The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1902-03-20
IN a pleasant summer evening

I'm pleasant summer evening,
~ some years since, the little vii
tlngc OF Roscvale, In the western part
of Nebraska, was In It's regular week
.Iy condition OF eager anticipation, and
most OF its population, old and young,
male and female, Ind collected at the
post Office To await the arrival of the
'mnil from the east, which was the
most anxiously looked for because 1t
cnmc but once In seven days. The pos
cal 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
ment with those nearer To civilization.
When mails were light. one horse
aufiiccd for the carrier and his charge,
but In this case, Joe stanton, who
WINS contractor as well as carrier Tor
lhe route, used two horscs-one to
carry himself. and the other for the
mai!bags--and he took pride In own
ing q pair of steeds ms fleet. staunch
and well.cared for nv any In that
country, not only because he was n
great horseman, with fine apprccin-
tion of good stock. but because the
route he travelled wis constantly be.
set with more or less danger, and II
nsiight Mt any time be necessary for
him to rely upon the swiftnesa of his
gallant beasts for his own safety, as
well ne that of the precious missi'es
intrusted TO his care.
The various Indian tribes, which, In
their wanderings, occasionally crossed
his trail, had for some time professcd
90 be peaceablc. but they were Mt al
most any moment sufficiently trench
erous to murder and rob man. or d
small party of whites. whenever they
.could do so with safety. and, for 4
short time past there hnd been grow
ing rumors that they would probnbl,
engage In open hostilities MS soon al
an alliance Of all the principal tribes
could be effected. This danger, though
still regarded by the settlers ns rather
vcniote, caused them to exercise un
usual vigilance, and rendered Jo'
stanton more wary and watchfu
while ON the road.
Joe was at this time young maj
of 25. more or less, of fine appearance
and great strength and agility. III
was born nnd raised in New Englan,
state. had received liberal educa
tion, and, having little beyond hi
own resources Ia depend upon 70
success In life, had gone west to pusl
his fortune IN whatever path nigh
open most promisingly before hin
Ills first stopplng-place was In ih
southern part of Indiana, where h
engaged in school-tcaching, and feI
hopeiessiy In love with one Of III
scholars, Millie Stacey by name, ro
bust beauty, with much nntura
-shrewdness, but little or no refine
.nent. As his passion wns returne
with the proper degree of ardor, Joe
Hike all young lovers, was more or les
,oblivious of the faults and shortcon
ings OF his inamorata, and, when the
were sometimes little rudely thrus
upon his attention, consoled himseI
with the reflection that he would !
xiine be able TO eradicate them.
The course of true love ran smooth
" enough; the fair ones parents Il
sored Joe's suit. and smiled. appro'
dngly upon the young peoples ei
igagement; and, when the old foll
decided to remove To the far ives
IL was agreed that Joe should accon
pany them, and that the mnrrlag
should take place az soon ns b
should establish home Of his own.
They set out to perform the jou
ncy In wagons, Joe doing u share I
camp duty, and. besides having pr
vided himself with n saddle horse IN
good rife. he spent some time
hunting by the wny. and thus add'
7 conslderabIy to the quantity nnd "
srsety OF the party's provisions. II
sod6 became an expert and enth'
nianfic hunter and would often spcn
nm entire day In pursuit OF antelop
deer. and. occasionally, bnhai
which. however, was not fnvori'
Wand when anything more tender IN
4 t0othromc was to be had.
y Tie had gone out one day. whe
the party had reached point o', the
iosifnsy near the site now occupied !
(. <1lnostnIe, aud, returning IN the evel
]lor q ths spot where he suppose
z 1npab should he. failed 10 find !
~ tpckward on the road. he Z
4 I1)ne upoD the sinoulderin