Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1895-05-23
A HEROINE UNAWARES.
The Story Of a Western Emil
grants Plucky Daughter.

hazy earth like a glowing ball of fire
one smoky morning, Not breath OF
air stirred the rustling prairie grass,
not a breeze stirred the whiting leaves
upon the solitary tree by the spring,
The soldiers guarding stage station c
were chattcring together seated upon
the shady sides Of their tents.
"rhcre's three emigrant wagons
blamed II 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 lndiansI
Crazy people are not all in insane asy-
lums."
The men wondered and commented
as the three wagons slowly drew near
md halted ncas.tbe 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; tho 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 pecred from the
depths behind him.
"IIow'd do?' was the mans cordial
greeting, as they all descended
"Secms good ter stretch yer legs when
you've been drivin' most the night V
"low are you, stranger?' returned
Private Knowles. Where doyou 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
aimn' fur" answered the man conf
IDENTITY.
"Arc you idiots" shouted Lieut. som
mers "'rhis country Is full of red
skins. They've wiped ont 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 unpleasantncss at Deer Lick
last week. Better stay hero until they
get quieted down"
"No.upl Some one'll take the land
afore us If we don't push on was the
sullen, determined answer.
"Thats so. smutty Joe writ a letter
ter Indcranny fer money ter scoot, an
he won't stop fer no lnjuns," said
another Of the men. We've got seven
rood sixteen-shootcrs, besidcsrcvolvers
plenty, an reckin' we kin usc en-
Our wimnen folks amt slow when II
Gums ter shootin irons, ] tell ye, an
Jake's Nance Is a whole team with q
rifle, you betl Wen go ahead
That's the talk, asserted the third
man, while the women nodded APPROX
inely, and the elf upon the gray lead
ers back laughed shrilly. III you
fcllers will Jest let us bile the teakittle
an water the hosses arter fodderin EN-,
we'll push right on"
ats no use to say any more to them
They're bound for the kingdom come" "
said Lieut.. Sommers, walking away in
disgust. "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 1t disap-
peared from sight.
"see to your arms and have your
cartridge belts full. They are sure to
call upon us before long, II 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 - sures thunder.
calculated Ben Long. They neyer'd
zone 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
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 elfn Nance, Her face
was trae pale perhaps, but as 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 thither In confusion and
haste.