The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1888-06-16
ZELMA'S CONQUEST.
How She Subdued the "Terror" of
Coyote Prairie.

The purple glamour of an ideal Indian
summer enwrapped the rich vegetation that
made Coyote Prairie, in far Southern Kan
sas, in its semi-unsettled days, so inviting
and wholly delightful to the Eastern-b bred
family of Samuel Archer.
The Archer family had iourncyed all the
way from New York that summer in O
large covered wagon, or in Western par
lance "a prairie schooner" Samuel Archer
was on the lookout for home in the un
settled West, and Notwithstanding the un.
pleasant reports which they frequently
heard of Indian depredations in the vicinity
of Coyote Prairie, as that beautiful stretch
of fertile prairie land had been named by
the early Settlers he concluded to appropri-
ate to himself certain portion of its
billowy surface that had particularly cap
tivated his vision.
The Archer family consisted of Samuel,
his wife. refined, pleasant woman, who did
not air her Eastern manners before her less
refined ncighbors of the frontier and their
only child, Zelma as she was named. a
handsome, determined girl of seventeen.
Samuel was a big, robust, Woodworking
Yankee farmer of more than ordinary
energy. With neighbor's heph soon had
81 very comfortable log cabin erected on his
Western claim, into which the family were
fain to move themselves after q protracted
residence under canvas
Mrs Archer was busy, careful house
wife. Unused to the wild gales, which en-
joyed such unfettered sweep over Coyote
Prairie, she was often provoked beyond
measure at the sheets of dust from the
sandy road sitting through every crack and
crcvice of the cabin and into the most seclu-
ded places But Zelma did not allow the
gales of her new home to worry her. Tho
potatoes just taken from the cooking utensil
might be peppered over with dust driven
into the cabin by the high winds, while her
mother worried, Zelma would endeavor to
laugh off the provocation.
Zelma's was CHEEKY, sunshiny tempera-
ment, ever seeking and discovering the
bright side, where others beheld the gloomy
Still, she could be very firm, too, as one
could readily judge from the cast of her
pretty mouth and snowy chin.
Her intensely darl. eyes announced more
plainly than words would have done to an
observer that she meant just what she said
and aimed to execute whatever she set her
heart on accomplishing. so long as her bet
ter judgm ent approved the step.
lmbued with the same spirit of industry
that characterized her parents, Zelma
Archer determined to be as light burden to
them in their new home as possible Ac-
cordingly, hearing that the Coyote Prairie
school was without a teacher for the Win
ter term Zelma donned her calico sunbonnet
and gloves and called on the board of trus-
tees. She had received a good education in
New York, but had no experience in teach
ing school, But this did not deter her from
making application
She informed the trustees that she had no
fears but that she could govern the school
and instruct the pupils, too That board of
semi-rough frontiersmen eyed the small but
plump girl making an oral application to
teach the rude urchins of Coyote Prairie
They were doubtful and undecided But, at
last, Zelma's self-confidence in her ability
to manage "the tough slSule miss" won the
day for her. She was engaged to teach the
school at thirty-fve dollars per month"; and
board furnished her during the bad weather
ct the nearest patrons, Jacob Hadley. When
the weather was favorable and walking
good Zelma preferred to walk over three
miles home than put up with Hadley's
family. who lived only one mile from the
school-house, although Mr.. and Mrs. Hadley
had assured her of a cordial welcome to stay
with them throughout the entire term
''Wife an NELL be powerful glad ter hev
you-uns board along with we-uns. Our
ranch is on'y mild frum the ssule-house,
which's right over yander on thet thar little
rise in the purary, u Hadley had said to Zelma.
School opened on Monday. On Sunday
evening Mr.. archer hitched up his mule
team and drove Zelma over to Jacob Had
lcy's so she might get an earlier start on the
first day of school than IL she had to walk
from home.
Its half the battle, you know" Archer
said to Hadley, as he helped Zelma out OF
the wagon, ito get an early start and head
the young ones off in plotting mischief the
first day. Zeis grandfather was a mighty
brave Yankee soldier in the war of 1912,
and hope she will take after him and stand
her ground If the young coyotes of Coyote
Prairie raise a rebellion" he added.
They're passed. o. tough-uns, miss"
said Hadley, before Zelma started for
school next morning. ~ reckon you-uns'll
want ter throw up the contract fore night.
They re tough as all git out" using figure
of speech the girl did not comprehend, but
which made her smile In spite of herself
Eyes, an quarrelin'er set ye never
seed, / KNOW" put In the voice of Mrs.
Hadley. 'Oh, you-uns'll hev yer hands
chuck full with 'em, miss. Now IL was
teacher OF the con-twisted Coyote Purary
skule, I'd jest erbout churn the daylights
outer some of em," and she wagged her
head sa9ely as she rendered this ponderous
advice.
II hope We wont hev any trouble with
'em," Jacob went on, "bus ye see, they're
so all-fred rough am heathenish livin' out
hyar ermong wild white men an mean
lnjins, with little or no sculin' ter speak of,
for so long spell I'm kinder skeered fur
ye, miss But don't let US dlskerige ye.
Try yer hand. Lick the very life o. mean
ness outin 'eni of they sass ye Whop mine
like sin eff they don't mind ye."
And thus equipped with forewarnings
and most expressive suggestions, Zelma set
out across the hazy prairie towards the
sGhooLhouse. She found 1t roughly built,