San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1890-01-23
NANCE.
San Marcos.

Nance Williams was not beautiful. II
the ordinary sense of the word. She
was sunburned and freckled, and hel
nose had too much the suggestion of 9
snub to be an ornament But she had
fine eyes-not large, but small, express
i've and fringed with heavy black lashes
She was strong limbed, well developed
and hearty girl of %, or thereabouts, al
the time of this story, and was known te
the Skytown community as a fearless
woman, and no less peculiar than brave
Peculiar, indeed! She had no rela.
tives that any one knew of, and was al
alone way out in that western country
and for woman to be alone in Dakota
in 1928, and especially "holding down O
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 emergency.
If she had a heart to dare, she had an
arm all sufficient for her protection. She
could handle gun with the skill and
ease of a professional ranger, and had
more than once demonstrated her superb
craftsmanship. have seen her breaL
the widest of bronchos to the saddle
and by score of similar acts proclaim
herself the mistress of her situation.
Yet, with all her masculine qualities,
she was feminine to the greatest degree
in some of the sweeter virtues of ber sex.
She was ready witted, bright and tender
hearted, and whenever she came into the
store to trade it was a treat for me to
draw her out in conversation. She was
usually very reserved, but from time to
time gleaneda a few facts concerning her
early life. She was born in California.
There was tinge of Indian blood in her
mothers veins and her father was q
miner-a "forty-niner." Her whole life
had been thrown in the most rugged sur
roundings, and could not but wonder
how she had grown up into her scathe-
less womanhood. She was diamond in
the rough-I could see that and l gloried
in it, but how she supported herself and
why she buried herself away out in that
lonely region afar from womankind and
civilization were mysteries to us all.
<AlolS LII thO puihLiCi Va % u JOuuH
fellow from the east came to Skytown
and settled down among us. He was a
pale, sickly looking individual, slightly
built, had blue eyes, curly yellow hair
and wore goggles. He was very refined
in his language and dress, and carried
himself with such scholarly air that
he was Immediately christened "Pro-
fessor." His father, he told me, had
sent him west for his health. He had
come to Dakota with the avowed inten-
lion of roughing it, and wanted me to
advise him the proper method for seeing |
,he greatest amount of pioneer life in |
he shortest possible time. l advised
lim to take up a claim, roll up his
sleeves and do as we Dakotans did. He
followed my advice to the letter. l in
him to Charley Atwood, and
lie purchased of him the REIMBURSEMENT
If fine quarter of ground, three miles
rom town, remodeled the shack little
o suit his convenience, and started in
o experience Dakota life. In some man.
Ter he became acquainted with Nance
Williams, and they grew to be steadfast
1 knew their friendship was
warm, but did not dream it was so
trong as after events proved.
One night, about or o'clock, Nance
Williams came into the store. She did
ot show much excitement, but her eyes
lazed in a manner that evidenced her
ceilings. She approached me and said
] a low tone:
"Td like ter speak with you, Mr.. Bar
wv"
She looked sideways at two or three
,afers in the store, and knew she de-
red to see me privately. / was some
hat surprised, but conducted her to my
tile cubby hole Of an office.
"what DO you suppose Rice Fielding,
ON jenkins an all that gang are goin'
r do to-nighty
Her voice shook With passion.
Il cannot imagine, Miss Williams !
"a in a tone Of alarm.
They're over at Spangler's plottin' 10 {
at the professor out o. bis claim
You don't tell me!' {
Il do. though. You see, the professor 9
out o town an that gang knows IL, 30 }
eyre goin' to try an steal his place" d
g But they can't
They say they can. They say they'll
r il an give the tenderfoot q big scare. Il
way. Why, ! never heard Of such q
0utrarel-
'Hyr Do they intend % 90 % sOrk % y
{ the isrofess1T's claim
Il lard Ta-r reGFfu' al over SD =