Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1886-11-28
CHAPTER XIV.
A WOMAN

neau Ill Ine NORWAY anu SSIli cA'iVtNul
any goodness gracious sakeS alive, boys
there's n woman on horseback coming down
! the hillm
The audience were out of doors in a twink,
ling No American woman had ever yet set
foot on Bull Bar.
The Bar hill road, for half a mile steeply
inclined, was rs red streak set in dark
green ground of chapparal winding and
| turning, appearing here AMI 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 a 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 a long tarTy spyglasS and
steadying it against n corner OF the store
focused it on the approaching phenomenon.
This 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 stay on ship
boys" some Of whom put on their ''Sea
legs staggered about rs if trying to main
tain their footing on deck in gale Of wind,
and one leaning over an imaginary vessel
side pantomimcd 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"
Come Cap. said one of the boys, don't
be greedy, now you've got a good thing.
Let's have n Squint"
The captain rclinquiShcd the glass with
soma show Of reluctance.
Jimmy Cook, having adjusted his eye to the
instrument seemed, Judging 10y his absorb
ton, to intend remaining as he was for the
afternoon.
Times up" cried one
Il move that twenty seconds only be al
lowed per man, per peep" said another.
second the motion, cried third. Then
| there won't b. enough TO go around before
! she's down hCrrn
Motions moved and seconded" said self
| constituted chairman "All in favor, say
| aye contrary minded no The ayes have
/ it, 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
! pubico, except rs | give the ship news"
The assembly gruaned, and one alluded 10
| Cap as an odd Turk
shes lady said the captain "Style
| quiet and genteeL Broad brim straw hat
veil. No loud trimmings. Nothing Bowery.
Cabin passenger Boys, tuck in your
! shirts"
For convenience and comfort the miner
Of that period generally wore his red or
! gray shirt as u blouse emitting the fornality
! of slowing its extremity under the trousers
wai>tband.
! The captains order was obeyed. Mr.
Rankin made his appearance. having been
employed in buttouing himself into Starchcd
| linen. a "hoarler" reminded him that he
had forgotten his kids, and another, hastily
| cutting a gigantic collar from sheet OF
white paper, arrayed himself therein, IT.
marking rs ho did so that his tailor was al
ways delinquent with his dress suit when it
was most wantcd," adding rehectivcly:
| However, if q mans head was only well
dressed no sensible woman would look any
| further"
"SwipeS" produced the tin horn used 10
! call the boarderS to their meals, and asked
the captain if he should hail her"
"Oh, you're all a lot of smartyS now, amt
your' said Rankin. How do YOU know who
| that lady may be! She may he some of You
| 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.. Rankin's sentiments made a speedy
| change in the humor of this before reckless
crowd. As the lady drew nearer the faces of
| all present assumed a more serious expires
sion. They were recalled to themselves and
/ drawn 60 tLei- Oh os.sto-,. L~-.e>, ~ tI.,
sight of that one female figure long ere she
reached the store.
All present knew that she was All eastern
woman" and the city bred boys declared her
a city woman. She sat her horse easily. Her
! face was partly concealed by her broad
/ brimmed 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, ID
effect. the entrance and exit gate Of Bull
| Bar Mr.. Rankin kept the gate Anyone
visiting Bull Bar on business, or any one
I there coming TO make inquiry would lie
/ naturally directed 10 Rankin. In such CON
! nection he figuratively kept the keys Of the
/ Bar He knew where every miner lived
within a radius of three miles He knew
[ how they "were doing He banked their
| dust for them in his safe, and in Ilany cases
/ their confidence and social sscr cts in bis
I breast
| The lady was riding toward staring gap
I ing, curious crowd. Of which l suddenly re-
called TO myself l was one. As she came
nearer turned away and went in the store,
not desiring To play the lout Many Others
I of the ''boys7 seemed influenced by similar
( feeling, and stole of to work. still, however,
keeping so much as possible one eye over
their shoulders. Nor did they walk very fast
. 1t was 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 l
saw only the extremity of a riding habit and
/ the tip of a small foot in the stirrJp. l heard
7 then a clear, welLtoned voice asking Nr.
( Rankin if anyone knew a Mr.. Jedediah
Pratt in the neighborhoOd" heard Blanche
Sefton's voice, and, walking out, saw Blanchel
Rankin was giving her directions to PrattS
! He turned toward me.
This man will show you where he lives
were his concluding words, as l made my