was two hours be
fore she neared her place of refuge.
The Somers family, finishing their dinner,
heard hoofbeats on the road and rushed out
doors just as black pony clattered up, bear
ing white faced little maid with unbranded
brown hair flying and blue gingham apron
tied over her head, and followed by . lolling.
tongued yellow dog.
The pony suddenly stopped and Mlly
dropped of, breathless little heap, into bae
Bert Somers' arms.
"Bless the child" exclaimed good, mother
ly Mrs. Somers, in concern. whatever il
the matter? If your mas sick, or your pa
hurt, tell us, and we'll 60 right over"
Milly chung to Mrs. Somers in her struggle
for breath and articulation, and pointed
trembling finger down the valley a. shs
stammered:
"The Indians! They must be at our hous>
by this time. Papa and mamma had to 60
over the hills to Lime Rock ranch this
morning to sign some papers, and ! was at
home alone when saw the Indians coming,
30 saddled Pony and came over here a.
quick as could. They were right down
there when I first saw them, and-well, /
declared"
This in more natural, if astonished tone,
q her gaze followed the direction Of her fin
ger. Marshaled in battle array of to tho
west, with the spears still held bravely aloft
In air, Milly saw the same dark column that
had 10 frightened her at frst-and In th*
same place. The Somers' house was in di
rect line south of her own home, and on
higher ground, 20 that now the dark line was
not obscured by the tall grass and she could
zee that though the lances still waved in tho
wind, the Indians were not advancing-ths
column vas a. indistinct a. when ahs
first saw Il. 49,.
"What 10 IT." She turned q perplexed
and quastioning face to Bert, but he was
doubled over IN an ecstasy Of boyish laugh
ter.
"What Is It, Mr.. somers?" she asked,
turning to the boys kindly-faced father.
II thought it was lot Of those terrible In
+. adams with their spears sticking up over their
heads!"
'cBless your heart, little GIRL" be replied,
sharply nudging the still convulsed Bert, it's
the new brush that's growing up on the bank
of Owl creek, down there. Ye see, four or
five years ago the prairie fires was bad here,
an ill the timbeE.on the creek, from the
river to. the hills, was burned of, an that
one spot there on the: edge, Of the creek.
where its low, u the only place that any,
tried to grow. s'pose W was 80 used to
scein' the valley, with tho tall grass und the
hills in front of ye and the trees nths river
behind ye, that ye never really noticed that
clumpi Of bushes before" The reaction had
taken place and Milly was crying neryeusly
on Mrs. s9amets' ample tdod1def; ID that.good
lady haitsned TO comfort hsr,, -. )
"There, there, dest; ne1ef mind about It:
They do look like Indians, with them tai!
brush wavin' in the wind, and:so far away
that ve can't mako out anything, 20 don't