The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1884-03-19
YIk -kEE.
BY PATIENCE THORNTON.

ago, I found that for three years we
had been living on credit. | was
eighteen. strong and well, but did
not know how to work. In the little
back room of the New York tene-
ment (by the way the landlady
seized my clothes for our rent |
considered my future. had inner
tied a great faith in relatives from
nv father, so | wrote to seven.
received six polite notes. telling me
to 90 to work, and the following let
ter:
JoNEsBoRo. Col, Jackson's Ranch
Dear Nell I'm your cousin Jack.
Your father once gave me money TO
come west. I've took up land, got
a comfortable home, no style or
frills, but good folks to live with
and healthy grub. I've got the best
wife you ever see and seven young
sters. The city amt no place for a
friendless girl. Wife wants you to
come. She'll be a mother to you.
Come right off. I'll meet you at
Denver.
Inclosed was check sufficient to
defray expenses so | started. Den
yer was then only large town, and
the depot a barn ike structure. |
got out of the cars and stood bewil-
dered among ali the emigrants and
their bundles. Some one touched
me on the shoulder-a roughly
dressed, broad shouldered man,
with long blonde beard and blue
eyes.
Are you Nell?" he asked.
Yes; and are you my cousin
Jack ?"
Il knew you" ne said, as he led
the way, 'by your black clothes and
sorrowful look, and them big, blue
ewes. like yer fathers as two peas.
Well git the shadder outer u when
we git home. Yer father was a
mighty good man. Bless yer dear
heart, don't let them tears come.
This 'ere's dry country We don't
waste water"
Comforting me in his kind, rough
way, be reached his team, a big
green wagon. drawn by two wild
looking steeds, which | alterward
knew to be bronchos. A tat. blonde
boy, about twelve years old held the
reins.
That's Ted" said cousin Jack.
lied, this is Miss Nell, your cousin
give her a hug"
The fat boy solemnly obeyed.
After this he seemed to have a
special claim on my affections be-
cause he met me first. Jacks wife
was a Jolly, plump woman, with
brown ewes and curley hair. She al
ways had a baby in her arms and
another at her heels. She adored
Jack. | never knew them to have
a quarrel. | soon grew to love the
life at the ranch. | liked the big,
half finished house, its untidiness
and comfort, its pleasant, healthy
atmosphere. loved the children,
the household pets, Shep, the sa
gacious dog Thad, the clever cat
the hens and sheep; the horses,
Dolly, Dot and Daisy, that did the
blowing and the marketing at Den
yer, twelve miles away, and were SO
gentle and kind we used to ride
them without saddle or birdie. Oc-
casionally Harry White came over to
visit us from his ranch, five miles
away. He lived with his old moth
er; he and Jack were dear friends:
Harry needed a wife, Jack used to
say, winking at me.
One day Jack went to Denver for
supplies. He went alone and COM
ing home later than usual. Ted and
| and baby Name went out to meet
him. Jack looked sober and guilty,
and seemed i'll at ease. If he ever
drank | shculd have thought him
intoxicated. In the wagon was a
queer shaped heap under horse
blanket. l was sure it moved.
When we got behind the barn Jack
said, sheepishly, avoiding my eye:
We'll, Ted, | calkerlate I've got
suthin' in that there wagon that'ul
astonish your marm."
Little Name pulled the blanket off
the heap; she had been peeping un-
der it all the while she was in the
back of the wagon. There lay hu-
man being. Such an abject; short
and squat, dressed in a queer blue
blouse with flowing sleeves, wide
trousers and queer wooden shoes. |
He had small black eyes, shaven !
poll. from which depended a long,
thin cue. His countenaHce was bat
tered and bruised, his clothes torn
and bloody.
There was a row down to Den
YER" said Jack, "the Christian folk
stove in these ere heathen's winders.
tore their houses down, an killed
on 'em. | Icleared out as soon as |
could. When | got half way home l
heard a noise back O me, and out
crawled this thing. | was so dumb
founded l couldn't speak. He
thought l was going to send him