The semi-weekly miner., 1885-07-29
BYERS' FOLLY.
By Patience stspleton, in Youtbs' Companion

By Patience Ssspleton, in Youths Companion
What did We yer say yer name wa's'
We stood outside the wire fence, Geor,
and /. and looked at the old man wi
leaned On his piow surveying us. while t
two Shaggy horses attached to it languid
hung their heads as il intending a furti
nap
lin Charline Boyd; this is George. II
title brother. We've come all the ":
rom Kansas City We're your own gran
children. Mothers dead. Father sent
here: he's gone to Arizona to work in
mine.
He looked dazed.
.-Clarrisy dead. n you her ehildrel
Wyl, it do beat all, An you such big q
an him her Twin pietur an not knowi
she wa gone. Come in dears; the gate
beyant, but We kin crawl under the wire
There. Now lemme look at yer. Law
child, don't We try to kiss me; my face ain
none too clean
Hew was "a pleasant-faced. blue-eyed o.
man, with long curling white hair. H
teeth were gone. but otherwise he SCENE
unlike old men. for he was straight and tai
his arms brawny and strong. His cloth'
were neat but neglected looking the buttor
hanging, with little tears widening int
large rents. / was only IA, but moths
had taught me to do a grown woman
work; besides, George was ), and such
baby made me feel older.
Where's grandma" asked.
For answer he pointed his thumb at
mound away at the end OF the level field
where rude wooden cross was planted.
'.She s thar. She went year ago. Nv
lived alone sence, an it's the blessin' O
Providence you children is come. Often
times I've feared might grow desprit QUITE
sheer lOnesomeness N sorrer. Maybe yOl
didn' t know, but Garrisy n mother quar-
relied in years gone, n never got fren ly
which was because yer ma married yer pa
which seemed to me good man mug. but
wimnlin Is queer, N mother looked high fol
Carrisy. They'll be tergether now, n thar
amt no iii will thar. The'll be frenzy agin
an as in the old times, Ill see them two
awaitin' to welcome me when I'm done my
work in life.
He leaned heavily on the plow, and
looked down on the fresh furrowed earth.
big tear rolled down his wrinkled cheek
/ stole my arm in his.
II so hungry ~ cried poor little George,
his lips quiyering and his round eyes filling
with tears.
.BIess his little heart" said grandfather,
recovering himself and patting my cheek
softly. Here you be, jest off long jour.
ney, N me a-keepin' yer in the cold. an
meanderin' on as if there want no to-day.
but all yesterdays. How did yer Gomez
he asked, embarrassing the horses.
'By rail to D; then gentleman
gave us a ride here in his fine carriage.
We came ON the train with his little
daughter, Miss Bessie Little. He owns
large ranch near her"
"a fine young lady" broke in grand
sther. ''She was like a darter to yer granma.
an though she lived miles away, she was
over night an day, a-gallopin' across the
plains on a black horse as is a thorough
bred, an. a fine specimen OF hOrsefiesh
as is seen in these parts. She kin ride, too,
n amt a-feard O. nothin.' Mother set a
sight by her. Druy yer up, did he? Wal,
that was cOnsiderate."
Yes; and we got out below here and
walked, for the road was rough, and we
didn't want to take him out OF his way
We were now at the house, a neat little
one-story cottage, containing four rooms.
A comfortable barn and yard for the cattle
were near, and d well close by the door.
There was cosy kitchen, sitting room,
and two bedrooms one the ''spare room"
grandfather said, proudly. 1t looked neat
and precise, but was as cold and damp as
the tomb. The lonely old man had faith
fully swept and busted. and kept every
thing where his wife had placed it, even
her work-basket, with needle sticking in
the half-fnished gingham sleeve.
GeOree and took the spare room, and
/ built fire and aired the bedding. In
few days grew competent to take charge
OF the house, put things where she had
placed them, and cook the simple meals
and these were very simple, for grandfather
was poor. Two old horses, two cows and
"A cali comprised the stock.
II don't hey no luck wi poultry. Char
ley," he said He called me Charley, for
CharIine was too ''aew tangled" and Char
ley was the name OF his dead son. Mother
used to raise sight, but arter she went
they begun dyin', an what didn't die was
eat by coyotes
In few days grandfather came to me
and said with little hesitation:
"Maybe, Charlie, | might hitch up N 60
town ter =, and fetch yer rclothes. You'll
be a-wanten' 'em."
disliked to embarass him, and felt
humbIed and shamed, as | said: ''We had
to sell all our things to bury mother and
pay our fares, and ] lost my little satchel
in the train.'
"Never mind, dear" he said cheerily.
'Mother left heap Of clothes, n pve been
debatin on giyin' 'em to some un as needed
'em 1t seems wicked they want doin' no
good to no one" and he led me to an old
hair-co vered trunk and spread out its con-
tents.
The clothes were strongly impregnated
with camphor and folded as neatly and
carefully az woman would have done
There were decent calico dresses and one OF
cashmere and quantity OF unbleached un-
derclothing. but unfortunately for me, who
am tall and thin, grandma was short and
fat.
The last day OF my first week on the ranch
Miss Bessie Little rode up to the cabin on
her coalblack horse. She was a sweet-faced
girl. blue-eyed and yellow-haired, and rode
beautifully. She made herself at home,
petted George, and L, shy as | was, found
myself confding to her all my troubles and
hopes. She sympathized with me and help
ed me, cutting frOck for George and
basque for me, and when she rode OIL, she
to come often.
The next day a wagon came from her
nome, and in it was a fine rooster and six
hens, and big bundle of clothing that she
lad outgrOwn and that fitted me.
Grandfather and built a hen house, and
! yard which we made OF posts, around
which we twisted barbed wire which we had
from the surveyors. Grandfather
oaded his gun and slept, he used to say,
With one eye and both ears open, and bang
he gun would go in the middle OF the night;
md in the morning we would find a cayOte
leah close to the barn.
How dreary the howls OF the coyotes were
1t night, especially when one OF their num-
,er was killed! They would seem to unite
n "A chorus of maledictions.
Miss Bessie rode up one day, and at her |
,eels was an overgrown shepherd puppy |
With big paws and jolly little black eyes.
''IIere's IL cayote eXterminator, Grand |
ather Byers," she said, as she jnmed from
he saddle and the black horse fell eagerly !
% eating the short, crisp buffalo grass, just |
Is though he was not stuffed at home.
She initiated the coyotes cry; the dog |
,ristled his eyes shot fire. he looked in all |
points of the compass and then, with Il |
ierce howl, tore madly around the house.
Through Miss Bessie's kindness found a
eady market for my eggs and chickens, and |
or the butter learned to make and she |
howed me how to clay butter down" for |
winter use.
Though she never had to work, she knew |
very task in IL farmers wifes existence; |
md perhaps it was best, for there was
young man living near her fathers ranch,
Who himself owned big ranch, and who
ook tea every Sunday afternoon with her |
ather and went to church down in the vii |
age every Sunday evening with her. She |
,sed to blush prettily when grandfather
eased her about him.
Foo, nah wv