The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1881-04-14
WEDDING GUESTS.
IN Episode Of Pioneer Life in Colorado

All the hills were melting in the
opal dimness of the soft October haze,
through which, among the pines,
aspen groves shone like yellow flames:
The air, in it's mingled brightness and
vigor, rekindled that pure JOY of liz.
inc whose loss the effeminate world
bewails to-day. But it also reminded
the miner that it was time to bank
his cabin, or leave for the valley, q
thing he was likely to do earlier than
usual this year on account of threat
ened Indian troubles. 1t likewise set
Mrs. Kent to making preparations FOR
her only daughters wedding. Out
there weddings do not occur every
day, nor are they generally Of great
importance when they do. Mrs. Kent
having been widowed by accident
some years before, had proved herself
brisk, capable woman, had opened a
stopping place on the road to the
mines. and made it, with Mandy's
help, 80 clean, so homelike and popu-
lar, that she was in 4 fair way to
become capitalist.
1t could not be expected that such
state of things would long endure
without some matrimonial catas-
trophe, though both were adored with
that general affection which is not
dangerous in it's results. Maudy's
choice had at last fallen Oh young
ranchman, well started in life, but no
great favOrite Of Mrs. Kent'S.
The poor, hearty, generous miners!
AL the delicacies of Delmonico's can
not so please the cloyed appetites Of
its patrons as the prospect ola whole
some "square meal" does them.
At the very moment. however,
when the minister was ready to unite
George Dicherson and Amanda Kent
in holy bonds, the young lady proved
her womanly qualities by an engaging
fit of hesitation. She didn't know as
she wanted to get married at all In
vain her girl-friends soothed the sob
bling bride-elcct. and urged her not
to disappoint every one She only
re1orted. half angrily, Just wait
till you go to get married, and see if
it isn't serious.
The patient preache, had just
opened proceedings in the orthodox
manner when 4 galloping horse, the
Western signal Of disaster. was heard
without A moment after. a red
headed youth burst in the door, but
no one resented his want Of manners
AS the new arrival gasped:
The Arrapahoes ISIS 4 comm !!
Hundreds Of emf I SAW EN-. and
run
"Where! How fast How manyl'
were the questions hailed On the unre-
spending herald, who. pitching him.
self on horseback. was out Of sight in
twinkling.
OF course it was 4 fair chance to
make a piece of border history--to
die in defence of the ladies and the
dinner; but no one happened to see it
in that light. Miners, SO far from
loving bloodshed, are, in their daily
lives, the most order-loving people in
the world. Danger does not brighten
them, but many had no firearms. The
house was a wooden one, ten miles
from town, unfit, for lack of ammllni-
ton, to stand siege at all. So, to
the immense relief of the women,
they resolved to eyacuate the
premises.
Helter-sEelter, not without fierce
regret for the lost provisions. they
mounted and rode off. Mrs. Kent's
light wagon was filled; George and
Mandy were to ride behind, when the
girl suddenly requested him to wait il
minute. George, white as ashes,
demurred, but she was resolute,
declaring that she would go back alone
if he did not wait. While she ran I'D
stairs he remained by the gate, shak.
ing in every limb as he looked at the
low hills of the east. The last of the
fugltlves had disappeared. still she did
come.
MANDY, AIandee, he called, rather
family, then turned, and, in veri-
table paroxysm of terror, dropped her
pony's rein and hurried away toward
town.
In five minutes Mandy Kent came
down, dark cloak thrown over her
light dress. Nothing living was to be
seen except her pony and the chickens,
who pecked away as TRANQUILITY as if
chicken was deadly poison to savages.
With feeling of bitter and indignant
disappointment she tried to catch her
pony. The skittish beast retreated I'D
a steep gulch. She followed it 4
little distance, then looked back. and
her heart sickened as she saw, coming
up from the plain, a swarm of Indain
ponies. She ran up the ravine to a
little cabin, put there long ago for
calves; drew out and examined the
cause of her delay, a handsome dagger
she had played with as child, and
crouched in the darkest corner Of her
retreat, her heart beating till she was
almost blind, her nerves strung to the
highest pitch of excitement and
terror.
1t you do not know what an Indian
scare is, It's useless to describe it.
No civilized understanding can con-
ceive the horror of dealing with foe
apparently as subtle and as cruel as
the evil one himself. If you are &C.
quainted with the West, you will be
able to picture for yourself the con-
sternation produced in D. by the
startling news. Brick houses were in
great demand. Women gathered up
their young ones and fled to these
tire proof shelters. Provisions we're
collected, arms examined, dispatches
sent, and the local printers set IN
terrific headings for the bulletins,
around which gathered loud talking
and gesticulating men, even when the
clouds dissolved in drops of cold rain
as the day wore on.
Mrs Kent began to feel uneasy
about Mandy's non-appearance. At
length she saw George sitting on a
dry-goods box, with his hat pulled
down over his eyes.
:'Where's Mandy, George? o. she
cried: "Why doesn't she come I'D to
Mrs. Blake's?''
He slowly raised his dulled eyes to
hers as he answered., thicklv. "she
stayed behind. I couldn't wait, You
know" ~
Mrs: Kent turned away, feeling
horribly dizzy. She knew that the
coward had been indulging extern
sively in treats" and forebore to
waste the tulness OF her wrath upon
him. She had talon h,,% q co., 49,