Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1883-12-04
A BRAVE WOMAN.

y
populous city of Denver was known as
Cherry Greek, when Pixies Peak was to the
adventurous soul what Leadville and the
camps of the Gunnison are to-day, there
lived on the "Gold Trail" running from
the settlements to the foot of the noun
tains, rancher by the name of Ralph La
throp. He was young man who with his
young wife, had come to his far away west
ern country from Illinois, willing to work
and determined to win home among the
blue peaks at Colorado. He had built a
small log cabin = little off from the main
trail, and was engaged in raising cattle and
sheep for home consumption at the time OF
which we write. His family consisted ol
himself and wife and single hired man.
Indians were neither plenty nor danger
Gus, the wild beasts of the country had re-
tired to escape being shot, and the travel
lers to and fro upon the trail, although of
ten rough, were seldom ugly, so that when
business demanded, Mr.. Lathrop did not
hesitate to leave his wife alone at the ranch
| for day and night at time.
| One evening at supper, spring night,
with odor of the fresh grasses and the bud
ding leaves perfuming the air, the hired
man, delivered most startling piece Of
news.
"Did ye hear O. the robbery at the Peak
KILN too, 1 understand. Jim Bartlett
from the Greek, passed to-day, an he was
a-tellin' me. Seems gang O. these plains
fellows, rough riders, l reckon, dropped in
to camp last night and took all the boys
gold and shot two O. the miners. They we
made for the mountains, it's s'posed, but
the hill Peak is after 'em. They'll swing
the crowd if they catch 'em."
b0 4bn clr
Lathrop.
"There were only three o. 'em, an Black
Dan, him as was hung in New Mexico, was
one. I guess they don't know the other"
replied johnson.
"Black DAMP said the master. 81
thought he was on the Pacific coast He's
one of the worst men ever in the State.
hope they will catch the party and serve
them with border justice, quick and sure
I will feel better to know that the rascal is
under the sod"
"Why Ralphr' said his wife, Nellie, 'syou
are surely not afraid of the man. Why
should you wish him evIl?'
"He's a terror to any community and 5
danger to any state" returned her husband.
ga murderer, snd worse, hung in New
Mexico for revolving crimes, but rescued by
his comrades q man whose heart is as black
as his flowing beard, and whose hands are
red with human blood. | wish him no evil
only justice and short rope! And he'll
get it if the Peak boys catch him.
| Quiet Mrs. Lathrop looked wonderingly
at her husband. Surely this noted despe-
RADIO must be of the worst that Ralph should
speak so of him. And the memory of hel
husbands words came to her afterward.
Night fell, the shadows of departing
winter yet rendered chill all the world be-
hind him, and as the door was closed and
barred-for this ranch was mile from the
nearest neighbor-fresh logs were thrown
upon the fire, while the little household still
talked of the tragedy at the Peak and the
fleeing robbers pursued by the vengeful mi
ners.
s'Well," said johnson at last, as he rose
to go to the loft and his bed, 81 only hope
with you, Mr.. Lathrop, that they may catch
| 'em." The country'n be better without
'em.'
An hour later sleep ruled, and not until
the early dawn, fresh and rosy, crept over
the eastern hill-tops did the little household
unbar the doors again. With the return OF
day thoughts of the evening before were
forgotten. What had they to do with
wolves? They must care for the sheep.
Breakfast was over and the hired man
had departed with the herd for the hills,
distant some three miles where he would
be absent until night, when suddenly Mr.. La
throp called to his wife from the;,barn. The
young woman ran to the door. "Nellie
DEAR" said the husband, '1've just found,
greatly to my surprise, that we're all out
of salt. The sheep need it, and must have
a barrel to-day. I've got to go to the
Creek for it, and will not be back before
night. johnson will be up with the sheep
early. Good byeW
A wave OF his hand, a rattle of the heavy
wagon, the quick beat of horses hoofs and
Frank Lathrop was gone, leaving his young
wife alone in the roadside ranch. But the
frontiers woman turned back into her cab
in after she had watched her husband out
of sight, with not a thought of danger and
hardly one of loneliness amid all the work
which her busy hands could find to do.
The hours crept on. Without, the road
lay silent and undisturbed by passing hoof
or wheel; far away on the distant hillside
they wandered, indistinct as snow-fakes;
within, the housewife worked and sang and
thought of Ralph. Over all hung sky as
blue as that of Italy, illuminated by an un-
clouded sun.
1t was nigh noon. For a little the young
mistress had rested, while the soft warmth
of the springtime had almost l1lled her to
sleep. Then she had prepared and eaten
plain dinner, all alone, and now she was
engaged in washing the few dishes used,
humming low love song as she worked
and counting the flight of the moments that
intervened before her husbands return by
the creeping shadows upon the distant
mountain side. As she worked, her back
was tnrned towards the open door, and she
did not see the darker shadows that sud-
denly fell athwart the rough floor, nor note
the craunch of heavy boots upon the fresh
green grass until resounding football upon
the step that startled her, and she turned
ed that day-a tall, fierce-loolxing, bearded
man who stood before her.
"Misses, who lives here?"
The tone was harsh and threatening, but
the question was common one and Nellie
replied:
''My husband, Mr.. Lathrop, and my
self.''
"Where's the boss ?''
'tMy husband? He's gone to the Creek
for barrel Of SALT"
"Where's your hired help"
"We only have one man, and he is not
here now. Can I do anything for you%'
The questions of the intruder were be-
coming impertinent.
eyes" growled the black bearded one.
eyes, yer can. Yer can do this for me.
Git good dinner for three hungry cusses
as hasn't had time to get their own. Come
in, boys" he continued, turning toward the
door. "It's all clear. The cocks away,
naught but the hen at home, an we'll have
dinner"
For moment poor Mrs. Lathrop felt
faint, and the world sunlit and warm, dane
ed before her eyes, then full strength came
again as she saw this burly stranger fling
himself into chair and lay two enormous
pistols beside his elbow on the table, while
a pair of others, each as wild and tattered
and fierce-looking as the leader, followed