The Bad Lands cow boy. [volume] (Little Missouri, Dakota [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-1886, 1886-02-18
shrug Of ind erence, when / questioned
her IN regard TO the matter. II
She had, the male. sallnw cn,,, !, lor,;o,,

SO common 70 her class, and her speech
and L manners q ~ were uncouth enough, but
there was a charm about her after ali.
There was q wild grace and freedom in
her movements, q magnetism in her
dark eyes when she turned them full
upon you, q consci business Of power in
her saucy, defiant ways, that fascinated
all who came in contact with her.
myself was strongly attached to her;
what wonder then that Jake and Tim
Carnes became her abject slaves!
I had often amused myself watching
the three, feeling about the same kind
Of interest half amusement, half fear
in their fierce rude love-making, their
jealousies and quarrels, that 1 would in
the gambols Of trio of wild animals.
The days passed on, but my two big
boys came to school no more. AT last
4 7 began to wonder if jimmy had any
thing to do with their absence. Eyi-
IDENTIFY there was something wrong with
the girl; she seemed sullen and depress-
ed, and sat in her seat frowning, silent;
and when I questioned her she shut her:
teeth fercely together, and answered
not q word. 5sL y PAS {3 j8s ~
But soon there came a change; one
afternoon noticed that she was ter
ribly restless and excited, and her great
eyes, no longer defiant, sought mlnc
continually, with an expression Of mute
appeal, such as wesseet in the eyes of a
dumb animal when in pain.
My heart ached for her., but I had
been SO often repulsed, that I thought
best to wait for her to speak. When
the scholars were dismissed she linger-
ed behind, and as the door closed on the
last one she sprang forward, and throw
ing herself at my feet. with tears and
groans and incoherent cries, made
know the cause Of her wretchedness.
eve killed Jake, marin! I've killed
. Jake" she moaned, rocking herself
wildly to and fro.
" How how is that!'' I asked ;recoil-
ing from her instinctively. "a; 5. 4
s'.Why, twas me Jake and Tim fit
over, that day they came IN kivered
with blood! l set 'em at it, and laughed
to see it 60 on. Then a few days ago
they begun agin- and l might a. stop:
ped 'em with a word, and I didn't;
didn't! Somehow I couldn't. I reckon
the devil wouldn't let me. But I wish
/ had! Oh, how I wish i had! If it
was only Tim a dyin' now, instead o.
Jake, I wouldn't care!ns she muttered
fiercely. Il alters hated Tim allers!''
.'But, Jimmy, = said ], wishing to di-.
vert her, "are you sure Jake will diep'i'
oh, yes, marin, they say SO; and /.
fear it here,'' laying. her hand on her.
heart: made inquiries as to the nature
of Jake's injury, hut could gather Moth
ing definite, except that twas a wound
from a pistol shot, and that for some
unaccountable reason he had made
scarcely any show Of defending himself;
according to those who witnessed the
encounter, ..he seemed all at once
spilln' to get killed. e
Perhaps You would like to 60 70:
himr' I suggested. I: 8 3fs .5,s
oh, would, IL would" she exclaim--:
ed eagerly Ihain't seen him yet. s.
l II hung round the place all last night,
fearin' TO go inside. Yes, I viii go!''a
she cried with sudden vehemence; her
4 pale cheek flushing, sand T Il die with
him, too! One grave shall kiYer US
me and Jake!''
An idea occurred to me. 81 have
had some experience with such Wounds
I said. 9 Knight do something for him.
Shall I 60 with your 5,. Il.
Oh, yes, yes. Come She hurried
me out and led the way along Cross
road through the woods.
Never q good walker, I; soon began to
feel WEAKNESS. and jimmy noticed that 7
Jagged behind. i.5 s55 5:5.7s
..Afebby you're tired marm,n she re-
marked. ST dom mind miles o. trampin''
myself. I'm used to it. Let me kerry
ye, mum. And before I could remon-
strate she picked me up and shouldered
me as if I had been sack Of corn.
"Pears like it'll DO me good,n she NUT
tered as she strobe along seemingly lit
tie encountered by her burden. \
At last we reached the miserable hut
that Jake called his home. We pushed
open the door and looked in. "A very
old woman crouched BY q smoky fire.,
and on q rude bed ina corner Of the
room lay Jake. his immense proportions
sharply outlined through the scanty COW,
ering. Y IS 3 q y s
Hge, the dog, crouched at his feet,
and took no notice Of our approach.
a handsome rifle and d brace Of pis-.
tolls hung against the wall beside the
bed; for the cowboy Of Texas is seldom
50 poor that he does not own handsome
firearms. ss s ;ss
As we entered the old woman, who
4 proved to be Jake's mother. got upon
her feet with great difficulty, and came
toward us, but jimmy laid Her fingers on
her lips and glided swiftly past her to
the bed. S3 j35
Clasping both hands tightly behind
4 her, she leaned over Jake, softly calling;
his name. A!
At the sound of her voice he opened
This eyes and gazed wildly about, without
Eseeming to see the face 80 near his own.
\ He turned bis head and caught sight Of
line, and knew me-. Brushing his hand
slowly across his eyes he said:
didn't know I'd fell asleep
marin. evidently thinking he was m
school. sis sS5 n