The Bozeman weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1889, 1883-08-01

From the Cheyes,,se Leader.

From tie CReyene Leader.
"Hello! how far il it to the next
town."
These words greeted the ears Of Mr.. w.
w. Davis and family as they sat at sup
per yesterday evening at their residence,
Sixteenth and O'Neill streets.
Mr.. Davis looked out of the open door
of his dining room upon Sixteenth street.
Ho saw there an unusual picture. A fine,
large sorrel mare, with yearling colt at
her side, was standing by the sidewalk.
Upon the mares back sat a young woman
sidewise in mans saddle. She had on
a mans broad-brimn;ed hat, close-ft-
ting blue and white checked calico dress,
rough lace shoes, and on one foot was
mans stirrup. 4 yellow rubber coat was
tied up behind the saddle. The young
woman was sunbuut aud travel stained,
but sat erect aud looked as if she was
able to take care Of herself She was
girl of about twenty years of age, having
an intelligent face, with comely features.
Her hair, which was brown, was cut
somewhat short, and banged. Her COM
plexion vas 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?"
''The next town, whatever it is."
"Where are you travelling TOT"
ITO California"
"Alonef"
Eyes, alone, and camping out. Where
can find good grass?"
Mr.. and Mrs. Davis, like good, hospita-
BILE people, invited the young lady to dis
mount and partake of some supper. She
washed her ;:ands and face, sat down to
the table, and talked about the trip she
was making.
my home is at Kingston, Green Lake
county, Wisconsin," she said, "where
live with my father. I once spent some
time visiting in southern California, but
it was some years ago. ! have for several
years thought of starting in the spring
and making the journey ON horseback,
and this year I made up my mind that l
would do 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, as l
travelled, and then 500 and more to Chey-
enne. So have come over . thousand
miles on horseback and alone"
"Have you q good horse?'
"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
1 do not need money, and I'll never part
with that mare. She's = good animal,
has speed rs <rotter, and she weighs as
much to poundas when I started with
her. To-day have ridden twenty eight
miles. but that is more than I generally
make. l travel mornings and evenings,
and stop long while at noon. start
cd with side saddle, but it made the
mares back sore, 80 l traded it off for a
mans saddle. At night I 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
! then ten miles, and caught her in herd
Of thirty horses"
"What bedding have you in camping
out?''
Nothing but that yellow slicker and
the saddle blanket. 1 haven't suffered
from the cold, but it gets awful lonely
sometimes at night, when the cayotes are
bowling"
Have you been annoyed by tramps?'
"Not q great deal. l 60 back from the
railroad at least two miles and avoid
them. Once q tramp came upon me in
lonely place when I had the saddle of
the mare, and began talking. directed
his attention to some emigrants off at
distance, and slipped on the saddle
buckled the fore sinch, and galloped off
But I'm not afraid. I never think o
danger, and l carry no firearms"
"How do you manage about eating?"
'There l have trouble. If dom
strike station at meal time get moth
ing to eat. Why, I've gone all day offer
without eating-two days sometimes. 1
was hard at first, but l got used to it.
don't want to travel with emigrants
there's no glory in that. I have set OF
to do this trip alone. have been tn
last day or two travelling at about tn
same rate with some emigrants to Wash
ington Territory. Sometimes they'r