The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1903-10-22
SPANISH PEGGY
A STORY OF YOUNG ILLINOIS
Copyright. 1889. by Herbert g. Stone 4 Co.
Continued.

every working season until they were
| q years old, came to Minter Grayham' s
school. Though willing to make them
selves useful carrying in logs for the
| fireplace, they were full of frolic as
colts: They stirred up the school until
Minter Grayham in despair made a
new law and announced that he would
listen to no more complaints of Wad-
throwing flstcufIing, and fighting, I'M
less the complainant could show that
blood had been drawn. Then the boys
were gloriously happy. The sallow
young schoolmaster, writing copies at
his desk, would suddenly hear through
the drone of study:
Master, Viane Rutledge looked at
me and drew blood"
Master, Nancy Green's eyes are
drawing blood on me this minute!"
In November there was a haze over
the landscape like bloom on grapes.
Indian summer fingered. Settlers had
not then learned the Mississippi val
ley's sudden and bitter changes of eli
mate.
lLiuIolu anu AMY WllC WCIC ollll dD-
sent early in December, when Shick-
shack waited one evening behind
Minter Crayham's schoolhouse for
Peggy to come out. A jet of boys and
girls seemed to spout forth, racing
down to Rock Creek. They could
almost smell their supper johnny cakes
across the ravine. Peggy was hopping
briskly in the joyful midst of her
schoolmates, when she saw her foster
father reckoning her at the foot
OF the bluff. She followed him.
Shickshack led her where there was
no path through ascending woods,
parting naked bushes for her, and help
ing her over fallen logs which had be-
come almost powder of flakes covered
with moss.
Where are we going?" she inquired
more than once.
But Shickshack made no reply until
he had put loop of deerskin around
him over his blanket, and lifted Peggy
on his back in this portable hammock.
She was learning to use her lame leg
with stoical determination which the
New Salem doctor encouraged. Though
never without her crutch, she oftener
carried than leaned on 1t. Shickshack
was evidently undertaking journey
and she looked anXiously through the
woods as some flakes of snow melted
on her face, and up at the void peopled
as by winged white insects.
Father" said Peggy in the Sac
language, where are you taking me?"
ITO the young chief Yates" he
answered in English, trudging across
the ridge sure-footed and muscular
But he lives far away and | won't
go! What will Antywine and Mr.. Lin
coin say when they come homer
"Antywine and the chief Abe on the
survey trail. They not here to stop
Pedro Lorimer. He get you this time.
Has he come back again.
Shckshack grunted. AT the Grove
two, four days. He tell the young
braves Black Hawk is on the war path.
Drive out old Indian! Burn his wig
wan! Old Indian help Black Hawk.
Me not need totem signs to find out
what he want. He say old Indian have
no business to keep white girl
But, father, you cannot carry me
SO far" Peggy strongly revolted. She
wept, shivering against his back. He
descended toward a darkened plain
without needing her arguments against
his course, except to assure her he in
tended to hire a horse at the first
cabin.
The sloughs were frozen, and frost
blackeped grass crisped under his feet.
Nowhere could any farmhouse light
be seen, and the gentle flicker-like
insect wings had become a driving
storm of snow. Shickshack found the
road stretching southwest toward Jack
sonville, and plodded steadily along.
and cold and drifting whiteness, Peggy
ceased to beg that he would let her
walk, and lapsed into such drowsiness
that he was obliged to shake her when
he set her down. BY this time the chill
windows were nearly to his knees.
y HSHelleIeu ny Ills DOuy, oht Icil tilc
dry spume spinning in her face
ME have to put you in the log to-
night" said Shickshack. Snow too
bad to go farther"
Every new Salemite had heard of or
seen the huge hollow log strangely
left upon the prairie beside that road.
Once Sticky Green and another boy
belated on bitter night while search
ing for lost cattle, had driven wild hogs
out of it, and saved their own lives
in it's roomy hollow. 1t doomed white
ridge, higher than Peggys head, it's
black opening already banked with
drift Shickshack crawled i with his
knife unsheathed. A yelpilg snarling
struggle was mufiled by the log, until
something dark leaped past Feggy, and
ran across the snow.
Wolf" observed the Sac. Hin not
like to leave him good bed
Reluctantly, in spite Of the cold,
Peggy crawled past him into the deep
shelter, dragging her crutch. Her hand
touched something furry, and green
eyes shot fame at her. Shickshack
hanlpI q rt,h ite IL, 81