The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1883-08-30

Hello! now lar Is IL 10 the next
Own?'
These words greeted the ears of Mr..
w. w. Davis and family as they sat at
supper yesterday evening at their resi-
dence, Sixteenth and O'Neill Streets.
Mr.. Davis looked out of the open
door of his dining room upon Sixteenth
Street. He saw there an unusual pict-
ure. A fine, large sorrel mare, with
yearling colt at her side, was standing
by the sidewalk. Upon the mares
back sat young woman sidewise in a
mans saddle. She had on mans
PREDETERMINED hat, close-fitting blue
and white checked calico dress, rough
lace Shoes, and on one foot was mans
stirrREA A yellow rubber coat was tied
up behind the saddle The Young
woman was sunburnt and travel stained,
but sat erect and looked as if she was
able to take care ofs herself. She was
girl OF about twenty or twenty-five
years OF age, having an intelligent
face, with comely features. Her hair,
which was brown, was cut somewhat
short, and banged. Her complexion
was of the hue that wind and sun puts
on man or woman, and her lips were
chapped from the same cause. She
had bright gray eyes and straight
handsome nose.
What town do you want?"
1.-The next town, whatever it is"
''Where are you travelling to?''
ITO California y
''Alone?''
Eyes, alone, and camping out.
Where can find good GRASP"
MIR. and Mrs. Davis, like good, hos
pitable people, invited the young lady
to dismount and partake of some sup
per. She washed her hands and face,
sat down to the table and talked about
the trip she was making.
''Nly home is in Wisconsin, she
said, 'swhere [ live with my father.
once spent some time visiting in South
ern California, but it was some wears
ago. | have for several years thought
of starting in the spring and making
the journey on horseback, and this year
! made up my mind that would do it.
L have been eight weeks on the
road. From my home to the Missis-
sippi River the distance is $50 miles; it
is $50 across the State of Iowa, as /
travelled, and then 800 and more to
Cheyenne. So l have come over a
thousand miles on horseback and
alone. y
''Have you good horsep"
''Indeed have. They wanted me to
give up my trip at Kearney. Why, some
folks there grew real angry with me be-
cause persisted in going ON. They
wanted me to sell my mare and colt
and take the money to pay my passage.
But do not need money and I'll never
part with that mare. She's a good
animal, has speed as trotter, and she
weighs as much to pound as when
started with her. To-day / have ridden
twenty eight miles, but that is more
than generally make. travel morn
ings and evenings and | stop long
while at noon. | started with a sidd
saddle, but it made the mares back
sore, SO l traded it off for q mans
saddle. At night picket the mare and
lie close to the picket. She can't move
but | know it. She got away twice,
though. Once I followed her afoot
more than ten miles and caught her in
herd of thirty horses"
What bedding have you in camping
out?" Q
Nothing but that yellow slicker and
the saddle blanket. / haven't suffered
from the cold, but it gets awful lonely
sometimes at night when the coyotes
are howling.n
''Have you been annoyed by tramps?''
mot great deal. go back from
the railroad at least two miles and avoid
them. Once tramp came upon me in
a lonely place when l had the saddle
off the mare, and began talking |
directed his attention to some emigrants
off at distance, and slipped on the
saddle, buckled the fore sinch, and gal
loped off. But I'm not afraid. / never
think of danger, and l carry no fire
arms
''How do you manage about eatingP''
''There [ have trouble. If don't
strike station at meal time l get moth
ing to eat. Why, I've gone all day
often without eating-two DAYS some
times. 1t was hard at first, but | got
used to it. don't want to travel with
emigrants; there's no glory in that.
have set out to do this trip alone.
have been the last day or two travelling
at about the same rate with some emil
grants to Washington Territory. Some
times they're ahead; sometimes am.
But don't camp with them"
Would you mind telling me your
name?''
Emma Larson"
MISS Emma?n
eyes, sir. Cheyenne Leader.