National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-10-11
AMAGDALEN OF THE FRONTIER

Tho coach came suulnR anu CraVlng
down the long hill; it swung floutinEly
through the miserable novels Of the
Mexican quarter, ratified past the brill
liant temptation of the Continual"
saloon and the less imposing facade Of
Trellcotts opposition establishment. Big
JIM" the driver, found an unthonged
spot on the side of his horses, and so por-
suaded them to final spurt,which should
emphasize the suddenness of the pull up
on the postofiice corner. All the men
lounging there under the cottonwoods
swayed and surged for a vantage ground
whence to peer into the stage.
"Not id passenger !" cried ALI
Dixon. Boys, this camps peterin' out
lust about as fast as tho law allows, an q
little more so. This is the fourth night
the coach's como in empty. What the
h--l'---
DRY up, Alfw 1t was Bruce Stewart,
the blonde young deputy sheriff, who rode
guard over the treasure box, now nimbly
spriugng down from the top, Winchester
in hand. "Give us rest on your French
talk. That's an old lady in there-a
herew
He opened the coach door and made
baluster Of his strong young arm.
"Now ma'am, here you are at the office,
if you'd like Co inquire. Maybe some of
these old citizens might tell you about
your daughtcr--sorry Pm stranger here,
YOU might say" with an admonishing
frown at the crowd. He guided the old
lady into the house, and pulled forward
big chair, then faced the gathering
group, flushed and breathing hard. well,
this stumps mev He pushed his way to
the door, then raising his voice again,
cried loudly in slangy Spanish: play
numskull, every man-jack of you That
poor old soul has come ont here to find her
daughter, that she thinks is teaching
Scholastic told me all about it, coming
up on the stage. 1t won't do to let her
find out about it tonight, anyway-its
Carriew
Then Mr.. Stewart retreated with pre-
cipitation. He had killed his man at
Georgetown, an adjacent camp, and. as to
physical daring, perhaps no man in tho
county had greater hardihood. But his
moral courage was not equal to this sit
uation, and so Bruce Stewart fled tho
field.
Every man in the postoflice drug store
had understood the young deputy's ad-
montiop, and all eyes turned on the tiny
old figure sitting in their midst, all quaint
and travel-worn, but still quite self
possessed. A very little old lady she
was, with delicate features and wax-like
coloring. A bunch OF feathery white
curls escaped from her bonnet ut either
temple. in a fashion of years long gone.
Her raiment was not Anticipated. either
as to fabric or iashioning, and yet, to a
fsnciful mind, it would suggest linger-
ing fragrance of lavender and faded rose
leaves, or kindred essences, whose very
memories now are relegated amid the
things of a shadowy past.
After the secession of Bruce Stewart,
the old lady sat few moments glancing
about with quiet composure. II the nov-
city of the scene surprised her she made
no signs. Neither did she succumb to
fatigue. She held her light shane erect
as a girls when she approached the post
master.
Are you the gentleman in charge"
she said, with a precise courtesy; and hcr
thin, soft tone was vocal rendering of
old. fash oned, slanting, Italian chirog-
raphy, "Ah-the postmaster--yes. Then
no doubt you will be able to direct me to
my daugnter-Miss Piatt. She-she is
engaged in the profession of teaching"
Doctor Lucas sd listed his glasses on his
IL,
Grossly. He was probably the only man
in the room who had not felt thrill of
chiyalric sympathy at sight of her He
was a lean, dark, sallow, snappsh little
man, in chronic ill-humor, thanks to the
rapid decline of business in the town, and
the brow beating of his virago wife. To-
night he was in even worse than usual
temper, on account OF the coach's late
arrival and the crowd in the drug store
-. L., IA ilnp
worked deputy, visible through the glass
front of the postofiice Enclosure, struggled
alone through distribution of the mail.
He would have liked to drive the con-
course without and close the doors upon
them, Failing safety in that measure,
he obeyed his instinct to bully creature
weaker than himself.
"Thero's only one schoolma'am in
town, and he's II man " he snarled. 81
don't know anything about your daugh-
ter-she's not my sort. You'd better 30
over to Daniels. Guess they can give
YOU all the information you want"
She looked at him in doubt and Won
der In all hor life her exquisite deli
cacy and femininity had warded of from
her such roughness ms this. A murmur
of indignation began in the room, but 1t
was sienced by one sweeping glance Of
significance from the bright blue eyes Of
man who came forward and bent his
stately head to the old lady with perfect
Creole grace.
"That suggestion is not q bad one; our
friend here is unculturod and unman-
nerly but he means well--we will take il
for granted that he means well. Madam,
will you accept my escort to seek your
daughter? 1t may be an undertaking OF
time-life in this section is busy and
hustling-peOple are selt-centered, and
pay little attention TO their neighbors-
the faculties of perception and observa-
ton become diminished" As he led
his charge away, the pleasant cadence of
his soft, southern tone died away in tho
safe generaliziug of platitudes, uttered
with the intent Of soothing whilo he
gained time.
Every man in the drug store breathed
freer, satisfied of this issue of this difficult
and painful matter, since George Locko's
tact aud ingenuity would direct its ar
rangement. But one young fellow
walked briskly TO the postmaster, rubbing
his broad hands in very agony of indig-
nation and disgust. His jaunty attire,
Astute, slim German face, and sliding
step made up an anomalous ensemble.
This was Barney Helman, tho butcher.
He exercised a shrewd business faculty,
and was always amply in funds; his un-
failing generosity with these resources
gave him an assured standing among
men, and might have secured him posi-.
ton in the heterogeneous social life OF
the town had he cared for such distinc-
ton. Moreover, his very soul was in
stinct with tho innate chivalry that
strikes root deeper than that which il
learned at court.
"See here, DIR, LuoRsW he said I'm