Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-05-12
THE JOHNsTOwN STAGE.
THE STORY OF woMAN's COURAGE.

THE STORY OF woMAN's COURAGE.
City OF Rocks was losing its sharp outlines in
the radiating heat OF July afternoon The IN
broken. gray sage-orush plain surrounding It had
already lost It's one outline the horizon and now
merged Itself IN the distance OF It's own business
The void between glaripg plain and gIaring sky
was nlled with hot silence. 1t was the silence
Of solitude undisturbed by humanity; for the
only human habitation In the City OF Rocks was
the stage station, and that, In It's square, uncom-
promising adaptation TO its uses. seemed lonelier
than the rough, but sometimes beautiful and
always fantastic, stone formation around II. Any
one could see why this place was called City OF
Rocks Its name fitted, as most frontier names
II, until they subjected TO the personal vanity
OF nicer sense OF modesty Of refined map-makers-
But any one could not see why It's unhewn, granite
masses should rise so abruptly and unreasonably
IRON the level, sage-orush desert To an imagf-
native or cultivated mind there was something
eerie about these castle turrets and cathedral
spires, sen afar In an uninhabited land; and to
such, an armed knight with lance IN rest. charg-
ing across the plain, would not have been out OF
place. such a person, necessarily n passenger on
the Johnstown stage, with vague anticipations OF
romance. would very likely question the stage
driver. The reply, without doubt would be that
this was an outcropping Of the same ledge In
which they had struck high-grade ore over in the
Blue Gulch district II the driver felt like talking
the additional fact might be extracted that the
Indians called 10 1.-The seven houses where the
witches laugh" This would sound promising. but
The quest!Oner would md that this was an there
was OF IL Indeed, II is more than probable taat
the questions OF the Imaginative and cultivated
stranger would ere this have elleited from the
driver the sole but pregnant fact that the ldaho
and Northwestern stage Company pald MN only
10 drive
The JohnstOwn stage was due at City OF Rocks
AZ > O'Clock. About that hour a man In manner
shirt, dirty sOdier-trousers tucked In his boots,
and a SLOUGH hat on the back OF his bronzed,
bearded. unxempt head, materialized In the Oh
scurity OF the doorway OF the statiOn-house, and
shading MS eyes with his hand. looked down the
road. As he stood there cloud OF dust became
nearer and nearer until the creaking and jingllng
u dry wood. leather. and metal, and the pounding
Of hoOfs, were heard Then as the cloud approached
the station. apparftiOn OF two horses and
stage coach was seen within IL The cloud stopped
In front Of the house, the dust settled, and the
powder. was disclosed. The driver, looking ike
miller laid his whip on the roof and prepared TO
descend The station-keeper who. meanwhile, had
stepped out into the road and silently commenced
10 unlock the traces looked up for the frst time.
The next moment he dropped the trace with an ex-
clamation OF wonder while his hand slowly but In
stinctively sought the revolver which hung In a
belt loosely about his hips. For few seconds he
scrutinized the face OF the man who was swinging
surprise changed 10 one Of recognition, his hand
relaxed It's hold on the pistol ana ne said heartily,
We'll III be durnedl Lieutenant, Is that you?
Why, what's come of Jirn?'
''Iie was taken sick down at shotgun Greek and
had 70 lay on at the milk ranch" said the man
addressed, taking on his hat and beating out the
dust against his leg. He was tall and broad
shOuldered, but slender, and was dressed In the
same manner as the statlon,keeper, even to the
revolver which hung about hts hips. His voice
and bearing, however, the only characteristics
unaffected 6y the dust, betrayed q difference be-
.sicE. nothingI" exclaimed the hostler. in tone
OF disgust, taking out the straw which he held
between his teeth and throwing It theoretically
On the ground THAT fellows alays slcki I'm
burned ef don't 6lleve he's weakened sence
Mnlstling Dick jumped his stage last month! He's
eara That ths ssnS S ms money up
and he's afeard he'll git jumped agin. Durn him.
That's watts the matter. IL leaves me in purity
nX!" he continued. FRANKS out after stock, and
there's no one yere but NE. Who's goin TO take
the stage On?'
