The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1895-03-02
A HEROINE UNAWARES.
Tho Story OF a Western Emil
grants Plucky Daughter.

This red sun hung above the dim
hazy earth like n glowing ball of fire
one smoky morning. Not breath OF
mir stirred the rustling prairie grass
not breeze stirred the willing leaves
upon the solitary tree by the spring
The soldiers guarding stage station {
were chattering together seated upon
the shady sides of their tents.
There's three emigrant wagons
blamed if there anti" exclaimed Pri.
vate Knowles, incrcdulously.
That's n fact" declared Lieut.. Som.
mcrs, lowering his field glass. There
they are, three wagons loaded with
men, women and children and the
whole country alive with Indians!
Crazy people are not all in insane asy-
lums."
The men wondered and commented
as the three wagons slowly drew near
IND halted near the spring. Pcrched
upon the back of the huge gray leader,
in the foremost team, was n girl with a
thin, white face, careworn and emotion
less. The figure was that of child of
perhaps fourteen years; the face was
that of n woman who had met with
more disappointment than pleasure in
this world. A man sat just within the
white canvas cover of the wagon, while
four or five children peered from the
depths behind him.
How'd yc do?" was the mans cordial
greeting, as they all descended.
"Secms good ter stretch yer legs when
you've been drivin' most the night"
How are you, stranger" returned
Private Knowles. "Whcrc do you think
you're travelling to, anyway"
wal, we heard as how there wus
good scttlin' land bout fifty miles fur
der on, an low there's where we're
amin fur" answered the man conf
IDENTIFY,
Are you idiots?" shouted Lieut.. SOM
mcrs This country is full of red
skins. They've wiped out nearly every
stage station for seventy miles or more
They gave us call yesterday, as four
poor fellows in the tent yondcr testify.
They're on the warpath on account Of
the little uuplcasantness Mt Deer Lick,
last week. Better stay here until they
get quoted down."
"No-upl Some one'll take the land
aforc us II we don't push on" was the
sullen, determined answer.
That's so. Smutty Joe writ q letter
ter Indcranny fer money ter scoot, an
he won't stop fer no Injuns," said
another of the men. "We've got seven
good sixtcen-shooters, besides revolvers
plenty, an recllin' we kin use 'cm.
Our wimmen folks amt slow when it
Gums ter shootin' irons, tell We, an
Jake's Nance is whole team with
rifle, you bet! Wen go ahead"
That's the talk" asserted the third
man, while the women nodded approx
ingly, and the elf upon the gray lead
er's back laughed shrilly. IF you
fellers will jest let us bile the teakitsle
an water the bosses arter foddcrin' 'em,
we'll push right on"
ITS no use to say any more to them.
They're bound for the kingdom come"
said Lieut.. Sommers, walking away in
disgust. 1.-THE commander better give
orders to make em stay here, anyway"
But before the order was given the
wagons were on their way across the
prairie. The men watched the cloud
of alkali dust which overhung the
white-topped wagons until it disap-
pcared from sight.
"Soo to your arms and have your
cartridge belts full. They are sure to
call upon us before long, If they can
reach u.s." was the order.
The sun rose higher In the murky
sky, hung like ball of fire overhead,
and slowly sank toward the dim west
ern horizon.
Still no news from the emigrants.
They're dead : sure's thunder"
calculated Ben Long. "They never'd
gone this time. A-h-hi" Each man
followed Ben's eager gaze. Through
the gathering twilight they saw the
outline of n horse and rider dash over
ridge mile away. An instant and
IL was gone, but the sound Of horses
hoofs came nearer and nearer until
out Of the gloom dashed the great gray
leader.
His rider was elfln Nance. Her face
was trifle pale perhaps, but 90 emo
tionless as when she left the camp In
the morning.. The call to boots and
saddles sounded before the painting
horse stopped, and the troopers ran
hither and thithcr In confusion and
haste.