The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-03-20

little Chnaman.
Would you know him again if you saw
him, All Wing?"
YES, stree All Wing no fool"
Half an hour later the fair young stranger
opened her eyes, and the parSon, in his homely
but pleasant way, proceeded to make her feel
at home.
Il am afraid miss that you have Just passed
through serious trouble; but try and feel that
you are at least safe and among friends. You
are welcome to all this poor house affords, and
anything we can do for you shall be done"
But the girl burst into feed of tears, and
could speak no words but Poor father-poor
father"
Later on, Parson Jim learned that she and
her father were the only passengers on the
preceding day from Denver, and that they
were going through TO Colorado springs on
their way to New Orleans. The coach was
attacked by highwaymen, and as the girls
father Mr.. Winship, rather unwsely resisted
them, he was shot dead. Then the girl had
tainted, and remembered nothing until sho
found herself in Parson Jim's best room. Her
name, she said. was Ethel Winship.
Putting the girls story and the contents of
the note together, it looked as though the des-
perado Kansas had killed the girls father and
promptedby.some feelings of remorse and pity,
had undertaken to help the bereayed daughter.
n day or two later, when Ethel was some
what rested, and her grief less poignant, Par
son Jim had another talk with her.
What would you like TO do?" he said
"Oh, sir, there is nothing for me to do Get
me work of some kind here in this place. We
had no triends-father and had lived and
travelled together since my mother died. many
years ago We were getting poor, too, know,
and my father had some plans of his own, but
what they were do not know. If you will
help me to get living here l shall be much
obliged, and / am willing to try ANYTHING"
'My poor child" said Parson jim in his
kindly voice, II am truly sorry for YOU. If
you can be content i'll my rough home for
While, stay here until we can manage some
thing better for you. | have no one for whom
| caro-, or who cares for me-only the boys in
the camp. But those same boys will tell you
that not a hair of your head will be hurt while
you stay under my roof. have plenty of this
world s wealth-more than the boys imagine
and L can afford slight addition TO my
family"
So She stayed and found that Parson Jims
words were true. She could not have been
treated more as lady had she been an earls
daughter and the guest of a dOwager duchess.
AS the weeks passed. parson Jim managed to
age, one of which was "my lady's chamber"
and the other The "parlor." Then, too, pretty
carpets and furniture came from Denver, and
the boys began to think that the Parson was
putting ons 'lugS." But they excused good
deal in the Parson, and really We'd with one
another i'll paying homage in their rough way
to the Parsons ward.
OF course they soon knew the story and
Parson Jim had shown the Hon. Samuel Green
and one or two others the note that Kansas
had left with Ethel Winshp.
HlCItiSS 4i5d ,aflti H. II stayed on at The
Gulch. She became contentcd, and much APP
preeiated the Parsons care and efforts to make
her comfortable. She showed her gratitude
in hundred womanly ways, land kept the par
sonage as neat and pretty as if it had been in
Massachusetts or the English Midlands, in
stead of in wild Colorado valley Only, every
time news came OF a robbery or murder by
Kensas and his gang, would the poor girl be-
come agitated, and cry for vengeance on the
man who took from her dear father.
Three years slipped quickly away at George
Washington Gulch The robber had evident
ly not forgotten his promise to provide for
the girl for, at odd times, o packet of money
had been found on the outside of the parsons
wndow-sill, marked "From Kansas" Ithad
always been placed there over night, i'll q mys-
ferrous manner, for no one was ever seen to do
it. Parson Jim himself still preached every
Sunday in the Sample Rooms, and was still q
prime favorite with the miners, though they
sometimes wondered why a man who was evil
IDENTIFY SO well fixed" as the parson should
elect to stay in rough out-of-the-way- place
like the Gulch.
Ethel Wnship lad grown into a beautiful
woman, and was as good as she was pretty.
Parson Jim perceived this. PaIson Jim was
i'll love with his ward.
One-eyenng in the springtime he told Ethel
of his love and asked her to be his wife.
IL.
said the girl myself is the only reward which
L can offer to any man, because ! have naught
else. So have long ago made up my mind to
keep myself to offer, if needs be, as reward TO
the man who shall kill or capture Kansas. If
II were not for that firm resolve, l would say
Yes at once, for Jim, you deserve my love
and all can give you. But do not ask me-
dear. Perhaps Kansas will be captured any
how. and soon, by some one who will never
think of reward Then-Well, don't think bad
Iii tyyo wi 10,
q happy girl-vengeance on Kansas, and the
right to call you my husband"
Parson Jim heard these words sadly enough;
but he thought too much of Ethel and her re-
solves to seek hastily to turn her from her pur-
pose even for his own benefit
Early in the following summer, towards sun
set, Ethel sat on the porch Of the parsonage
quite alone. The parson was away and had
been away all day, and might not return
until the following evening. One of the men
from the Gulch approached and dolIed his
hat.
"Parson in, miss?''
ono, Zeke, he is away today"
"Well, wuz Jest a-goin' ter tell him that
we've got news that Kansas is likely ter be up
ter mischief way about ten miles along her
valley ternight. It's the first time we e'er got
pointer as ter Kansas tricks an some NV us
thought as like enuif VIC might make little
crowd to down his nobs. Parsons mostly game
fer business that's right an squar', SO 1 kim up
ter tell him"
Ethelis eyes flashed and the warm blood
coursed quickly through her veins, as a wild
thought occurred to her She could ride like
an Indian, and she was dead shot; Parson
Jim had taken special delight in making her
good horsewoman and clever with pistol.
81 will 60" she said. "I'm not going to ask
if | may go; I'm going, ZeHe."
"All right, miss only it's risky work, an
not fit fer ladies. Mebbe ther parson wouldn't
like fer yer to go?"
ayes, lie would, zeke--yes, he would. Don't
you know-don't you remember all about my
poor father? win go; and If / get within
range of Kansas 1 will shoot him without
mercy"
So Ethel joined the party OF fifteen or twenty
armed men who rode out that night for the
purpose Of capturing, If possible, Kansas and
his desperadoes They rode in as wide a line
as the valley would permit, 50 that no com
pany OF horsemen might pass them unnoticed,
and this plan proved o good one. About ten
o'clock at night they espied four horsemen.
evidently awaiting the coach, and closed IN
upon them Zeke insisted on keeping Ethel
Winshipsback, and made her prom
lee 70 stay with him If the boys could effect
quick capture. But, no; the outlaws knew
that certain dea4h awaited them should
they be captured, and resolved 70 fight
dearly for their lives. There was a sharp,
quick Interchange Of pistol shots. Three Of
the robbers and three Of their pursuers fell
from their saddles. The fourth desperate nut
spuTg 70 his horse and dashed right tfrotyh Tho