I take !. on as far as Pack CITY 4 you IKE,
one there TO take Jim's Place easy enough"
The station-keeper, without replying, mechanic
caly resumed his duties OF taking out the horses,
and watched them meditatiyey as they walked
slowly on TO the stables Then finally turning to
the lieutenant with the air OF one whose mind Is
made up. he said: by thunder. guess that's the
only thing we kin do. i can't leave yere. /
wouldn't have head OF stock left by the time
got back Them damned InJuns Is gittin' worse
and worse, not TO mention the boss thieves and
road agents that's gittin' thickern reas on dogs
ant AMI don't know what the Old maail saw"
NE won't say thank you, at any rate" said the
"You kin gamble on that" said the hostler ap-
proyingly. who's this Johnny -come-lately7" be
added as a passenger from the inside OF the stage
strOlled toward them.
Jim said lie Was a stockman," said the lieuten-
ant: shes billed for Pack City,
"Jimr' growled the h0stler, CONTEMPORARY.
"Jlms a stranger himself In these parts. How
And when the traveller, an elderly man, joined
them with sociaole remark that at was purity
Jolaole warm" the hostler vented his scorn for
Jim by ignoring him altogether and continuing his
talk with the lieutenant about way-bills, express
mail, and other stage matters. But the passenger
appearing In nowise affected by this lack OF cord-
ally held his grouni and II he did not join In the
the nosTier naIIy turned TO him and said rather h
sarcastieally, stranger, Is there anything i can
wei. no, pard,v replied the traveller, good.
humOredly, -there's nOthin you kin do fer me, but
i reckon you kin do sonethn Ter thet lady inside:
she's petered plumb out, and the kids yelling ike
At this the amateur driver opened the stage door
and looked In. There was the usual litter OF mall
bags and small bundles, and smell OF duss and
leather. Addressing the woman who In a long
linen duster and with veil over her face re-
elined Imply In one corner, half holding a cry
Ing baby, the lieutenant said, supper station
madam
TINS announcement producing no reply, he re-
peated 1t In louder tone. The only result was an
added force 10 the baby's cries.
II reckon she's tainted said the other passen-
ser, appearing at his elbow with a cup OF water;
The Lieutenant got inside, followed by the old
man, 10 whom be unceremOniously handed the
little WHISKY and water and pushing the veil up
from the unconscious mouth, he succeeded In par
TALLY reyfying the exhausted woman. .NOy
then, he said In an authoritative tone '.you must
CCvr outside In the open air and wash Your face
abs. hands; that Will brace you up quicker than
anything Then wnen you have had some dinner
you VIII De all righs- We haven't much time, he
added
The woman obediently arose, but, cramped and
worn out oy the long days ride, had TO be assisted
10 the ground She succeeded IN walking over 10
the water-trOugh, and sitting down on its edge
silently took her baby. The lieutenant brought
her a basin and towel and left her 10 her toilet
Presently he returned and said, supper is ready
THANK you, don't want any supper" was the
reply.
As he heard her speak for the nrst time the lien
tenant looked at the shrouded form In SUNRISE
The voice was low and trained the voice Of a GEN
tiewOman- ~ startled him with a swirl siIoSres-
ton Oi perfuned lace and six-buttol Kid yioyes
OF waltz music, yachting, and low murInurei
words IN DIN eonseryatories- The recollection OF
the fried pork and beans awaiting them In the
station, however, brought his mind back 10 the
subject:
Il Deg your pardon" he said, "but you must
eat something. You can't stage all day without
eating"
Her back was turned toward him a. she "a,
daoolIng her hand In the water for the amuse
ment OF the baby and be went around and stood
IA front OF her 10 emphasize his remark Her veil
was stiil down, and she old not raise her head as
dressing. an Overzealous inferior s.You are very
And, pUt don't want anything"
The lieutenant was rather nettled az this but
nevertheless persisted dis interest was awakened
Besides II would be very inconvenient 70 have her
faint on the road - hope you wont think Inc
0OtrusiVe.' he said, moCulating his tone respect
fllIy, "O1t you must have something. II you