The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1886-07-14

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land. stand forlorn
hear the soa complaining
ofbiris. from minh retaining.
That greeted with their carols sweet thy waiin
every morn.
Poor mother hush thy weeping.
Above thy darling sleeping.
Nor fret with anrhi Of carhly grefthe stiilne'
where he iies,
Flowers in his little finger.
Where the rosy flush sill lingcrs.
For the angels are his playrnates GA the plains Z
Paradise.
COURTSHIP ON THE RANCH
Fine Emmett. ~cattleman, or Due d
Durham, rs he was sometimes called, wa
a character who had an existence and
~ location at Deer Trail, Col. Fine possess
ed a large amount Of personality, az, IN
deed. did many of the sturdy cowmen o
the plains. He was the owner OF a larg'
herd of cattle, and. by the use of the un
limited range afforded by Uncle sam
vacant land, had only to take care o
what he had and watch himself grow
rich.
Besides his cattle business, he was al
WAYS an expert gambler, and, as nearl,
everybody in this western country indul'
eed in this kind ola pastime, he found
no difficulty in providing himself with
partners to his heart content. There
seemed 10 be method in his indulgence.
for he nearly always pocketed the stakes
nd increased his possessions thereby.
In the conduct of his business he en-
~,,yed quite a large number Of cowboys
Il with those, in one way and another,
would manage TO play until their
learning were all exhausted, and at the
end Of the season they would have
nothing to show for their work.
Among the rest whom he employed
one spring for this kind ofwork was Pat
Drake. Pat was a fine-looking young
fellow skilled in all the arts that go to
make an expert cowboy, at home in the
saddle. and towing with a lariat a. a child
would a plaything. Another fact, not 50
well understood in camp, was that he
was very expert at cards, and would play
when ever he was invited with all the
nonchalance with which he engaged in
every duty or pleasure that fell to his
lot.
The old man liit-on was another large
cattle owner who lived at Dear Tail. He
was formally from TeXes, and had a large
family comprising two daughters and
several sons. He WAS of the lawless rene
gade sort who had always brought odium
on the whole fraternity of cowboys and
cattlemen, and his family partook ofthese
characteristics.
One daughter, Nellie, though uncouth
and rude, a. with her surroundings she
could not help being, was nevertheless
possessed of finer sensihilities. higher As
pirations. and a more afiectionate tenn
permanent than the rest.
Emmett had all along admired Nellie,
and il had generally been understood, by
the family and Others who knew them,
that they would eventually unite their
destinies. But when Pat Drake. with his
handsome face and dashing WAYS, came
into camp, it was easy TO Ice seen that he
made an impression upon the fair Nellie
and was himself smitten with her.
The reckless, happy-go-luck Pat rode
the range faithfully during the day, and
WAS ready for any proposed amusement
in the evening. Itnot unfrequently hap
pened that 10y some coincidence he met
and spent aportion Of the evening with
Nellie.
Though his services were valuable, he
was not long in seeing that he was not
liked by his employer, and was also
aware that the Hitson boys were far from
regarding him with favor.
An instructive feeling that Pat was
his equal, or some sort of reluctance, had
prevented Emmett from playing with him.
One evening after several months service,
however, they met in the saloon when
Jesse Hitson wa present. After signif-
icani winks had passed between him and
Emmei. the latter invited Pat to play.
and they were soon seated and playing
in dead earnest. Emmett soon became
aware Of the fact that he had met no
"ienderfoot.' but he was bound Il win,
at least the amount he was owing Pat for
his service. Pat. however, steadily led
the game and Emmett found himself a.
steadily losing, at which he began 10 play
more reckless, and c~ndeavored by sway
gering to intimidate Pat. The latter kept
perfectly cool, however, and continued to
pocket the stakes. The amount of the
winnings had now reached several nun
bred dollars, and Emmett decided to put
a stop to it some way, and finally he
angrily exclaimed
"Nou are cheating. Pat "
1T is a lie" said Pat quietly, and al
most in the same breath.
Both men grasped for their reyolvers,
but Pat was surprised TO hear Jesse Hit
son say, ooolly:
Don't We pull your gun, Pat ; I've got
the drop on ye."
For an instant Pats GOODNESS left him,
a. he saw the fearful odds against him
then everybody was startled 10y hearing
a female voice saving:
Hide out Jesse Hitson. or / will let
daylight through YOU, Give your gun TO
the bartender and 90 through that door
quick" Then, almost in the same breath,
Nellie, for she il was, added: Pull your
gun, Pat l have got the drop on both OF
them, and am going TO see fair play
Then. when She had seen jesse cut of the
door and Pats revolver in position, she
said 10 Emmet " Now Fine Emmett, YOU
put up or shut up, Back u or 20 on
and play just as you choose. but if YOU
do play, | will see that it i done fair. In
fact. never would have interlered but
for some remarks | overheard Jesse
make, and from which l concluded Pat
would have no chance against both OF
YOU"
There was something about backin.
out. AMI that, too, in the presence of Mel
lie. that Enmet could not bear, and :,
he concluded to try his luck still further
His playing was Of such a spiritless char