San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-06-29
wnaU rested, ana ner grief less poignant,
Parson Jim had another talk with her.
lEyVbat would Won lilo To dog, ha said

wnat rested, ana ner grief less poignant,
Parson Jim had another talk with her.
"What would you like to dos" he said.
"Oh, SIR" there is nothing for me to do.
Get me work of some kind here in this place.
We had no friends-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 any
thing"
"My poor child" said Parson Jim in his
kindly voice, 81 am truly sorry for you. If
you can be content in my rough home for
awhile, stay here until we can manage some
thing better for you. have no one for whom
care, or who cares for me-only the boys in
the camp. But those same boys will tell you
that not hair of your head will be hurt
while you stay under my roof. 1 have plenty
of this world'd wealth-more than the boys
imagine-and can afford slight addition
to my family"
So she stayed, and found that Parson Jim's
words were true She could not have been
treated more as lady had she been an earl's
daughter and the guest of dowager duchess.
As the weeks passed, Parson Jim managed to
add couple of cute little rooms to the par
sonage, one of which was "my lady's cham
ber," and the other the ''parlor." Then, too,
pretty carpets and furniture came from Dem
yer, and the boys began to think that the
parson was putting on "lugs." But they ex-
cused good deal in the parson, and really
Wed with one another in 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 Winship.
Months fled and Ethel stayed on at the
gulch. She became contented, and much
appreciated the parsons care and efforts to
make her comfortable. She showed her graft
tude in hundred womanly ways, and kept
the parsonage as neat and pretty as if it had
been in Massachusetts, or the English mid
lands, instead Of in a wild Colorado valley
Only, every time news came of a robbery or
murder by Kansas and his gang, would the
poor girl become agitated, and cry for ven
geance ON the man who took from her a dear
father.
Three years slipped quickly away at George
Washington Gulch. The robber had evil
IDENTIFY not forgotten his promise to provide
for the girl; for, at odd times, packet Of
money had been found on the outside of the
parsons window sill, marked From Kan
sas." 1t had always been placed there over
night, in a mysterious manner, for no one
was ever seen to do it. Parson Jim himself
still preached every Sunday in the Sample
Rooms, and was still prime favorite with
the miners, though they sometimes wondered
why a man who was evidently so well
'fxed" as the parson should elect to stay in
a rough, out of the way place like the gulch.
Ethel Winship had grown into beautiful
woman, and was as good as she was pretty.
Parson Jim perceived this. Parson Jim was
in love with his ward.
One evening in the springtime he told
Ethel of his love, and asked her to be his
wife.
II cannot answer that question, dear JIM"
said the girl myself is the only reward
which l can offer to any man, because have
, naught else. So l have long ago made up
my mind to keep myself to offer, if needs be,
as a reward to the man who shall kill or
! capture Kansas. If it 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, anyhow, and soon, by some
| one who will never think of reward Then
we'll, don't think badly of me, Jim, dear
two things will make me happy girl-ven-
geance 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 resolves to seek hastily to turn her
purpose even for his own benefit.
Early in the following summer, toward
sunset, Ethel sat on the porch of the parson-
, age quite alone. The parson was away, and
| had been away all day, and might not return
| until the following evening. One of the men
I from the gulch approached and dotted his
hat.
"Parson in, miss!"
| "No, Zeke; he is away today
I "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
| ther valley ter-night. It's the first time we
! e'er got pointer as to Kansas tricks, AM
some ov us thought as like enuf we might
make a little crowd to down his nobs.
Parson' mostly game fer business that's
right an squar,, so kim up ter tell him"
Ethel's eyes flashed, and the warm blood
eoursed quickly through her veins, as a wild
thought occurred to her. She could ride
'tl1s an Indian and sha vss q dad al,st,