Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1889-02-08
A JACK HAYS STORY.
THE LITTLE INCIDENT WHICH
GAVE TEXAS HER FAMOUS
RANGER

GAVE TEXAS HER FAMOUS
RANGER.
Honey Grove, Tex, Cor. Of the Globe
Democrat.
There have been a great many
stories written and published OF
the famous Jack Hays, the Texas
ranger, whose name and fame is
az we'll known in Texas as in Call
fornia, but have never yet seen
anything in print ~ regard to the
life or history of Hays before he
came to Texas. Most of the stories
about Jack Hays say he was
stranger when he came to Texas In
1886, and that but little was known
of his history before that time. l
have recently had the pleasure OF
meeting an old Tennessean, Capt.
Frank Bishop, who gave me little
piece OF Jack Hays history, which,
he saws, accounts for Hays ap-
pearance IN Texas, and which VIII
no doubt be interesting to the
many friends and admirers OF the
memory of the redoubtable Texas
Ranger (tor there are few left now
of those who loved and honored
him in life). Hays was born near
the Hermitage, Old Hlckory's
place, in Tennessee, and Capt.
Bishop was born and raised on the
adjoining farm. His father served
under General Coffee, for whom
Jack Hays was partly named John
Coffee Hayes was his full name),
and Frank Bishop and Jack Hays
were boys together, sharing In the
same sports, attending the same
school in winter, hunting squirrels
'coons and 'possums together and
growing up to manhood In close
companlonship, and entertaining
for each other the warmest Trend
ship, which was only broken by
the death of Colonel Hays.
HAYS LOVE STORY.
When Hays was about twenty
two years old he fell in love with
Miss Betty Don dson, the
daughter of a neighboring farmer,
and for a time the young lady
seemed to return his ardent at
tachment. For year or more she
received his attentions and
plighted him her trotb. Prepsrs-
tions for their marriage we're being
made, when there appeared in the
neighborhood a young man named
Talbot, from Mount Vernon, KY,
who was reputed to be immensely
wealthy, and who, b esides beng
we'll educated, was a handsome
and accomplished gentlemen, OF
pleasing address and polished
manners, we'll schooled III all those
arts which go 80 far in helping a
man to win the good opinion OF
the fair sex.
Now, although Hays was band
some young fellow, and was con-
sidered the best rider, the best
dancer and the best shot among
the youth Of the country, Miss
Donaldson took great pleasure
in showing him that the attentions
OF Mr.. Talbot were not distasteiul
to her-in fact, that she rather
preferred them to those of young
Hays. Now, Jack Hays was not
the man, even at that early age, to
tamely submit to a slight or a
wrong from either man or woman.
He was a man of ardent tempera'
ment, and could not brook the idea
of being second in anything. AS
was said of him a good many years
later, "He meyer tailed friend or
foe,n and be quickly informed Miss
Betty that he would have no
double -dealing-she must either
remember her plighted word to
him, and cease to receive attentions
from Mr.. Talbot, or she must re-
call her VOWS, and coquette with
aud marry whom she pleased. Miss
Donaldson was a young lady OF
spirit, and besides being piqued at
being taken to tusk by her lover,
was, after the manner of women,
much taken with the handsome
face, fire words and pleasant man
ners of young Talbot, aud so il
only required few moments and
a few sharp words to give Mr.. Jack
Hays his congo, and to announce
her determination of marrying Mr.
Talbot.
FATAL SEQUEL.
Hara reconnizad her Iirht TO df