The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1877-05-03
In a Moment of Peril.

II was most benighted place--.quite
{" the end of the world" The nearest log
hut was five miles away, and the nearest
settlement---the Old Red Ranch, as it was
called---thirty The Forest family had
pitched upon it quite by accident, when
they had migrated from the old country
ten years before. Mr.. Forest had pur-
chased vast tract of uncultivated land on
the Red river, and had settled there, like
the patriarchs of old, with his wife and
children, his men servants and maid SER
wants, his iiocks and herds and everything
that was his.
Since then everything had prospered with
him. Wide ranges of prairie, magnificent
sweeps OF forest and wood, green hills and
dales belonged TO him. lie was literally
and truly monarch of all he surveyed. His
family consisted of his wife, three grown up
sons, and one daughter, Nancie, a sweet,
mischievous, dark-eyed damsel, aged eight
cen, whose capacities for flirting and mis-
chief were as fully developed as any town
bellies One would not have imagined that
there was much scope for these special ac-
complishments i'll the wilds of Texas; but
there was not young fellow within fifty
miles of Forest Hill who was not in love
with Miss Nancie's bedur yeur, and not one
but who would have ridden twice the dis
tance fora kind word or sign of favor from
the somewhat capricious but always charm
ing young beauty.
The Northcotes- distant relatives of the
Forests were the owners of the Red Ranch
settlement, a place one degree more civil
lizcd than Forest Hill, inasmuch as il
boased one shop and a post office. Young
Fred Northcote, the eldest son, was one OF
Miss Nancie's most devoted slaves, and as
ksuch, was tyrannized over quite unmerc-
Fully. The Young fellow was always
finding his way over to Forest Hill on some
pretext or other. lie had spoken his wishes
plainly enough long before, but Miss Nancie
NSsss tlirt. She would not say "Yes," but
she aid not say mo-" and meanwhile Fred
was kepE in suspense, chatting and impatient
enough, ancl, yet bound hand and foot to his
willful, clarifying lady love, and perhaps,
man like, lowing her all the more for her
caprice.
summer weather in the far West, the sun
already blazing down fercely and promis-
ing tropical noon-day
Mr.. Forest and young Fred Northcote,
who had been spending day or two at
the pictures, We porch of the long, farm
house. Fred was a brown-faced, blue
eyed young fellow, strong and athletic. He
looked very handsome in his careless back
woods costume of knickerbockers and
CATERS, striped blue and white shirt, light
loose jacket, and broad brimmed hat shad-
ing his manly, frank face, with its soft
mustache and bright keen eyes. A black
horse of great beauty, deep-chested, strong
limbed, was standing beside him, paving
the ground and tossing his handsome head
under his masters caressing hand. Hot
spur was an English horse, almost thor
ough-bred. For fifty miles round there was
not his equal for speed or endurance, nor,
in Fred's opinion, ior beauty either. Mr.
Forest was speaking
i hear the prairie has been on fire away
by the North Forks. Mind you do not get
caught The wind sets right from there, and
it is just the weather for fires
No fear,' laughed the young fellow, as lie
put one foot in the stirrup; I've run many
a race with a prairie fire before now. Good
bye, sir
Cousin Fred, Cousin Fred, want to go
to the Red Ranch; you must wait for mep
cried pretty, imperious voice Just as
fred's horse had made a step forward and
a tall, slight girl came running down the
veranda steps, her nut brown hair shining
like FURNISHED gold in the sunlight,
bright color in her fair arch face. Fred
was down instantly, his face assuming an
expression OF surprise. Not half an hour
before lie and Nancy had had high words,
and that she should voluntarily seek his
escort now was somewhat unaccountable
But most of Miss Nances caprices were
unaccountable.
1t is too hot, child interposed her faith
or. Thirty miles in this blazing sun---it
would half kill you
'Oh, no, it would not urged Nancie, her
dark eyes sweet and willful. 1t will not
hurt me. Let me go, daddy--..do! | can
ride Miss Mollie, and with half shy,
half mischieyous look at the young man.
Fred will take care of me-
Mr.. Forrest raised one or two more objec-
tions; but Nancie---a spoilt pet and darling
overruled them all, and finally, as she. al
ways did, got her own way, and in half an
hour the two were riding together through
the maple woods which clothed the rising
ground all about Forest Hill. Nancie and
her chestnut mare, Miss Mollie, were a pic
ture to look at. The girl was perfect
rider, and in her close fitting habit of light
gray cloth---the only thing suitable for the
country---with its touch of scarlet ribbon at
the throat, and her broad brimmed straw
hat, looked her very best, and knew it, too.
This is an unexpected honor began
Fred, as they quilted the shade of the trees,
and entered on the dry, crisp grass of the
open prairie.
DO not hatter YOURSELF returned Miss
Nancie, with toss of her bright young
head. 1T suited my convenience to come.
expect to find some letters at the settle
ment which wish to get for myself
Sixty miles is along way to ride for let
ters which / could have brought with me on