The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1879-10-01
A WESTERN HEROINE.
Rose Maguire's Midnight Ride.

A WESTERN HEROINE.
Rose Maguire's Midnight Ride.
We were on the upgrade, and six
horses were slowly pulling their best.
We were in forest of mountains, each
spiked over its top by row of pines,
standing straight and stiff against the
horizon. I could see the road far ahead,
winding round the ascent like a girdling
ribbon, and bending over the side, while
aresinous, piney fragrance enchanted my
nostrils. looked into the depths Of a
pine forest, with its waste of uuderbrush
springing round the roots, and marvel
Of cool, dull green underlying it all.
Exceptionally fine weather it was,' the
stage-driver said, for this time of the
year. Twas out on the box, you will un-
derstand, because it made me sick to ride
inside, and for this once was glad of it.
Perched so far above ground, had felt
as though borne in air. and should have
liked to snatch the reins from his hands
and set the horses into mad gallop up
hill and down. The mountain air was
as heady as champagne, and the chang
ing view spread before me dazzled my
eyes. a hundred times I called to Tom,
yawning and browsing his time inside, to
look from his window at the hooks and
glens among the windings of the brawl-
ing stream, or the sudden plunges we
made into ravines, or the grand rise of
mountain above mountain revealed to US
by our own elevation.
Suddenly, as we we're crawling On the
upgrade, round a projection ahead Of us
appeared a woman on horseback. Our
driver frightened his slack reins, and gave
a low, peculiar whistle to his horses.
Six pair of ears Strengthened briskly, the
tagging hoofs picked themselves up and
every horse began to pull, so that we tell
into a smart tot. The horsewoman
ahead shook her bride, and, without
warning, her pony stretched itself into a
sharp gallop, and as its flying feet touch
ed the ground, she rose in the saddle like
bird, with light, easy, graceful motion
Of the shouldes, and careless polse of
the head. So we passed one another in
fine style, and as she dashed along the
road she was quite an excitement to me.
Her black eyes were dark and prankish,
her black hair hung in a braid down her
back, and was tied with an end of red
ribbon; her cheeks and lips were rosy as
the sunset that called the blush to the
mountain, and she had saucy cap on
her head. She had witching, catch-me-
if-you-dare face, when you took it all to
gether, and she flashed up at the box
seat recognition as she passed,
Tom poked his lazy head out of the
window to look after her. "a decentish-
looking girl, that; mettlesome, should
say" he called up to me. "Just call my
attention in THE when another such
view heaves into sight, will you?"
I saw the corners Of the drivers mouth
jerking in half smile. He clicked to-
his horses, hemmed bit, arranged his
coat-collar, then fixed his gaze between
the ears eft the off wheeler, and he said,
''That's Rosie Magui1e!" -.
"Indeed!'' I said, my eyebrows twist
ing into an interrogation point.
''Yes'm, Tim Maguire's daughter oAer
into the town, and as soon as we get up
this mount and strike the Bunker grade
we'll be there in less than an hour.''
That is the way he began to tell me
the story, which, as near as I can shall
tell to you. had the shifting scene be-
fore me, though the spot in which the
plot was laid and played and the chief
actors we're in my mind. .. s-.s
Rose Mcguire came into these parts
alone with her father when he opened the
"hotel." Being without a mother, she
had no bringing up, and early took to
horses. From little girl up, she had
never minded whether horse was q tame
or wild one. Put her once in the sad
die, and she stuck to it like cat. She
knew her way among the hills better
than she knew her way along the lines
Of book, and day after day she was out
among them, riding none knew whittier,
till her fancy called her home. Had she
met danger in human form, she'd have
shaken her horses heels in its face, and
been off on the gallop before it could have
drawn breath. AS she came through the
town ON her horse, from this direction or
that, she was sight as we'll known as
the stage itself dashing up to the door of
her fathers "hotel.'' -. ~ ,.@.H,,.
There wasn't young man thereabouts
but had his eye on Rose Mcguire for q
wife by-and-by, if she'd have him. But
Rose, she tossed her head at each and all,
though she threw glance at them now
and then from under, her lashes, with a
look that was like spiced wine ot thirst,
just to keep them on the string the lit:
tie firt. .s.,e. .<.r.. .5.Ho: .z1tars; f. .-el
Among these admirers was 9homely
fellow, who'd have given hand and foot
tor little Rose one John Winstanley by
name, but called, for short, Johnny Win
1t ever there was one man at whom she
snutted up her little nose it was Johnny
She ordered him to her stirrup and new.
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