St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1890-01-25

tale was told!
James Buckhan, in Leslie's weekly.
BRAVE NANCE,
How She Defended the sProNee-
sors" Claim Against JumperA
Nance Williams was not beautiful, in
the ordinary sense of the word. She
was sunburned and freckled and her
nose had too much the Suggestion Of .
snub to be an ornament. But she had
fine eyes-not large, but small, express
sive and fringed with heavy black
lashes. She was strong-limbed, we'll
developed and hearty girl Of q, or there
abouts, at the time of this story, and
was known to the Skytown community
IS fearless woman, and no less peculiar
than brave.
Peculiar, indeed! She had no rela-
tives that any one knew OF, sd was all
alone way out in that Western country,
and for woman to be alone in Dakota
in 1928, and especially holding down a
claim" ten miles from any one, present
ed a spectacle of self-sacrifice and daring
rarely exhibited by the gentler sex.
But Nance was equal to the emer-
gency. II she had heart to dare, she
had an arm all-suficient for her pro-
lection. She could handle . gun with
the skill and ease Of . professional
ranger, and had more than once demon
strated her superb craftsmanship. I
have seen her break the widest of bron-
chos to the saddle, and by q score of
similar acts proclaim herself the mis-
tress of her situation.
Yet, with all her masculine qualities,
she was feminine to the greatest degree
in some of the sweeter virtues of her
sex. She was ready-witted, bright
and tender-hearted, and whenever she
came into the store to trade it was
. treat for me to draw her out in con-
versation. She was usually very re-
served, but fn0m tina to time cleaned
few facts. cDncernfng her early life.
She was born in California. There was
= tinge of Indian blood in her mothers
veins and her father was . Miner
s'forty-niner." Her whole life had been
thrown in the most rugged surroundings,
and 1 could not but wonder how she
had grown up into her scatheless wom-
anhood. She was diamond in the
roughlI could see that, and gloried
in it; but how she supported herself
and why she busisd herself away out in
that lonely region afar from womankind
and civilization were mysteries to rs
al. sa,~
Along in the summer of 's3 young
fellow from theiE East came to Skytown
and settled down among us. He was .
pale. sickly-looking ipaividnsL slightly
built, had blue eyes esrEs yellow. hair
and wore goggles. He was very refined
in his language and dress and carried
himself with such . scholarly air that 10
was immediaaDlv christeDed- s@Profes-
sor" His fatfiee. he told me, had sent
him West for his health. He had come
TO Dakota with tho ayowed intsntion Of
roughing it, AMI wanted No to advise
him the propor method for seeing the
greatest amount Of pioneer life n the
shortest possible time. advised him
to take up claim, roll up Ais sleeves
and do as we Dakotans did. He followed
my advice to the letter. i introduced
him to Charley Atwood, and he pur-
chased Of him the REIMBURSEMENT Of .
fne quarter of ground, three miles
from town, remodeled the shack . little
to suit his convenience, and started in
to experience Dakota life. In some
manner he became acquainted with
Nance Williams, and they grew to be
steadfast friends. knew their friend
ship was warm, but did not dream it
was SO strong as after events proved.
One night, about eight o'clock, Nance
Williams came into the store. She dia
not show much excitement, but her eyes
blazed in a manner that evidenced her
feelings. Shes approached me and said
in low tone:
I'D like terPhk with you. Mr.. Bar
low" IS So
She looked sideways ct two or thru
loafers in the store and knew she d
sired to see me privately. was some
what surprised, but conducted her to
my little chubby-hole Of an Office.
.What do yon suppose Rice Fielding.
Tom Jenkins an all that gang are goin'
ter do to-nightf"
Her voice shook with passion.
Il can not imagine, Miss Williams"
said |. in a tone of alarm.
They're over at Spangler's plotting
70 beat the professor out O. his claim!"
..You don't tell mel"
81 do, though. You see, the professor
Is out O. town an that gang knows it, 50
they're goin' to try an steal his place
.sBut they can't
sSThey say they can. They say they II
try an give the tenderfoot . big scare.
ANYWAY. Why, / never heard o such ~
Outraged"
..How do they intend to 60 to work TO
get the professors claim?"
Il heard EN- talkin' it all over. Said
they'd take along key O. whisky an
move into his shack an stsy there.
They're goin' up tonight They won't
have any time tomorrow cause the pro-
fessorIl get back then. You know he
went to Jimtown Tuesday. Can't you
do somethin., Mr.. Barlow"
The law wont uphold them, Mis-"
She snapped her fingers.
.1Ndt for the law! I tell you these
fellers shan't get into the professors
shack If I can help it."
She drew herself together like An an
cry Amazon and her eyes were twin Goals
& IRE.