The Republican journal., 1911-09-07
How Kitty Escaped.
A STORY OF EARLY PIONEER DAYS.

InGians. And many hardshlps were sur
fered by the early pioneers who opened
up the vast territory which is now known
as The Central States. The real West
was then only sandy waste, called the
American Desert.
Among the early settlers in one of the
middle States was family by the name
of Wingett The family consisted of
Mr.. and Mrs. Wingett and their two
children, Kitty, aged IA, and Johnny,
aged 4.
Mr.. Wingett located in the western
part of fertile county through which
flowed a fine river. His land lay along
the western banks of this river, which
was heavily timbered. Only few white
men had braved coming across that
stream, for it was considered safer to
remain on the eastern side of it, the saw
age tribes of Indians having been driven
beyond the river toward the setting sum-
Sometimes bands of the red men would
intrude themselves among the settle
ments of the eastern side, but not so
frequently as on the western banks. The
river was as a wall to hold them in
check.
After the Wingetts had settled in
their new home the Indians for time
ceased to make any depredations among
the pioneers, and were on friendly terms
with the people at the Government trad
ing posts. The Wingetts and their
neighbors began to feel safe on that side
of the river, and worked with a will
opening up the land for farming. The
valley took on the aspect of thriving
agricultural district, and later became
one of the richest tracts of land in all
this country.
One day, after the Wingetts had lived
in their new home just year, Mrs.
Wingett remarked to her husband at the
breakfast table:
1.-THE Indians have decided to keep out
of our sight, l guess. Haven't heard
of one being seen within ten miles OF US
for six months.
Eyes, they have gone to their new
hunting grounds, " replied Mr.. Wingett.
."The Government seems to have made
a pretty good treaty with them. May
they never come among us again.
Eyes, SO say l, -" remarked Mrs. VIM
gett.
Then, just as they were leaving the
hastily. GOOD day, Mrs. Wingett,
of his early call. Mothers been taken
with cramps and chill, he said, showing
his anxiety. "Will you come over, Mrs.
Wingett? Mother and l are all alone.
Father went across the river this morn
ing: took some corn to mill.
Certainly" said Mrs. Wingett, hur-
irving to make herself ready to start.
did YOU fetch horse for me to ride,
Barney"
Nom Ididn't,' replied Barney. Il
was 50 scared bout mother that
never thought about it. rode old
Peggy. She won't carry double-but,
l can walk P"
'I'n fix that" suggested Mr.. Win
gett. ''I'll take Mrs. Wingett over to
your house. l have to go to neighbor
James place above yours on the river.
1t will be on my way. III saddle the
horses now. You hurry back to your
mother, Barney Tell her Mrs. Wingett
will be there almost Immediately after
YOU"
The boy hurried off and Mr.. Wingett
went to saddle the horses for himself
and wife to ride to the home Of their
neighbor, mile distant. Mrs. Wingett
turned to Kitty, who was clearing away
the dishes. Dear, will you be afraid
to stay here with Johnny till either
father or | return? You see, the churn-
ing must be done this morning, and
everything has to be attended to. y
NO, mama, I'm not afraid to stay,
declared Kitty. III churn and feed
the chickens and look after the little
calf. III feed 1t as you do-every two
hours. Johnny can run about with me
in the pasture.
Then MIR. Wingett brought the horses
to the door and pretty soon Kitty saw
Il off rioNyr, tho
weed grown path leading toward the
Longs. There were no wagon roads
opened through the woods as yet, and
the settlers went everywhere on horse
back.
Being left alone, Kitty did the churn
ing, put the butter in the spring house
in a wooden bowl to await her mothers
return.
After feeding the calf, Kitty began
looking for eggs in the hay which filled
the manger. Johnny had climbed up on
the side of the manger and was assist
ing her. Suddenly Kitty heard noise
in the bushes near the stable. 1t fright
ened her, and she whispered hastily to
Johnny: Don't stir or speak, I'm go
ing to peep out and see what that noise
meant Johnny, though only four,
knew what danger from Indians meant,
and when his sister whispered to him,
the dear little fellow slipped into the
hay of the manger and stuck his curly
head beneath it. His body, however,
remained in plain view.
Kitty crept quickly to a crack in the
side of the stable and peeped out. She
trembled violently as she did so, for
there, gliding from tree to tree, crouch
ing like cats, she saw several red men.
They were facing the house, not SEEM
ing to think of the stables or COW sheds.
They had doubtless seen Mr.. and Mrs.
Wingett in the woods, and supposed no
one was at the house. But they were
cautious, and were taking good time to
creep nearer and nearer the house,
which was built of hewn logs.
Kitty did not cry out; she did not even
feel like fainting. Her mind was cool
and worked quickly. Her first thought
was to hide Johnny and herself safely.
But where? AS she turned to whisper to
Johnny she did not see him. Terror was
in her heart. Had the little dear crept
from the stable while she was engaged
in peeping out at the side opposite the
door. and fed to the house? Then she
ran to the manger, and to her great re-
lief, beheld a round little back covered
bv blue home-spun apron. He had CIV
en- Kitty an idea. Within few seconds
she had her little brother buried beneath
soft pile of hay, making it very thin
foa