The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1884-03-28
ROMANCE OF A COWBOY.

-Lhte Z. Bdrr, IN " l. Leu9er.
ROMANCE OF A COWBOY.
A favorite steamship of the White
Star Line is in the act of leaving her
wharf at New York for summer trip
across the Atlantic, with every berth en-
gagged. The bell warning 'sall for the
shore has ceased. The irrepressible
-straggler-who answers on these occa-
sions to the inevitable Derby dog-has
been hustled along the gangway which
the deck hands will have off in another
moment, when the shand- kissing, hand
Notwithstanding crowd on the planks is
parted as BY a bomb-shell, and a man
carrying small valise rushes through
with loud Hold on and just man
ages to scramble on board. He is re-
markable MANN that company-and
Immediately becomes an object of in
terest and wonder. His .'butternut
pants" are tucked into huge boots
reaching almost up to his knees and
bearing Ito the initiated) pictorial his
tory of their own. They are red with
the mud of the Sierras, white with the
dust of travel, black with the dirt of the
New York long shore (the dirtiest dirt
in the worldly, and polished to a bright
bronze where they have gripped the
saddle. He wears a rough-dried white
shirt, without any collar, an old blue
flannel Norfolk jacket and SLOUGH hat,
the original color of which has long
ceased to be determinable. But he sings
out that Hold on" in tie tone of
-commander-in-chief. and when he raises
his sombrero in apology to some ladies
who had been disturbed by his irregular
entrance, a very remarkable head is
disclosed. The passengers shrink from
him right and left, as though he were
some dangerous animal, and a steward
rushes up with Ere nowI second
class passengers.
For all answer this man hands him
his valise Ca brand-new one) saving,
Take that 10 No. l42, and then come
back and show me the way to the bath
room" He follows the wondering
waiter a step or two, whispers some
thing in his ear and apparently shakes
hands with him. Opinions differ,as to
whether he is a digger from Leadville,
a Mormon Elder, an escaped convict, or
a Texan Cowboy" and the important
question-what is to be done with HIM
ut table? being tirst-class passenger
arises.
The Captains cabin on deck is en-
gagged by the lady and two children
of Senator Hiram j. Nickersen and her
bosom friend, Mrs. Plover-a Young
widow in her second wear of cOlors and
one of the most accomplished tiirts in
the United states. Hon. Hiram J. has
a sleeping berth IN another part of the
ship.
Now, Mrs. Nickersen, though provid-
ed with n nurse, had, as usual. to take
care of that persons charges in the SUI,
preme moment of departure, and so the
: Dsational appearance of that pic
tureSque bat doubtful stranger was lost
upon her. He had therefore to be de-
Scribed.
My dear" said Cora Plover. s.ne is
like Mckee Rankin in The Danites.'
but handsomer. He has lovely long
brown hair passed behind his ears and
rolling over his collar: a beautiful beard
just a shade lighter, and violet ewes
with a snap in them. If | could paint
I'd take him as a model for the Arch
angel Gabriel. What is a scowboy'?''
This to the Senator, who informed her
that male persons OF whatever age who
tend cattle in Texas are called cow
boys, and are "a very rough crowd"
We shall see at dinner" observed
the widow. .'rve told the purser to
put him opposite US. He was so glad
poor man.
The cowboyr' exclaimed her friend.
No the purser. He was at his wits
end where to put him. Everybody had
been declaring that they would not sit
near him.
You are perfectly incorrigible,
Cora" said Mrs. Nickersen. Il do be-
1ieye that If Jumbo We're dressed I'D in
top-bcots and SLOUGH hat. you'd want
to fiirt with him.
= With dinner came diSenchantment.
The lovely brown hair, the flowing
beard. and the violet eyes with snap
in them, were indeed there, but the
picturesque attire had been replaced BY
a suit Of Enthusiastically ready-made
clothes, VIII oh did not fit him. and
made him look from chin downward
like very common person.
He is not a cowboy Cora whls-
pered to the Senator. He eats his soup
like well-bred man.
Hush, He'll hear YOU"
The warning came not minute too
soon, for the violet ewes were on her,
and there was snap in them
Served with fish, he clutched his fork
as though it were dagger, plunged it
into his portion of red snapper. tore of
= morsel which he delft eratelv placed
on the point of his knife. and so pas ed
it to digestion Having finished he
mopped up the sauce with bit of bread
and ate IL Then he looked at the beau
tiful widow again, and wiped his mouth
with his pocket-handkerchief.
IN V test is true one," she sighed,
Is he LETT the table. ..He is a cowboy."
The next morning. while going below
TO get book out of the library, she
tripPed upon the slippery brass edging
OF the companion stairs, and fell head
long into the arms of a man who was
just coming out of the smoking-room.
''Oh, thanks so much,' she gasped,
when he had placed her on a settee.
Il should have been hurt awfully fl
caIuot think what made me fall
Il can" he replied. 1T was the peg
heels on your boots
abr she exclaimed, "you are an
Englishman then?'