The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1876-02-10
THE BORDER HEROINE.

Some wears ago, before the State of
Arkansas was SO densely populated
as now, and when the mails from Lit
! tie Rock TO the eastern borders were
carried on horseback, there lived a
few miles above Uorsehead stout
pioneer named Jacob Burnap. His
wife Polly and one child nine years
old made up his family. His chief
business was hunting, and his uner-
ring rifle never failed TO supply his
board and something over. His
nearest neighbor was fifteen miles off,
so he was little troubled with prying
visitors.
1t was in the early spring that Ja
cob started down the river with a
boat-load of furs and skins. He left
Polly in charge of the premises and
he left with her, too, light rifle and
q brace of pistols. She knew how to,
use the rifle. for never was she hep
pier than when her husband patted
her on the shoulder and said, "Nobly
done, Polly, my dear; | could not
have made a better shot myself"
And he had occasion to say this
with truth, too.
Jacob Burnap had been gone four
days, when towards evening horse
man rode up to the hunters door.
He was a small, muscular man, some
forty years OF age, and seemed Injured
to all hardships. AS he sprang from
his saddle, Polly made her appear
ance.
"Ah, Polly, once more here, the
new conner said, rs he drew a we'll
filled pair of saddle-bags from the
back of his fatigued beast.
"Yes, and l am glad to see you.
Jacob has been gone four days, and
time is getting heavy"
Jacob Gone? Where?"
"Down the river, with load Of
furs."
"Oh, yes. Well, you shall have the
company of Liant Morton for one
night at least; so for the next twelve
hours you'll be safe"
"Oh, feel safe enough" returned
the woman quickly-"only little
lonesome"
Thus speaking, Morton threw his
saddle bags into the cabin and led his
horse aronnd to low shed, where he
made the animal fast and fed him.
After this he returned to the dwell
ing and entered, and was soon dis
cussing the events of the time over
an ample supper. His hostess had
told him all that had transpired in
the neighbo rhood since his last visit,
and the visitor gave her all the ews
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 spend
ing q night at Jacob Burnap's. In
fact, he was about the only regular
visitor at that hunters cabin; and al
though the intervals between his Wis.,
its were long, yet he seemed almost a
fixture to the place. Polly Burnap,
just in the bloom OF womanhood,
knew his gentle, generous, noble
character; so she felt perfectly free
and at home in his presence.
"Is it not known on the route that
your load is valuable? ?" asked Polly.
81 think not-though it may be.
Still, am well armed. and | fancy it
would be very tough jsb for any
one to tackle old Norton"
"a man was robbed Oh the creek
few days ago."
"And the robbers have fed" added
Morton, carelessly, as he threw his
mail bags after him.
Morton went to bed at nine O'Clock,
as he was tired from his long ride.
Polly had work to do, having neg
lected it while talking to her guest
so when she had seen him safe at rest
she drew her basket to a little table
where the candle was, and went to
work upon some clothing for her
child, who was soundly sleeping in a |
corner.
The old German clock upon the
wall, with its great weight and wind
strings ali exposed, had struck ten
ere Polly rose from her work. She