Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1903-04-23
vol1es take me alive. An. no,

wolves take me alive. All. mol
walked to the table and opened little
hox that held all my TREASURES. I was
quite cool and steady now, calm as death
itself, whilst heard the craclle of the
flames below and saw their lurid light
against the cold gray sky. Well, my lovers
portrait should be the last thing that my
eyes rested upon in life All, Heaven! it
was JOY unspcakable to know he would
never realize the actual agony of these
moments during which could say II vet
liver
A yell of exultation-the door was down
and those tiends in human form rushed in,
scattering the hot enlbcrs with their feet!
now.
What was that? An answering shout
from English throats! / dropped the re-
volvcr and flew to the window Yes, it
was asI believed; | saw my rescuers,
heard the thunder of the hoofs of half a
score of horsemen who galloped over tho
short turf and drew bride at the gates.
The wolves were well in the trap now.
Ileaned out of the window and cried to
my rescuers to surround the doors, They
understood; aud then came an awful hand
to-hand encounter. The Che.okees were
three toone of their antagonists, but the
Englishmcn fought like lions aud held or
with the tenacity of bulldogs.
II was an ugly struggle and hot one
while it lasted, but there was no doubt
about the issue from the first.
llnbarrcd my door and stood at the top
of the ladder. watching the breathless
deadly contest With fascinated, Mortified
eyes. must be withthcm, felt, facing
| the same fearful odds, though | could do
nothing
ltwas over at'last. The ReG-mcn were
ANONYMOUSLY routed. and fled, making no
attempt to carry of their dead or wound
ed, and leaving my rescEers masters of the
field
was just dimiy conscious that the fight
was Won, and then remembered nothing
more, for had tainted Nature will have
her way, and, after such desperate strain
| is removed, there comes the inevitable re-
action.
When I recovered, was lying upon the
Kitchen floor, with my head resting on
someone's knee.
"Father-is father safcs" / asked, look
ing in dazed bewltiered way at the anS-
lous faces surrounding me.
Yes, Phyllis; Pm safe enough, my BARN.
We're all right, except poor Joe and Abel.
She is too dazed, poor lass, to take it all
1n.'' he added, in lower tone.
opened my eyes again, aud looked up
! langlilly to see who it was that was sup
porting me- till then it had not occurred
to me as strange that it was not my father.
phyllis, my o"n.' murmIred low
voice, whilst my wondering eyes met
Charlie Ripley's.
1t was no dream then, no delrllm, but
his own dear face bending above me. his
honest gray eyes looking into mine with
tender anxiety.
You are not hurt, Phyllis?" he asked,
in the same low eager tones.
He was kneeling beside me- My head
lay upon his shoulder now; could even
feel his heart beating close to mine, and
knew it was no dream. tried to smile as
shook my head, but q passion of tears
came TO my relief instead-I was so safe,
so happy now!
They let me weep, whilst my lover
soothed me, and the rest left us alone for
while; they were busy securing the horses
and making the house safe for the night,
though they resolved TO guard against
possible surprises by keeping watch in
turns.
When my father and brothers-whom 1
now noticed for the first time-returned to
the fire, was sufficiently recovered to re-
count what had happened during that ter
rible hour in which held the house sim
gle-handed against the Indians OF course
they told me was a little heroine, and
seemed as though they could never make
oh of hot nod To
the explanation of what had previously
appeared to me sort of miracle-that is,
Charles timely arrival, and my fathers
return a good half-hour before l thought
it possible he could be home.
Itappeared that Hugh Dalton had at
last "seen his way, - whilst he and Alic.
I had SOAR SO tied matters that they were
1 married the day before Charlie left Eng
land. Hugh was to carry on the old farm
for Mrs. Ripley as we'll as his own, and
everyone was satisfied. Neverthe less,
Hugh had $50 much mind that he had
not been able to make it up in time for the
I last mail; therefore Charlie had decided to
bring the great re VS. in person by the first
ship as the quickest and most agreeable
way. He had procured q guide at FL Do
RADIO city, who had obligingly conducted
him to the "diggings' at Heron Gulch,
where my brothers made him heartily
welcome and decided to celebrate the oc.
cason by bringing HIM on home the next
day.
1t was lucky they did so, and doubly
fo;tunate that they fell in with my father
and the 'boys" returning from work.
Charley was the first to espy my lamp
shining at the window they at once calae
to the conclusion that the unusual light
meant danger of some sort, and pushed on
at a gallop, arriving in the nick of time, as
/ have already narrated
-
Well, am now almost an old woman,
and have been Charles wife for many
happy years; but, il live to be hundred,
( ] shall never forget the agony of that aw-
full honr during which 1, girl of nine
teen, held our log-house, alone and unaid-
ed, against the Redskins.
Her Father Literary Man.
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