The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1866-02-05
The Border Heroine.

i <4H the rear Round.
.r The Border Heroine.
Some years ago, before the State of Arkan-
sas was so densely populated as now, and
when the mails from Little Rock to the east
ern borders were carried on horseback, there
go lived few miles above Horsehead, a stout
pioneer named Jacob Burnap. His wife, Pol
~, and one child, nine years old, made up his
family. His chief business was hunting, and
his unerring rife never failed to supply his
board and something over. His nearest neigh
Dor was fifteen miles off, SO he was little troub-
led with prying visitors. ll4 N
1t was in the early spring that Jacob started
down the river with boat load of furs and
skins. He left Polly in charge of the premises,
and left with her too, light rifle and brace
of pistols. She knew how to use the rifle, for
% never was she happier than when her hus-
band patted her on the shoulder and said !:
81 "Nobly done, Polly, my dear; could not have
made better shot myself" And he had oc-
casion to say this with truth, too. ,.FT
y Jacob Burnap had been gone four days,
when toward evening horseman rode up to
the hunters door, he was small, muscular
I'D man, some forty years of age and seemed in
ured to all hardships. As he sprang from his
saddle, Polly made her appearance. 4
sab, Polly, once more here" the new conner
said, as he drew well-filled pair of saddle
bags from the back OF his fatigued beast.
'o1 eyes, am glad to see you; Jacob has been
~, gone four days, and time is getting heavy"
"Down the river with a load OF ftlrs."
"Oh, yes. Well you shall have the company
of Liant Morton for one night at least; SO for
the next twelve hours you will be safe."
= f. "Oh-I feel safe enough" returned the
5.ai. woman quickly, "only little lonesome"
Thus speaking, Morton threw his saddle
e. bags into the cabin, and led his horse round
-' to a low shed, where he made the animal fast
o and fed him. ra
nuIo After this he returned to the dwelling and
entered, and was soon discussing the events of
=t the time over an ample supper. His hostess
Ia had told him all that had transpired in the
neighborhood since his last visit, and the yisi-
tor gave her all the news of the eastern valley
Liant Morton had been mail carrier upon that
route for several years, and not once had he
passed to and fro without spending night at
Jacob Burnap's. IN fact he was about the
J. only regular visitor at the hunters cabin, and
although the intervals between his visits
were long, yet he seemed almost fixture to
d, the place Polly Burnap, inst in the bloom of
womanhood, knew his gentle, generous, noble
character, SO she felt perfectly free and at home
3 in his presence. l II ,s5eao. .,r7e.,
% sis it known ON the route that your load is
valuablep' asked Polly is % ate4 =
81 think not-though it may be. Still am
well armed, and fancy it would be a toua b
= job to tackle old Morton" sT ~
"a man was robbed on the creek few days
ago" 5o
aAnd the robbers have fed" added Morton
carlessly, as he threw his mail bags after him.
Morton went to bed at nine o'clock, as he
W. IL ha,,;,,,r -,aoIootaS - ,nh;,a . I'm
guest, so when she had seen him safe at rest
in the bed, she drew her basket to little
table where the candle was, and went to work
upon some clothing for her child who was
IT, ia Garreon oIoo,S ,,ro,,' 4ho ro1,g ,.;.,,
-. ~ 1919 a,,5 ono on, WIN
.o sreas ta5, , a'1 p mla a an
She had inst nnsheJ tbe bos.at han nea W. .
tahe Suhsn the front doo orened eau INC .ne
men entered Thew we're in her sto ,..I o@o
LII; 49,. 80 Ia =, . .u.n S'osNinSS'
sHn 1 p S ss;d tse foaar, e,s ;ntr,d.r
1Sneat b,1t one word and CON ~. o ue da.a r.
Aa Span Dus oie WIN anu YOU arc ues'o LII
Po1Iu roconorod fror her ou;ck +orror o,a
,ooked nn She cow two stout ,viclaS , CIV
ioi.; ~" ~. S 90 ~ ",sASus uSy
tn natnral 70 bor She Inas1 to st1,t ,',t1
not he fred if She held her nea p' % What that
o,,ld ,oai,o ,,oro ,,o;sa tban il soId Z, "Is
and t,,rthar-ba recoo,,;zal =, H. foro.aast
notor;o,,s villain Who Ioro tba ,a,,,a ~ MI
Galius -i''-ie y
She had never seen him before but the mi
n,,ta daSorntion her bnshanJ bad n;var Lor ~
the man. led her tO know him and D0Sitivplv
tool for one hio soar On the left cbees was
mark enough. -
9What do Won seek. gentlemen 9o asked Pol
l., -. ov $500, 3, 49, e.. Va
sWa have coma to seelr the mai, carr;er -
one replied in 4 hoarse whisper. aWhere is
hep Don't speak too loud. - ssfa0 -.
aHe IL love- S;nce asiaan wo,ld ~ MT a.,
as well to see him in the morning? We can
find Won a room and lodging.n - !
The fair hostess said this for the purpose of
gaining time, She knew very well these men
had come to rob the carrier. and eouallv sure
that they would murder him, if thew could
and would in all probability. mt her ont III
the wav az we'll They hal evidentIu ioorned
tbe vainal,le load he carried and naa-t ~
carry Il instead. ''-- -F 80 "
HNeyer mind his beinp asleen. Show ne a.
d once where he is.n ROUGHLY renlied Gallns in
answer to Polly,s last remark. - ~
,ss "But can call him. good sirs y reasonad the
woman calmly. though there was alarm in her
souI q CSsIrlroC5rF ;. -, 80 :
"Call him call n growled the villain with a
fierce oath. "You call him and you will be
called to another world. Quick show us the
way.n : llld "a Il .ta8 eEel
The mild eye that could aim an unerring
bullet at the forest beast, did not even betray
the thoughts of the woman's soul, nor did a
look tell her meaning. She was very pale but
did not tremble. --.,
And as she apoke she turned towards the
door of the little bedroom bantry. She did
not open it till both the men were close behind
her.
Don't Won hear him breathe 2v
90, eyes," returned the villains. And thew
did hear hreatbinr ht =. ais r. 1I my ~
close at hand "u' ~ "aS,o' tle cniid