The Opelousas courier., 1885-08-01
the motionless form to the ground,

the motionless form to the ground,
where ready arms received him.
The Mayors house was turned into
an hospital. and his wife into a nurse.
The girl soon regained her senses and
told her tale. She was the school.
mistress they were waiting to welcome:
About FIVE miles from the gully the
coach wa stopped by robbers. She
was on the seat with Tom, the driver,
wien the robbers, with leveled guns,
brought the stage to a standstill. Some
kalf-dozen passengers were ordered to
get out, and while they were being
searched, Tom slipped a revolver into
the little teachers hands and whis-
pered: "Shoot at the ma at the lead
er's head" Quick as a flash she leveled
the already cooked weapon. Bang
went the heavy Colt. A bullet passed
within a foot of the robbers head and
struck the horses ear. The frantic
animal reared up and struck the robber
with both fore feet. Down to the
ground the crushed robber dropped,
and the coach gave a jolt, jolt as the
wheels rolled over the PROSTATE
wretch's body. Bang! bang! Crack!
crack! went the robbers guns and one
bullet struck poor Tom in the breast
as he turned around to yell defiance at
the outwitted rascals. With a moan
he dropped back on the seat senseless.
Grasping the lines, which were drop
ping from Toms ~nerveless hands, she
guided the horses back to town. A
party from the Gully rode back over
the road and found the lifeless body of
the crushed robber. The passengers
were found close by tied to trees and
relieved of all their valuables. The
town rang with praise for the plucky
school-mistress, and the daily Bantam,
in a special edition issued to common
crate the lynching of the three rob-
bers, who were caught the day after
the affair, alluded to her as a Joan of
Are" A neat little frame school
house had been erected in anticipation
of her coming, and Don the school was
one Of the GulIy's most priced institu-
tions.
Miss Jarden, the teacher, boarded
with the Hasletts, and was the pet of
the town. Every fhan she met On the
street raised his hat and bowed re-
spectfully to her.
About six months after the dramatic
entry into town of the schoolmistress,a
young stranger came to the Gully, and
his name was in every ones mouth
'Parry the Tenderfoot," owner Of the
"Nellie and /" mine. One evening
Mrs. Haslett commenced talking about
the stranger. He is from your State
Pennsylvania; you must meet him
for he would make a good catch. He
owns the Nellie and L mine, the rich
est mine in these parts"
Why did a tear tremble on those eye
lashes; WHY did the blood redden her
cheeks a fiery huep just then the
Mayor came in, followed by a tall
stranger.
sMiss Jarden, this is Mr.. Parry"
A scream and the tall stranger and
the little teacher were locked in each
Others arms. Well, the rest is soon
told. Nellie Jarden and Parry Rod
gers were lovers in a small Pennsylva-
mia town. He started for the West to
make his fortune. Four or five letters
came and then they ceased.
A long year passed and no news of
Finally the dissolute son of
the Postmaster was arrested and con-
fessed that he had been stealing letters
with money IN them, and among them
he had taken two or three from Parry
TO Nellie, thinking probably they
might contain money.
The brave girl then started to find
her lover. Place after place she visit
but could find no clew, and at last.
broken-hearted and convinced that her
lover was dead, she accepted the place
her at the Gully.
Well, they married, and years Of