Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1879-10-02


The great archangeps pen
Wrote no sin 'gainst her, when
She kissed in her pure passion.
In heaven hearts are matched,
On earth our fortunes patched,
In both she keeps in fashion.
A WESTERN HEROINE.
Rose Maguire's Midnight Ride. go
We were on the upgrade, and six
horses were slowly pulling their best.
We were in a forest Of mountains, each
spiked over it's top by row of pines,
standing straight and stiff against the
horizon. I could see the road far ahead,
winding round the ascent like girdling
ribbon, and bending over the side, while
resinous, piney fragrance enchanted my
nostrils. 1 looked into the depths of
pine forest, with its waste of underbrush
springing round the roots, and a marvel
Of cool, dull green underlying it all.
Exceptionally fine weather it was, the
stage driver said, for this time of the
year. was out on the box, you will un-
dcrstand, because it made me sick to ride
inside, and for this once was glad of it.
Pcrched so far above ground, I had felt
as though korne in air. and should have
liked to snatch the reins from his hands
and get the horses into mad gallop up
hill and down. The mountain air was
as heady rs champagne, and the chang
ing view spread before nae dazzled my
eyes. a hundred times called to Tom,
yawning and browsing his time inside, to
look from his window at the hooks and
glcns 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 were crawling on the
upgrade, round projection ahead of us
appeared woman on horseback. Our
driver frightened his slack reins, and gave
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 fell
into a smart tot. The horsewoman
ahead shook her bride, and, without
warming, her pony stretched itself into a
sharp gallop, and as its flying feet touch
cd the ground she rose in the saddle like
a 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 braid down her
back, and was tied with an end of red
ribbon; her checks and lips were rosy as
the sunset that called tho blush to the
foir oho l01
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 a recognition as she passed.
Tom poked his lazy head out of the
window to look after her. IA decentish-
looking girl, that; mettlesome, I should
say he called up to me. "Just call my
attention in tine when another such
view heaves into sight, will you?'
l 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 eff the off wheeler, and he said,
"That's Rosie Magui1e!'
"Indeedv 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 he 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 were in my mind.
Rose Mcguire came into these parts
alone with her father when he opened the
"hotel." Being without mother, she
had no bringing up, and early took to
horses. From a little girl up, she had
never minded whether horse was tame
or a wild one. Put her once in the sad
die, and she stuck to it like est. She
knew her way among the hills better
than she knew her way along the lines
of a book, and day sitter 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 throug III the
town on her horse, from this direction o,
that, she was sight as we'll known as
the stage itself dashing up to the door Of
her fathers "hotel." -:
There wasn't young man Whereabouts
but had his eye on Rose Mcguire for {
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 8
look that was like spiced wine OF thirst
just to keep them on the string the lit.
tie flirt.
Among these admirers was homely
fellow, who'd have given hand and foot
for little Rose-one John Winstanley by
name, but called, for short, Johnny Win
If ever there was one man at whom she
snufted up her little nose it was Johnny
She ordered him to her stirrup and new
er noticed him when he came; she cut
HIM dead without a look, and again spear.
ed him through with glance she smil.
ed upon the veriest good-for nothtngs
when ho was near, and at times he wish
ed that he had been dog, that ne might
shrink into corner by himself, so hurt
he felt. He was one of the owners o.
the short stage line, and was not above
taking the whip himself when occasion
demanQeC, anu many ana many uay
had he invited Rosie for ride in thu
seat Of honor by his side, but she'd onl!
shake her head and smile, like the witcl
that she was. "I1l ride in your stag
when I get to be q lady, and go for m,
wedding Journey ~ she cried after hin
one day, and on his return that night h
found her walking with a fellow that ha'
ust opened store in town. "Well, well,
he said to Tim Mcguire, after supper
'sfrom this time on its. good-by Rosi
with me-. 5.. .,E .s.@ 49,
This speech was duly repeated to hel
and her chin went up IN the air, be
cheeks grew rcader and her black eye
brighter, and her dainty ears perked ane,
IN offended dignity. Now hear to mt
father" said she; it's we'll Johnny's cor