The Canton times., 1895-03-08
A HEROINE UNAWARES.
The Story Of a Western Emil
grants Plucky Daughter.

The red sun hung ABOVE the dim,
hazy earth like glowing ball Of fire
one smoky morning. Not a breath of
air stirred the rustling prairie grass,
not breeze stirred the willing leaves
upon the solitary tree by the spring.
The soldiers guarding stage station q
were chattering together seated upon
the shady sides Of their tents
There's three emigrant wagons
blamed if there ain't!" exclaimed Pri-
vate Knowles, incredulously.
That's fact" declared Lieut.. Som
mers, 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
and halted near the spring. Perched
upon the back Of the huge gray leader,
in the foremost team, was 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 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 ye do?" was the mans cordial
greeting. as they all descended.
"Seems good ter stretch yer legs when
you've been drivin' most the night"
"How are you, stranger" returned
Private Knowles where do you think
you're travelling to, anyway"
"Wal. we heard as how there wus
good settlin' land bout fifty miles fur
der on, an low there's where we're
amin fur" answered the man conf
dently.
Are you idiots?" shouted Lieut.. Som
mers. This country is full of red
skins They've wiped out nearly every
stage station for seventy miles or more.
They gave us a call yesterday, as four
poor fellows in the tent yonder testify.
They're on the warpath on account OF
the little unpleasantness at Deer Lick,
last week. Better stay here until they
get quieted down" :,
..No-up! Some one'll take the land
afore us If we don't push on" was the
sullen, determined answer.
"Thats so. Smutty Joe writ letter
ter Inderanny fer money ter scoot, an
he won't stop fer no Injuns," said
another of the men. We've got seven
good sixteen-shooters, besides revolvers
plenty, an reclxin' we kin use em.
Our wimmen folks amt slow when 1t
GUMS ter shootin' irons, l tell ye, an
Jake's Nance is whole team with
rife, you betl Well go ahead.
"That's the talk" asserted the third
man. while the women nodded approv-
inply. and the elf upon the gray lead
er's back laughed shrilly. III you
fellers will Jest let us bile the teakittle
an, water the hosses arter fodderin' 'em,
we'll push right on"
"It's no use to say any more to them.
they're bound for the kingdom come,
said Lieut.. Sommers, walking away In
disgust. ssThe 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 allxali dust which overhunR the
white-topped wagons until 1t disap-
peared from sight
"See to your arms and have your
cartridge belts full They are sure to
call upon MS before long, II they can
..o,h ne WAS the order.
The sun rose higher in the murky
slxy. hung like ball Of fire overhead,
and slowly sank toward the dim west
ern horizon.
still no news from the emigrants.
ssThey're dead -surs's thunderT