Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1865-11-24
TIE D0nDLis HEROINE.

Some years ago, before the State Of Ar
kansas was 50 densely populated as now, and
when the mails from Little Rock TO the east
ern borders were carried en- horseback, there
lived a few miles above iIorsehead, a stout
pioneer named Jacob Blrnap. Ills wife,
Polly, and one child, nine years old, made
up his family. His chief business was hunt
i1r, and his unerr;nc riic never failed to
supply his board and something over. Ills
nearest ne:ehbor was fifteen niles Of; SO he
was little troubled with prying visitors.
It was IN si1e carly spring that jacob start
cd down the river with a beat load Of furs
and skins. lie left Polly il charge Of the
premises, and he LETT with her, too, a light
ride and brace Of pistols She knew how to
Use the rife. for never was size happier than
when her husband pattcd her on the should
er and said: "Nobly done Polly, ny dear;
] could not have made better shot myself. .
And he had occasion to say this with truth,
too
Jacob Dyrnap lid been gone four days,
when towards evening 4 hoi s4nl;n rode up %
TIE hunters door. He was a small ml1scu-
lar man, some forty years Of age and seemed
Injured to all harlshil,s. rs he sprang from
his saddle, Polly made her appearance.
Nh, Polly, once more here the new
conner said, as lie drew well filed pair Of
saddle bags from Tie back Of his IA ieued
beast
Yes, and / am glad to see you Jacob
has been sone Loi;l days, and time IS getting
heavy"
Jacob gone Where:''
9 Down the river with load Of CJ,.s'
Oh, yes. Well you shall have the COM
pany Of Liant Morton fer one night at least !;
50 for the next twelve hours you'll be safe !"
OH feel safe enough" returned the
woman quickly only a little lonesome.
Thus speaking, Morton threw his saddle
bags into the cabin and led his horse around
to a low shed where he made the animal fast
and fed him.
After this he returned to the dwelling and
entered, and was soon discussing the events
Of the time over an ample supper. His
hostess had told him all that had transpired
in the ncigborhood since his last visit, and
the visitor gave her all the news OF the east
ern valley. Liant Morton had been mail car
rier upon that route fer several years, and
not once had lie passed to and fro without
spending q night IN Jacob Bulnap's. In
fact he was about the only regular visitor at
the hunters cabin, and although the inter
yals between his visits were long, yet he
seemed allnost fixture to ,he place. Polly
Burnap JUST in tae Loom Ct womanhood
knew his gentle, generous, noble character,
50 she felt perfectly free anl at -.olne in his
prcs>,sc.
+ Il ,<sov~.. On the nc chat your load
is ral;;abIe..' asked Polly.
8 ihi1k not-though it may be- SILL /
am well armed, and | fancy it would be a
tough job for any one to tackle old Morton"
"A man was robbed on the creek few
days ago"
And the robbers have fed, added Nor
ton carclcssly, as he threw his mail bags af-
ter him.
Merton went to bed at nine o'clock, as he
was tired FROM his long ride Polly had
work to do, having neglected it while talking
10 he: guest, so when she had seen lisn safe
at rest in the bed she drew her basket to &
Hilic ldDiC HilcIc tl1 ClldlC WAS ana H~ho w
work upon some clothing for her child who
was soundly sleeping in a corner.
The old German clock upon the wall, with
its great eight and wind strings all exposed,
had struck ten ere Polly arose from her
work She had just pushed the basket be-
meath the table when the front door opened
and two men entered. They were III their
stockings, their shoes having been left out
side
Hush y uttered the foremost intruder.
Speak but one word above whisper and
you die in moment.
Polly recovered from her quick terror and
looked up She saw two stout, wicked, ugly
looking men, one Of whom held a cooked
pistol towards her. With a qulekness Of
perception natural to her, she knew the pis-