The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1903-11-12
upon the floor, resisting any suggestion

upon the floor, resisting any suggestion
of food.
Through delirious eyes he saw the
blaze, which Lincoln contrived to start
in the chimney, interlace sticks piled
there months before in readiness for
a first house-Warming.
Lincoln was on his knees blowing
it when he heard Sticky Green pant
through the door:
Are you here, Abe? You're wanted
at the tavern '
whats the matter at the taVern?"
The Grove boys are coming to
throw everything out of doors if you
don't give that Lorimer man the Span
lard and her money"
|FHow do you know?"
Martha Bell Clary slipped off on
her fathers horse and brought word"
where's Dick?"
Hes looking somewhere else for
YOU"
Lincoln stood up and glanced at
Antywine, who had suffered, but was
unable to fight, resting like log at
the hearth corner.
"Poor Antywine!" he whispered, and
carefully shut the door as he went out
to settle the unconscious boys fate.
The self-appointed censors of the
Grove had once wrecked store in New
Salem, and kicked the merchandise
about the street. The population of
the village was about 100 souls, few
OF whom could be mustered as fight
inc Will
all fighting men.
The night was starlit and cloudless,
but there was no moon. Dull panes of
oiled paper revealed candles in some
houses, but hush like expectation
seemed to stretch along the unseen
Windings of the street. When the Grove
boys mounted for raid Of any sort
they usually rode at full gallop, yelling
like Indians. Lincoln was ahead Of
when both stopped, halted by a pro-
cession with lanters. There had been
10 noise Of shouting and no crash Of
destruction. The quiet approach of the
company seemed worse than it's ordi-
nary ,'ioting.
They didn't stop at the taVern!"
whispered Sticky Green.
They had been to the tavern, for Dick
Yates, bareheaded, was leading them
peaceably away from it, walking in
front of the cavalcade; and a girls
figure could be discerned sitting upon
led horse. The velvet dust of a
village road muffled the tread Of hoofs.
But along house fronts on each side,
where footpaths were marked by daily
use, sounded the uneven patter of
many feet. Men, women and children
of New Salem, suffered to witness VIII at
they could not prevent, were lowering
around Lincoln and the little Spaniard.
He thought he saw Ann Rutledge, in
her short-sleeved house dress, her face
showing white and anxious through
the dark; and Minter Grayham, whose
haggardness and puny strength the
Grove boys would have laughed at il
opposed to them.
Here is Abe Lincoln" announced
Yates; and as if he had given a COM
mand to halt, the company halted.
Here 1 am" said Lincoln. do
you want me?' Dick and Sticky stood
beside him in the middle of the road.
MY friends and T. spoke voice
with a foreign accent, have an af-
fair of two minutes with you. You
have somewhere a snakeskin purse
belonging to my cousin, Consuelo
Lorimer. Bring it and you shall not
be injured"
"But if l did she'd be Injured"
Don't let them take me, Mr. Lin
coln!' besought Peggy from the midst
of the riders. II will not go! Where's
Antywine?"
Boys, you ought to be ashamed of
yourselves!"
I'VE didn't come out for speech,
Abe,'' Knocked Redmond Clary
And I'm not practicing polemics.'
''You get the girls money and hand
it over"
'You let her out of that gang
The gang growled.
1--WE have crowd and you have lust
two hackers. New Salem people can't
do anything. We don't want to hurt
you, Abe, unless we have to-"
String him up like horsethief!"
cried a man at the rear.
Are you going to hand over the
Spaniard's money!"
mo, I'm not" replied Lincoln.
Ride him down." cried another, and
the horses were spurred forward.
Some women and children shrieked in
fright as the three young fellows were
driven in retreat to Antywine's cabin
and sprang upon the chest of drawers.
Standing close together with that short
rostrum under their feet, they faced
about the ring of horsemen who drew
up around them. The perforated tin
lanterns showered drops of yellow light
on trampled grass. Behind the mems
heads and shoulders were void of
trees and the starlit sky, and the ex-
cited murmur of New Salem. Lincoln
lowered in the midst of the circle
He could dimly see the Spanish girl
and he remembered for one instant