Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1883-08-02
St1rrfed Sfory.
A GIlsL'S LONG RIDE.

SsA>s'~ @
GIRLS LONG RIDE.
"Hello how far is it to the next
town p
These words greeted the ears of Mr..
w. w. Davis and family as they sat
at supper yesterday evening at their
residence, Sixteenth and O'Nell
streets.
Mr. Davis looked out of the open
door of his dining room upon SIX
tecnth street He saw there an un-
usual picture. A fine, large sorrel
mare, with q yearling colt at her
side, was standing by the sidewalk
Upon the mares back sat a young
woman sideways on Il mans saddle.
She had on broad -hrinnned man S
hat, ii close fitting blue and whit
calico dress, rough laced shoes, and
on one foot was Il mans stirrup. "A
yellow rubber coat was tied up be-
hind the saddle The young woman
was sun burnt and travel stained but
sat erect, and looked as if she were
able t. take care of herself.
Mr.. Davis walked % the door.
"Whut town do You want he
said.
"The next town, whatever it is.
"Weil, there's Il station on the
Union Pacific somc miles on, but
you re not looking for it, | suppose.
Where are you travelling to p
"To California"
"Alone?'
"Yes, alone, and camping out
Where can l find good grass %
Mr.. and Mrs. Davis, like good hos
pitablc people, invited the young
lady to dismount and partake Of some
supper. She washed her hands and
face, sat down to the table, and talk
cd about the trip she Was making.
My homr is at Kingston, Green
Lake county, Wisconsin," she SAID,
"where | live with my father. | once
spent some time visiting in Southern
California, but it WIS some wears ago.
| have for several vars rhought OF
starting in the Spring and making
the Journey on horseback, and this
year | made mp my mind that would
10 it. ] have been eight weeks on
the road. From my home to the
Mississippi River the distance is $50
miles it is $50 across the State of
Iowa, rs | travelled, and 800 more to
Uhevrnne. So have come over 1000
miles horseback and alone
"I1ave YOU good horse ?'
"Indeeu ] have. They wanted me
to give up my trip at kcarnry. Why
some folks there grew real angry with
me because persisted in going OH
They wanted me to sell my mare and
colt and take the money to pay my
passage. But | do not need money,
and III never part with that mare
She's good animal, has speed as a
trotter, and she weighs rs much to n
mound as when I.startcd with her.
To-day | have ridden twcntv-ciyht
miles, but that is more than ! gener-
ully make. | travel mornings and
evenings, and | stop a long time at
noon, started with a side saddle,
but it made the mares back sore, SO
traded it off for a man s 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 ! followed her afoot more than
ten miles, and caught her in a herd
of thirty horses
What bedding have you in camp
ing OUT"
Nothing but that yellow slicker
ard the saddle blanket. | haven t
suffered from the cold, but it gets
awful lonely sometimes at night,
when the coyotes are howling.
"Have you been annoyed by
tramps ?"
Not a great deal. | so back from
the railroad at least two IN lies and
avoid them. Once tramp came
upon me in a lonely place when | had
the saddle off the mare and began
talking. | directed his attention to
- rt and