Weston weekly leader. [volume] (Weston, Umatilla County, Or.) 1878-189?, 1885-09-25

climbing To" other %&H .
Of tba canyon.
The camp Of the outlaws Tas i
rude affair, consisting OF small
tent, camp FIRE, brush corral and !
heavy wagon. Several head of
ponies and COWS were grazing in
the canyon, and the sergeant COM
handing our party ordered several
Of the boys to round up the stock,
while he disnlounted and inspected |
the camp. just as he was about to
lift the fly of the tent a shrill treble
voice, which came from the direc-
tiou of the brush corral, cried:
Say, thar, mister man, that's my
tent. Keep out'n hit"
We all turned at sound IF the
voice and the queerest little girl, in
IA dress Of faded calico, and bare
headed and barefoete /. crept from
ugder the corral gate and walked
towart! US. She was not above sew
en- years of age, and she had the
shrewdest face and brightest eyes
ina ginable.
"Keep out'n the tent" she re,
peated, walking towards the SER
geant. "tIit's mine, l tell ys.'
"And who might you be-" asked
the sergeant, smiling and dropping
the tent flap.
Pm Broncho BERTHE" was the
quick answer; and she tossed her
head sauciy. "Leastways that's
what the boys call me"
"And who are the boys?''
! "My buddys, Jim, Bill and Dan.
Ye all know 'em well enough, an I
know you; you're rangers, an if you
think you'll git the boys, yer Jeff.
They're out yonder in the mountain
and they'll shoot quiclser'n a wink.
We crowded around the little
maiden, and one Of the boys, in as
tender and simple words as he could
command, told her of her bereave-
ment. She didn't shed many tears,
but a great lump that rose in her
throat was swallowed with difficul
ty, end her shrill voice softened and
trembied when she spoke.
81 knowed they'd git laid out
some day." she SAID mournfully
"but its better that-a-way than tt
be drapped by you'ns."
She peered into the face of every
man, and finally, stepping to tA'
side of Reckless jeff, LAID her brown
hand in his.
81 like yer looks" she said, can
III 60 with you"
We took her back to camp, ant
, on the road she taught US severa
lessons that set the men to think
ing. We were a pretty rough lot
, and when one man, for some tritlin.
cause, began to curse, she raised he
hand warningly and said:
; "Ye mustn'5 cuss. 'Taint perlit
, when ladies is about, an hits wick
ed, too"
, When we made camp that nigh
: Broncho BERTHE ate her supper il
, silence, and when one IF the boy
= spread some blankets and told he
; it was to be her bed for the night
, she thanked him gravely, and, fold
4 ing her hands, knelt down an
: prayed. | noticed that the eyes 0
s several of the boys were moist whe
E she finished, and, when she Wake
/, around the circle and lifted up he
, dlmpled mouth to each bearded fac
n to be kissed, she received success
| sion of convulsive hugs that mus
have bruised her frail body. Tn
entire company held a consultatio
over the matter the night we reacl
b, ed our permanent camp, and it wa
: formally decided to adopt thi
7 brown waif as "the child of comps
Y ny Z" When BERTHE was intern
l. ed OF our action by q committee de
/ esated for the purpose, she nodde
n her head and made answer in he
:. quaint fashion.
d Il like We, boys, an hits a go
:. The best tent was fitted up fe
y her especial use, and if man ha
r gone to the post and not brouel
Il back a present for The Broncho
e his life would have been placed i
Jeopardy. She exerted wonderf,
influence over these -ough men, an
} there was net one in the compau
who would not have laid down b
|. life for her. Reckless jeff in pa
e tieular was her devoted slave, an
The Broncho" was always in b
company. She loved him an
a would sit for hours in his ssron
d arms listening to the stories thu
II fell from mis- lips, occasionally cou
j. mentiny in her old fashioned wa
1t Never was princess draped OF
e more gorgeously with ribbons an
IS fine dresses than Broncho Berti
s. Once when she was sick, q ms
Is killed his horse riding Cor the po
i surgeon, and the men tip toed the
II way about camp lest t'The Bro
cho' should be disturbed. Ma
r. Miltsn taught her to read and spe