Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1888-06-14
ZELMA'S CONQUEST.
How Sho 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-bred
family of Samuel Archer
The Archer family had journeyed all the
way from New York that summer, in a
large covered wagon, or in Western par
lance "a prairie schooner" Samuel Archer
was on the lookout for home in the I'm.
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 a certain portion of its
biIlowy surface that had particularly cap
tivaIad his vision.
The Archer family consisted of Samuel
his wife, {. refined, pleasant woman, who did
not air her Eastern manners before her less
refined neighbOrs OF the frontier, and their
only child, Zelma, as she was named, a
handsome, determined girl of seventeen.
Samuel was a Zig, robust, Woodworking
Yankee farmer of more than ordinary
energy. With a neighbours help he soon had
a very comfortable log cabin erected on his
Western claim, into which the family were
fain to move themselves after protracted
residence under canvas
Mrs. Archer was a 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
crevice of the cabin and into the most seclu-
ded places But Zelma did not allow tho
gales of her new home to worry her. The
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 10
laugh off the provocation.
Zelma's was a CHEEKY, sunshiny temDera-
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 dirk 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 judgment 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-
cOrdirgly, 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
md instruct the pupils, too. That board of
semi-rough frontiersmen eyed the small but
plump girl making an oral application to
leach the rude urchins of Coyote Prairie
They were doubtful aud undecided But, at
last Zelma's self-confidence in her ability
10 manage 1.-The tough skule, 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
at 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 Hadlev
had assured her OF cordial welcome to stay
with them throughout the entire term.
'Wife an neil be powerful glad ter hey
you-uns board along with we-uns Our
ranch is on'y mild frum the slzule-house.
which's right over yander on thet thar little
rise in the purary, " Hadley had said To Zellna.
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 if 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 set an early start and head
the young ones off in plotting mischief the
first day. Zefs 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 rebellion" he added.
They're a passed. o. tough-uns, miss. ;,
said Hadley, before Zelma started for
school next morning. IL reckon you-uns'n
They re tough as all git out" using a figure
of speech the girl did not comprehend, but
which made her smile in spite of herself.
- oS. an quarrelln CT SET We never
seed. l know" put in the voice of Mrs.
Hadley. ''0h, you-uns'll hev yer hands
chuck full with 'em, miss. Now if was
teacher of the con-twisted Coyote Purary
skule, I'd Jest erbout churn the daylights
outer some of EN-" and she wagged her
head sagely as she rendered this ponderous
advice.
81 hope lye wont hev any trouble with
'em," Jacob went on, "but. We see, they're
so ALFRED rough an heathenish livin' out
hyar ermong wild white men an mean
Injins, with little or no sculin' ter speak of.
for so long spell Pm kinder skeered fur
We, miss But don't let US diskerige We.
Try yer hand. Lick the very life o. mean
ness outin 'em eff they sass We. Whop mine
like sin eff they don't mind ye.n
And thus equipped with forewarnings
and most expressive suggestions, Zelma set
out across the hazy prairie towards the
school house. She found it roughly built.