The Red Cloud chief., 1876-05-18
Three Women in Search OF Adventure.
Their Travels and Experience In southern
California

Three Women In Search Of Adventure.
Their Travels and Experiences In southern
California.
Arrived at the rancho, We stopped az
a little frame shanty where our friend,
the driver, told us We might be able 10
get lodgings for a short time. Girls,
we can't stay here" said. looking with
dismay at the rough, looscly-built shed;
but Percy, having decided 10 visit the
canon, was determined 10 put up with
the most meager accommodations. and
answered that we could put up with
anything for a day or two. \ neatly
dressed, swcet-faced woman made her
appearance while we were consulting,
and Percy, as spokeswoman, said: I'VE
have heard of a canon near here that
we want To visit. if YOU can accommo-
date us with board for a few DAYS"
"Iiow many are there in the party"
Three ladies'
NO gentleman with you:" said the
lady, surprised.
None. We are all alonetrayeling
for fun"
How far have you Gomez"
about three thousand five hundred
and tifty-one and a half miles, and board
ourselves" answered Joe. recklesslv.
With that we all began to giggle. as We
do 10Y on the slightest provocation.
1t was a ridiculous sight to see us
three petticoated pilgrims standing in
a row before the shanty in whose door
way stood this Mortified We
laughed until we were scarcely able to
stand, and at last the new acquaintance
joined in and laughed rs heartily as any
of lis. well, if this don't beat the
Dutch. Three ladies travelling all alone
through this country. You are brave
ones. OF course you shall stay, and
right glad I'll he Of your presence. /
will do the best | can for YOU. Bless
your bright faces, it does Inc good to
look at you. Come right in, dears; l was
kind o dazed like at first, for I've lived
here four months and hain't seer a wo-
mans face in all that time. 1t is lonely
here. Why, you don't know how pleas
ant it seems to hear young people laugh,
again. 1t takes me right back home to
the States. Have your baggage put off
the stage. l will show you your room.
Well. well, this Is a surprise"
She opened a door and ushered us into
a bedroom, and left us. The room had
a red and black ingram carpet, clean
bed, curtains of red calico, and table.
chairs and bureau, made of old boxes,
covered with turkey red calico; a red
toilet cushion on the bureau and a red
~watch-case hanging above it, a few
bright autumn leaves pinned on the
wall, and a couple of pictures on each
side of the window. isn't it lovely"
we exclaimed. Who ever thought of
finding this pretty room in such a hut
The furniture is all made of old bar.
rels n boxes" Percy said, lifting the
drapery that concealed the boards: Blu,
how tasteful and neat it looks-a perfect
bit of color study, crimson chintz."
We had all fallen in love with oul
hostess, who reappeared with fresh wa
ter and towels. Ladies, by the time
you have washed and rested l will have
dinner ready. l am all alone at the
rancho to-day. My husband and a hired
man will be home tonight. No one
lives within miles of us. so just do as
you please while you are here. Make
all the noise you can; laugh and sing
it does he good to hear you"
Don't call us ladies'" said Percy, tax
ing her hands and squeezing them be
tween her soft little palms. Then she
introduced us by name, and added: I'VE
are nothing now but a set of wild girls
glad to get away for a while from the
folly and fashion of the world. Mother
III. we brought along to chaperOn us and
fgive dignity to the party, but she is the
widest one of us all; she has dropped
her years and wisdom little by little
until now she is the youngest of the
three, and the biggest goose"
Joe, is that sO?" l appealed.
Il a testify to the literal truth OF
Percy's remark" Joe answered solemn
ly. So. deserted by my friends. l hid my
face in the soft pillows and dozed unit
l was called to dinner.
And a rare one it was. although eater
in a shed. We chatted with Mrs. Aller
about the news of the world: told hel
where We were from. how we got ac
quainted: that we were now on Oul
way to san Diego, the most southern
city of California. to gather abalont
shells. Then she told her little story
Broken health. lost fortune. journey
from the home of her youth to the Paci
fc slope, homesick. i'll, lonely, she had
lived for four months in this place, I'M
cheered by a woman's voice or smile, ]
slpated man. although no word of re
proach or blame crossed her pale lips in
regard to him. She spoke in most re
spectful and lady-like manner about
him. but her surroundings were SO a,
variance with her native taste and re
tinement that | attributed it to its RICH,
cause. For the time being she threw
away care, and under the influence OF
JOS witty sallies. and Percy's dry, pithy
speeches. she frightened and grew quite
girlish. Let me see; we had for dinner
ham and eggs, potatoes. green corn