Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1858-05-28
THE BORDER HEROINE.

to the western borders was carried on
horseback, there lived, a few miles above /
Horse-head, stout pioneer named ia
cob Burnap, his wife Polly, and one
child, a girl, only nine years old, which
made up his family. His chief business
was hunting, and his unerring rifle never
failed to supply his board and furnish
something over. His nearest neighbor
was fifteen miles of, SO he was troubled
but little with prying visitors.
It was in early spring that Burnap
started down the river with a boat load
of furs and skins. He left Polly in
charge the premises, and he left with
her too, light rife, and brace of pis-
tolls. She knew how to use that rife,
for never was she happier than when her
husband patted her upon the shoulder and
said-"NobIy done, Polly, my dear l
could not have made better shot my
self" And be often had occasion to
say this, with truth, too.
Jacob Burnap had been gone four
days when, towards evening, a horseman
rode Up to the hunters door. He was a
small, muscular man, some forty years
of age, and seemed Injured to all kinds of
hardships. AS he sprang from his sad
die, Polly made her appearance.
"Ah, Polly once more here" the new
conner said, as he drew pair of large,
well-flled saddle-bags from the back of
his jaded beast.
"Yes-and I'm glad to see you, Nor
ton. Jacob has been gone four days,
and the time is growing heavy"
Jacob gone Where"
Down the river with load of furs,
she answered.
"Oh-ah-yes. Well, you shallhave
the company of Liant Morton for one
night, at least, for the next twelve hour:
you'll feel safe"
"Oh, feel safe enough returned the
woman, quickly "Only lonesome"
well, then, for this evening, you shan
be lonesome"
Thus speaking, Morton threw his sad
le and saddle-bags into the cabin, ant
then led his horse around to a low shet
where he made him fast and fed him
After this he returned to the dwellin!
and entered, and was soon afterward
discussing the events of the times owe
m ample supper. His hostess told hin
all that had transpired in her neighboF
hood since his last visit, and her visito
rave her the news from the eastern val
lev. Liant had been the mail-carrier III
on that route for several years, and nc
once had he passed to or fro, withor
spending a night at Jacob Burnaps' L
fact, he was about the only regular Wis
tor at the hunters cabin, and though til
interval between his visits were long, "
he seemed almost a fixture of the plac
Polly Burnap, still in the bloom ofyoun
womanhood, knew his generous, mob
character, so she felt free and at ease
his presence.
"Those are heavy bags for this route
said the carrier, as he put away his piI
and prepared to retire. "And," he a
ded, in an undertone, "they contain son
valuable letters, some fat ones ! going
the fort"
as it known on the route that yo
load is so valuable ?"
Il think not, though it may be. St
am we'll armed, and fancy 'twould
a sorry job for any one TO tackle
Liant"
"a man was robbed on the creek
few days since"
"And the robbers have fed" add
Morton, carelessly, as he drew his ma
bags after him.
There were three apartments in
lower cabin, the main room, where
family lived, then a small pantry a
provision room in one corner, and
room in the corner opposite. Bene'
was a deep cellar, where the provisit
were kept in summer, and where tt
could be kept equally well in winter,
the frost never entered the deep hole
hunter had dug.
Besides these rooms was the loft, "
a tightly boarded floor, which was rea
ed by ladder from the pantry, and
this latter place the mail-carrier slept
He had dragged his bags up after h
not caring to leave so precious cha
beyond his immediate protection.
Morton went to bed at nine o'clock
he was tired and sleepy from his b
ride. Polly had work TO do, hav
neglected it while talking with her gu
so when she had seen him safely at
IN the loft, she drew her basket 10
little tahla yrbara tba candle was