Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1886-04-15
CHAPTER XIV.
A WOMAN

! A woMAN
At this moment Mr.. John Sargent nut his
head in the doorway and said excitedly;
MY goodness gracious sakes alive. boys
there's woman on. horseback coming down
1 the hillr'
| The audience were out of doors in a twink.
| ling No American woman had ever vet set
| foot on Bull Bar
| The Bar hill road, for half mile steeply
inclined, was as a red streak set in dark
| green ground of chapparal, winding and
turning, appearing here and disappearing
there behind the denser clumps
| The woman's progress was necessarily
! slow. Twenty minutes at least would elapse
ere she would reach the store The boarders
gathered in group on a knoll. Other gangs
OF men hearing the news congregated on
various portions of the Bar. All eyes were
directed upwards. Capt Thompson brought
from his sea chest long tarry spyglass and
| steadylng IL against corner of the store
| docussed 1t on the approaching phenomenon
ms constituted the captain temporary
authority. His reports from time to time
were eagerly received by the crowd.
Out OF sheer force of nautical habit the
captain put one arm about the post support
ing the veranda to steady himself, as he
would put his arm around a stay on ship
board. The attitude was not lost ON the
| boys, some of whom put on their 'isea
legs" staggered about as if trying to main
tain their footing on deck in a gale of wind
and one leaning over an imaginary vessel
side pantomimed a fearful arrangement of
the stomach through the disturbance of the
| elements
Trim looking craft" said the captain.
should say by her model and rig she was of
| American build.n
Come, Cap" said one of the bows. ssdop,t
| De greedy, now you've got good thing.
Let's have squint.
| The captain relinquished the glass with
some show of reluctance
| Jimmy Cook having adjusted his eve IN the
instrument seemed, Judging by his absorb
ton, to intend remaining as he was for the
afternoon
Times upln cried one.
Il move that twenty seconds only be al
lowed per man, per peep" said another
| Second the motion" cried third. stThen
there won't be enough to go around before
she's down here"
Motions moved and seconded said self
| constituted chairman. "All in favor. saw
| 'aye;' contrary minded mo- The ayes Rave
| 1T The chair rules the next peep for itself.
| NO you don't, remarked the Cap com
ing forward and capturing his glass. This
glass Is private property, and not pro bono
p.btico except as give the ship news'n
| The assembly groaned, and one alluded to
| Cap as an "0ld Turk
She's a lady, said the captain. sStvla
quiet and genteel. Broad brim straw hat
| veil No loud trimmings. Nothing Bowerv
Cabin passenger. Boys, tuck in your
| shirtsr'
| For convenience and comfort the miner
| of that period generally wore his red or
| gray shirt as blouse, emitting the formality
! OF slowing its extremity under the trousers
| waistband.
The captains order was obeyed Mr.
Rankin made his appearance, having been
| employed in buttoning himself into starched
| linen. 'boarder" reminded him that he
| had forgotten his kids, and another. hastily
| cutting a gigantic collar from a sheet of
| white paper, arrayed himself therein. re-
| marking as he did so that ''his tailor was al
ways delinquent with his dress suit when IL
was most wanted" adding refiectiyely.
However, if a mans head was only well
| dressed no sensible woman would look any
| further"
''Swipes' produced the tin horn used to
call the boarders to their meals, and asked
| the captain If he should 'hail herr
Ciis 1ou . u lOb VI SlIlaTLVS now. amt
yousn said Rankin. How do you know who
that lady may bel She may be some of Won
| fools mother or sister or wife, come to hunt
you to your holes At all events. whoever
she is, spose Wen all act as near like gentle
men as we know how. Those who can't
better trot off to work"
Mr. Rankins sentiments made n sueedv
change in the humor of this before reckless
crowd. As the lady drew nearer the faces of
all present assumed a more serious express
sion They were recalled to themselves and
drawn to their old eastern homes by the
sight of that one female figure long ere she
reached the store
All preaent ;:new that she was an eastern
woman" ond the city bred boys declared her
a city woman She sat her horse easily. Her
face was partly concealed by her broad
brimncd straw hat
To the store, of course, she must come.
Everything coming to Bull Bar must first
come to the store. The road down the hill
ended at the store door The store was in
CT, the entrance and exit gate of Bull
ar. Mr.. Rankin kept the gate. Anyone
visiting Bull Bar on business, or any one
there coming to make inquiry would be
naturally directed to Rankin In such con-
nection he figuratiyely kept the keys of the
Bar. He knew where every miner lived
within radius of three miles. He knew
how they were doing" He banked their
| dust for them in his safe, and in many cases
their confidence and social secrets in his
breast.
The lady was riding toward a staring gap
ing, curious crowd, OF which / suddenly re-
called to myself | was one. As she came
nearer turned away and went in the store,
not desiring to play the lout. Many others
of the "boys" seemed influenced by similar
feeling, and stole off to work, still, however,
keeping so much as possible one eye over
their shoulders. Nor did they walk very fast.
1t was a hard conflict between curiosity and
respect. A few lounged about the store door,
seating themselves ON the bench.
She had stopped in front of the door |
saw only the extremity of riding habit and
the tip of a small foot in the stirrup. heard
then a clear, well-toned voice asking Mr.
| Rankin if ANYONE knew a Mr.. Jededah
| Pratt in the neighborhood." heard Blanche
Sefton's voice, and, walking out, saw Blanchel
Rankin was giving her directions to Pratt's.
| He turned toward me-
"This man will show you where he lives,n
| were his concluding words, as / made my
| appearance THAT is, he's generally able to
| tell, when he's woke up"
Her eyes met mine There was no friendly
recognition IN them. L said: w by,
Characteristic maintained the same look
miss Sefton-whatl you here" What else
/ said / know nota-a tumble of unmeaning
words, tumbling over each other, for her
| look made me sick at heart. ,
] She turned to Rankin, who, with the
| others, had been startled and interested in
this unlocked for recognition. Still more
| startled were they as they saw Blanche, bend
| ing low in the saddle, say something to me
in a tone too low for them to hear, but at
| which / recoied.
Those words were: "No! not you, John
Holder! Not my uncles murderer l do not
wish your assistance!"
| Perhaps l can find my way to my uncle's
house alone if some of you gentlemen viii
direct me- she said aloud to the wondering
| group.
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