The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1895-03-21
A HEROINE UNAWARES.
The Story Of Western Emil
grants Pluclzy Daughter.

The Story Of q Western Emil
grants Pluclzy Daughter.
The red sun hung above the dim,
ono smoky morning. Not breath Of
air stirred the rustling prairie grass,
not breeze stirred tho willing Leaves
upon the solitary tree by the spring
The soldiers guarding stage station c
were ohattoring together seated upon
the shady sides of their tents.
''Thero's three emigrant wagons
blamed If there ain't!" exclaimed Pri-
vatc Knowles, incrcdulously. ~
That's fact" declared Lieut., Som
mers lowering his field glass. There
they arc, three wagons loaded with
men, women and children and the
whole country alive with Indians!
Crazy people arc not oil in insane asy-
lums."
The men wondered and commented
as the three wagons slowly drcw near
ond halted near tho spring. Perched
upon the back Of the huge gray leader,
in the foremost team, was girl with
thin, white face, carcworn and emotion
less. The figure was that of child Of
perhaps fourteen years; the face wns
that of woman who had met with
moro 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 tho mans cordial
greeting, as they all descended.
"Seems good ter stretch yer legs when
you've boon drivin' most tho night
How are you, stranger?' returned
Private Knowles. Where do you think
you're travelling to, anyway"
oval, 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
IDENTIFY.
"Arc 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, us four
poor fellows in the tent yonder testify.
They're on the warpath on account of
the little unpleasantness at Deer Lick,
last week. Bett>r stay here until they
get quoted down"
'.No-up! Some oncll take the land
afore us if we don't push on" was the
sullen, determined answer.
That's so. Smutty Joe writ 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 siXtccn-shootcrs besides rcvolvcrs
plenty, an rccllin' we kin use 'em.
Oar wimmcn folks amt slow when it
Gums ter shootin' irons. tell yc, an
lakes Nance is Il whole team with
rifle. you bet! Wen go ahead"
That's the talk" asserted the third
mar, while the women nodded approx
ing!v, and the eff upon the gray lead
err, hack laughed shrilly IF you
feilrra will jest let us bile the tealxittle
an water the HOSES arter fodderin' lem,
well push right on"
Its 10 use to say any more to them.
They're Sound for the kingdom come"
disgust. The commander better give
orders to make EN- stay here, anyway"
But before the order was given the
wagons were on their way across the
| prairie. The men watched the cloud
OF alkaH dust which oyerhunR the
whtc-topped wagons until it disap-
! pearcd 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
| sky, hung like n ball Of fire overhead,
and slowly sank toward the dim west
| ern horizon.
Still no news from the emigrants.
They're dead - sure's thundcr"
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 n horse and rider dash over
a ridge mile away. An instant and
it 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 clfn Nance Her face
was n trinc pale perhaps, but as emo
tionlcss 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