Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1888-09-21
Last Herd on the Divide.

ern divide" and the opposing hill
on the eastern side of the draw
were in such deep shadow as to be
hardly visible. Smoke curling from
a rude chimney of mud and willow
twigs first attracted the attention
and gave unmistakable evidence of
human habitation, which might
have been passed unnoticed in the
prevailing dead brow Of the land
scape. 1t was, in fact, from the
''dug-Out" occupied by Samuel Lewis
and his family, which was the admi-
ration and pride of the settlement
scattered over an area of, perhaps,
twenty-miles. As was customary,
the site had been selected so that the
black wall of the structure was dug
out of the low hill, called in local
vernacular the ''divide," while the
three outer walls were made from
squares of sod cut from the surround
ing prairie, piled one on the other to
a height not exceeding 8 to 10 feet,
for the winds constantly blowing,
would level a more ambitious
structure to the earth. It's roof was
composed OfIong poles running par
allel, over which were spread willow
twigs gathered from the margin of
the small stream which ran through
the "draw'-as the little val
ley between the hills was called
the whole finished off with sod,
forming a covering imperious to
wind and rain. 1t boosted of two
small glazed windows, brought from
the nearest big town, sixty miles
away, with no little trOuble-On eth
er side Of the door, which latter was
the only one, serving as 'front.' and
''back." IN front of the door was a
small plateau which gently dipped to
the draw, where flowers to such pro-
fusion in summers that the settlers
hardly missed the garden of their old
home, and even now Haunted the
brilliant-hued flowers of October.
The interior of the dugOut was neat
~ WhiteWashed with native lime, and
owing to its unusual size, thirty by
ten feet, was partitiOned off by cal
leo curtain for the use Of the settlers
two daughters, while the other end
served as sitting room, DINING room
and kitchen combined. The thrifty
housewife had brought with her from
her Eastern home a rag carpet, which
which WNs spread over the earthen
floor. On the ''parlOr" side stood a
table, on which were q few good books
and some ornaments, while three or
Z II,
all brought from that happy Eastern
home. On the kitchen side were the
cooking stove. tables and cupbOards
ingeniOuslY made of packing boxes,
the whole having an air Of snug COM
fort.
Mrs. Lewis was folding up her
white apron just replaced by the
more useful gingham preparatory to
getting supper, having lighted her
fire OF ears of cOrn(they had no other
fuel when a shadow darkened the
door. She looked up justas ayOung
man threw himself off his pony in
front of it. With his bride over his
arm he raised his brOad-brimmedh hat
and said, Chow dye dO?" He was
dressed in the regulation costume Of
the great West, u large wool hat,
flannel shirt, coarse wooden trousers
tucked into high bOOts-Which were
adorned with huge spurs-a belt
about his -suspenders are es-
cheWed by the OWbOy-in which were
thrust two revOlvers and a long knife,
than the latter he would sooner be
bereft of his trusty Remington rife
slung over his shoulder; fer it serves
rs a weapon Of defense, Il means Of
procuring, preparing and eating his
food. His pony was encountered by
n huge Mexican saddle, highly Orna-
mented with silver, over the pOmmel
of which hung his lariat. His barred
forehead showed a strip of white
above the deep tan of the rest of his
face. A smile lighted his cOuntanance
as he stretched out his hand to the
startled woman.
Did l frighten YOU much, Mrs.
Lewis?" you did a little. But
hObble your pony and come in. I'm
glad to see you, for Sally has gone
over to Smiths and Margie offered
to tend the sheep while her father
went to the pOstOfice-it's mail day,
you know"
mo. didn't. I'm sorry, for saw
n buffalo wolf on the north trail, and
I'm sure there must be a herd of buf-
falO heading this way. 1 thought we
might get a shot at them. However.
as he is not at home, 1 viii 90 and
help Margie to round up, as it is
time-these October days are go
short"
AS he informed her of his intention
she looked at him with a peculiar
smile, which brought d blush to his
sunburnt cheeks and made him drop
his eyes bashfully to the ground.
However, he said nOthin@-Onlv.