Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1902-03-14

A VAIN
RESCUE
BY JOHN
CLARKE

" some years since, the little vii
1age of Roscvale, in the western part
of Nebraska, was in it's regular week
ly condition of eager anticipation, and
most of its population, old and young,
male and female, had collected at the
post office to await the arrival of the
mail from the east, which was the
most anxiously looked for because it
rame but once in seven days. The pos
tai officials had not yet learned the
trick of expediting mail routes.
The mail was carried on horseback,
the usual mode in those days, when
there were neither railroads nor
coaches to connect the remote settle
nent with those nearer to civilization.
When mails were light, one horse
sufficed for the carrier and his charge,
out in this case, Joe Stanton, who
was contractor as we'll as carrier for
she route, used two horseshoe to
carry himself, and the other for the
nailbags-and he took pride in own
ing a pair of steeds as fleet, staunch
and weh-cared for as any in that
country, not only because he was a
great horseman, with fine apprecia-
ton of good stock, but because the
route he Travelled was constantly be-
set with more or less danger, and it
might at any time be necessary for
him to rely upon the swiftness of his
gallant beasts for his own safety, as
well as that of the precious missives
intrusted to his care.
The various Indian tribes, which, in
their wanderings, occasionally crossed
his trail, had for some time professed
to be peaceable, but they were at all
most any moment sufficiently treach-
erous to murder and rob man, or
small party of whites, whenever they
could do SO with safety, and, for a
short time past there had been grow
ing rumors that they would probably
engage in open hostilities as soon as
an alliance of all the principal tribes
could be Effected danger, though
still regarded by the settlers as rather
remote, caused them to exercise I'M
usual vigilance, and rendered Joe
: Stanton more wary and watchful
awhile on the road.
! Joe was at this time a young man
and great strength and agility. He
WAS born and raised in a New England
state, had received a liberal educa-
zion, and, having little beyond his
own resources to depend upon for
success in life, had gone west to push
his fortune in whatever path might
open most promisingly before him.
His first stopping-place was in the
southern part of Indiana, where he
engaged in school-teaching, and fell
hopelessly in love with one of his
scholars, Mile Stacey by name, ro-
bust beauty, with much natural
shrewdness, but little or no refine
ment. AS his passion was returned
with the proper degree Of ardor, Joe,
like all young lovers, was more or less
oblivious of the faults and shortcom-
ings of his inamorata, and, when they
were sometimes a little rudely thrust
upon his attention, consoled himself
with the reflection that he would in
time besable to eradicate them.
The course Of true love ran smooth
iy enough; the fair ones parents IA
Vored Joe's suit, and smiled approx
ingly upon the young peoples en-
gagement; and, when the old folks
decided to remove to the far west,
1t was agreed that Joe should accom-
pany them. and that the marriage
should take place as soon as he
should establish home of his own.
They set out to perform the jour
ney in wagons, Joe doing share of
camp duty, and, besides having pro-
vitled himself with a saddle horse and
bunting by the way and thus added
considerably to the quantity and va
rsety ofsthe party's provisions. He
soon became an expert and enthu-
s:astic hunter and would often spend
an entire day in pursuit of antelope,
deer. and, occasionally, buffalo,
which. however, was not a favorite
siand when anything more tender and
-osthsome Was to be had.