The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-02-21
guderson gatelligeuees.
A BRAVE WOMAN.


to the adventurous soul what Leadville
and the camps Of the Gunnison ere TO.
day, there lived on the "gold trail, run.
ming from the settlements to the foot OF
the mountains a rancher by the name
of Ralph Lathrop. lie was young
man who, with his young wife, had come
TO this far away Western country from
Illinois, willing to work aud determined
to win home among the blue peaks OF
dorado. He had built 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 Of him-
self and wife and single hired man.
Indians we're neither plenty or dan
gcrous, the wild beasts Of the country
had retired to escape being shot, and The
travellers to aud fro upon the trail,
though often rough, were seldom ugly,
30 that when business demanded Mr.
Lathrop did not hesitate to leave his
wife alone ut the ranch for day and
night at q time.
One evening ut supper, spring night,
with the odor of the fresh grasses and
the budding leaves perfuming the air,
tho hired man, Johnson, delivered Il
most startling piece of news.
"Did you hear O. the robbery ct the
Peak 7-killin' too, understand. Jim
Bartlett, from the Creek, passed to-day,
and he was a-tei;in' me. Seems gang
O these plain fellows, rough riders,
reckon, dropped into camp last night
and .cok ali the boys gold and shot two
O. the miners. They've made for the
mountains, it's 'sposed, but the hull
peak is after them. They'll swing the
crowd if they catch 'em."
"Who are the deaperadocs % asked
Lathrop.
"There we're only three O. 'em, and
Black Dan, him as WAS hung in New
Mexico, was one. l guess they don't
know tho other" replied johnson.
"Black Dan" said the master, 81
thought he was on the Pacific coast.
HE'S one OF the SoTst men s=er il this
State. nope they will eaten the party
and serve them with border justice,
quick aud sure. / shall feel better TO
fnow that the rascal is under the sod"
"Why, Ralph p said his wife Nellie,
"you are surely not afraid OF the man.
Why should you wish him evil ?"
"He's terror to any community and
danger to any State" returned her hus.
band. "a murderer, and worse; hung
in New Mexico for revolving crimes, but
rescued by his comrades; man whose
heart is % black 40 his flowing beard,
and whose hands are red with human
blood. I wish him no evil-only justice
and short rope Aud he'll get it il the
Peak boys catch him"
Quiet Mira. Lathrop looked wondering
ly at her husband. Surely this poted
desperate must be Of the wor0t, that
Ralph should speak 80 of him. And the
memory Of her huSband's words came to
her afterwards.
Night fell, the shadow Of departing
winter rendering chill all the world be.
hind him, as the doors were clo5cd and
the nearest neighbor--fresh logs were
thvown upon the Gre, while tho little
household still talked of the tragedy at
the Peak and the fleeing robbers pursued
by the veugeful miners.
swell" said johnson, ct last, as he
rose to 20 to the loft and his bed, al only
hope with you, Mr.. Lathrop, that they
may catch 'em. The country'll bo bet.
ter without 'em."
An hour later Dleep ruled, and not un
til the early dawn, fresh and rosy, crept
over the eastern hill tops did the little
hcgsahcld nnbsr itB doors sgain. With
the return of day thoughts Of the evening
before were forgotten. What bad they
to do with tho 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
MT. I.s.hrop called &c bis :=iio from The
log baru. The young woman ran TO the
door.
''Nellie, dear" asid her husband,
"Tve just found, greatly to my surprise,
that we're out Of salt. The sheep need
it, and must have barrel to-day. Two
got to 60 to the Creek for it, and will
not be back before night. johnson will
be up with the sheep carly. Goodbye"
A wave OF the hand, rattle Of the
heavy wagon. the quick bent of the horses
hoofs, and Frank Lathrop was gone,
leaving his young wife alone in the road
side ranch. But tho frontier woman
turned back into her cabin after she had
watched her husband out of sight, with
not thought of dagenr and hardly one
of loneliness amid all the work which her
busy hands could fad to do.
It wis high noon. For little the
young mistress had res;ed, while the soft
warmth of the springtime had almost
lulled her TO slesp. Then she had pre-.
pared and eaten piain dinner, oil alone,
and now she was engaged In washing the
few dishes used, humming o low love
song as abe worked, and counting the
flight OF the moments that intervened
before her husbands return by the creep
ing shadows upon the distant mountain
aide. Aa ahe worked her back was turned
toward the open door,, and she did not
see the darker shadows that suddenly fell
across the rough feor, nor note the
c-s..seh Of heavy teets nnon .he frssh
green grass, until resoundiDg football
upon the step startled her, and she turned
quickly to meet the first caller who had
appeared that day-a tall, fierce.looking
bearded man, who stood before her.
"Misaue, who lives hersr
The tono was harsh and threatening,
but che question wau common one, and
Nellie replied:
"My husband; Mr.. Lathrop. and my.
SELF"
eWhsre'a tho boss 7"
"My husband2 He's gone to the Greek
for barrel of salt"
"Where's your hired help?"
"We only have one man; and he ia not
here now. Can I do anything for you ?"
"Yes," growled the black bearded one.
"Yes, yer can. Yer can do this fer me,
Git dinner for three hungry cusses as
hoenSk hed firf,a In f,af kbei nv,r fyos. .