The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1886-09-25
CHAPTER VI
THE RANcHMAN's DAUGHTER.

NIlAI lGh VI
THE RANCHMAN's DAUGHTER.
Central and Western Nebraska, a dozen
or more years ago, presented different ap-
pearance from the present time.
Then only an occasional ranch could be
seen scattered along the Platte River, while
herds, watched by the usual cowboy ele-
ment, wandered almost at will and grew fat
and sleek from the dry buffalo grass so
plentifully distributed over thousands of
prairie acres.
The Union Pacific was then but begin
ming It's life of heavy transportation to and
from the great West.
Within sght of the broad, shallow Platte
and the SCANNING cars, ranch of rude
proportions reared its walls, which walls it
must be acknowledged, were made of adobe
But inside, the tour compartments were
large, light, and comfortable, and safe
refuge In case Of a Western "blow" or
blizzard
Old John Scott had been owner Of said
ranch for several years. He had moved
there when vegetation was little thought of,
and Indians We're as thick almost as mos
quItoes and as dangerous as the rattle
snakes his cowboys daily killed
But old John Scott was what he pleased
to term himself, "a square dealer" He
treated his red neighboIs fairly, and conse-
! quently, by exercising tact, he managed to
ayiod an attack.
His wife and daughter, little Tess. lived
IN the rude home he provided, and We're
moderately happy, notwithstanding then
/ queer red nelghbors and few civilized en-
/ joyments
Old Johns herds increased fast. He
counted his cattle by the thousand when the
+ roundup" came. He was getting rich.
Sun he chung to his rude home, and his
! wife ard daughter chung to him.
/ less Scott was getting on toward a young
! lady, and was the acknowledged belle OF
| those Western plains. Black-eyed, black
/ haired. brave as the brayest hunter. she de-
! lighted IN joining her father on his visits to
/ Ii5 nerds, and more than one rough cowboy
/ lost his heart to the merry lass.
/ The railroad had brought civilization
nearer, people were focking in. houses
were being built, crops were ATTEMPTED
/ aud when not visited by the droutb OF
/ grasshoppers We're fairly successful.
/ less father resented the approach ofthe
| mgh-hyers, as he termed Fasteners. and
/ felt that his old home would never be the
1 same again; but Tess rather enioved II.
/ I'll tell you what, Daddy" She said one
! day. sell of some o them steers an Won
/ an mother move further west to some town
an send me to school. Id like to 90.
Mothers took me about as fur as She kin. :"
Little less was ruler of that ranch aud
/ had been ever since she could toddle. So.
/ though the father ~darned eff he would .
/ and even used stronger words. he did inst
/ what Tess asked. He sold off small
traction OF his cattle and purchased pretty
/ NV rome IN a Western city for his wife
and daughter, while he coutented himself
/ rs best he could in visiting his herds and
/ bis family by turns, and IN zrowIino, At the
/ homesteaders who were dlilv ocSunvine,
more and more of his pasture lands
Tess, though unusually bright had .
/ serious time Of it at school. and If # had
/ not been for one friend, a girl of about her
/ her own age, wopld have been nora off,,
/ discouraged. V'''''
ms friend was an only daughter of 4
/ wealthy mine owner. who found In The
fanehman daughter something so BRIGHT
| and sunshlnyr and Of such sterling worth
| 'hat they became bosom friends. and al
| most wept their pretty ewes ont whom The
nlne-oWner sold ont his mines and shares
aud removed to New York.
/ less had lived in the Western city savarol
/ wears, and had grown to be a vonnef iad,,
| albeit flavor of the cowboy sIa9g st!Il
cluhs % her, when or night her door was
opened to admit little. black-robed fo,,rs
WITH shining goid-browu hair ana 1als
/ wearied face. '''' P"ie'