The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1895-03-07
A HEROINE UNAWARES.
The Story Of a Western Emil
grants Plucky Daughter.

udZy edrCu like klOWiuk unAA VI urc
one smoky morning. Not breath Of
air stirred the rustling prairie grass,
not breeze stirred the whiting leaves
upon the solitary tree by the spring.
The soldiers guarding stage station c
were chattering together seated upon
the shady sides of their tents.
There's three emigrant wagons
blamed if there ANTI" 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
Gnd halted near the spring. Perched
upon the back of the huge gray leader,
in the foremost team, was a 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 a 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
aimin' fur" answered the man conf
IDENTIFY.
'.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 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 guieted down"
"No-up! Some onell take the land
afore us if we don't push on" was the
sullen, determined answer.
"That's 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 reckin' we kin use 'em.
Our wimmen folks amt slow when it
Gums ter shootin' irons, l tell We, an
Jake's Nance is whole team with a
rifle, you bet! Well 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 teakittle
n'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. 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 allsali dust which overhung the
white-topped wagons until it disap-
peared from sight.
''See 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
SLY, 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-h!" Each man
followed Ben's eager gaze. Through
the gathering twilight they saw the
outline of horse and rider dash over
a ridge mile away. An instant and
1t 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 elfn Nance. Her face
was a trifle pale perhaps, but at emo
tionless as when she left the camp in
the morning. The call to boots and
saddles sounded before the painting
horse stopped. aud the troopers ran
hither and thithsr in confusion and
haste