Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-12-29
RANCH LIFE
In Southwest Texas, and Ranch Death
as Well-Story OF Persecution.
Christ mas on Ranch - Two Nsn Who wrr
In Sifnng ron,rre. - he story OF q
Handsome and Unfor innate Boy.

BuESA VENTURA RANCH. CROCKETT Co. Tex.
| Dectmoer 26, 1857. !
! was spending Christmas ut Dos Her.
manos sheep ranch in Southern Texas.
1t was a big and beautiful ranch IN q
beautiful country. Fine open valleys
and draws, and cosy sheltered hollows,
clothed with rich mesquite grass and the
various little weeds that the dainty and
| fastidious sheep loves. were ianked and
buttressed BY low, con;ral. or humpy.
( fiat-topprd, Egyptian looking hills.
! The plains. too, were only couple
I of miles to the norihward, and
looking from them toward these low
pyramidal hills, with the everlasting sI-
leuce about, AMI the sunlight lying
softly over all the landscapes face,
with its brooding Ioveliness. its majestic
serenity and repose. seemed to wear
significance, smile OF inscrutable
meaning, like that of Eeypt. but lack
! ing the awe, the dread that Egypt in
spires.
The house-a large and comfortable
one for this elm.st semi-troplcal region
of tents and two or three roomsd box
Housewives full aud running over, and
d half dozen young fellows were camped
in a little hollow close by; the weather
was delightful, fairly meriting the ad-
jective superb, one day follow ed another,
warm, soft, brilliant, the air dry, crisp
aud bracin2. like ths brightest and best
of October weather In the Middle states.
The boys had worked hard all day long
on the 23d, when we arrived, rigging
rings, making lsnces and arranging
seats for grand tournament on Christ
mas eve; sveryb body was tired and by
mutual consent We went to bed early to DO
ready for the next days festivities.
When the contestants all rode up and
saluted, my eye was at once caught by
two figures that came from tent little
apart from the general camp in the
draw.
One was a big Saxon blonde, six feet
two or three inches in height. with his
tar skin burned to o uniform dark red,
from which pair Of fine honest eyes
looked gu, with startling blueuess. His
features were OF sin9ularly large and
regular mold, with q throat and chin SO
beautiful. a mouth so heavy yer correct,
and a uose so high between the eyes that
il gave him IA slightly bucolc look, like
ancient ApoIlos His proportions were
more fine and just than you would often
see III ~ oiS u mani HC Nntiicd utho
and shoulders magniicsntly, and his
bearing in the saddle was past criticism.
Beside him rode a boy who might have
been twenty; he was OF ordinary sizs,
slightly but strongly built, had pale
olive face, great black eyes and cluster
ing dark hair. 1t was O face that some
how appealed to you: although so full
now OF life and spirit, it had a sugges-
ton of keen sensitivsness, Of hidden
capacity for suffering. He was on an
uncommonly fine and spirited black
pony, his saddle was of superb and
ornate Mexican workmanship. and big
white sombrero 2littering with silver
shaded the splendid eyes. While they
paused in front of US l saw him look
among tho spectators as though seeking
someone, then an electric smile flashed
over his face, he raised the big hat and
touched knot of red ribbon on the SIDE
of 1t. 1 looked up and saw Louie, the
pretty seventesu-year-ol daughter of
the house, blushing and bowling, and
smiled to myself
"Who are they2" asked Mrs. Flint,
and she replied quite as If had indl-
Gated them. 80. David and -'
"Goliath, - Interrupted.
"No, indeed. David and Jonathan.
The tall one is Paul Melton, young
sheep man over on Live OAK, and the
boy is his inseparabie. a sort of pro:egs,
aud partner, believe, in q small way.
MARK used to drink and gamble,
think, and young Melton got hold of
him Strengthened him up, and has held
on to him ever since. They are always
together; you never see one without the
other.
Mark don't believe l ever knew his
other nsme-carried Of the most rings,
and rode up, glowing with victory, to
crown Louie queen Of love and beauty.
AS l looked away from the pretty
picture, saw the blonde giant standing
near in q studiedIy unooncerned attitude,
Du: with an expression of affectionate
price ON his great, frank face. After
this We had a general display of horse
man-hip, and a great deal OF skylarking.
There is no finer sight, to my mind,
than troop of we'll mounted men; there
is nothing arouses my enthusiasm aud
admiration more than fine riding. This
is true of u single horssman, and the en-
thusiasm and enjoyment increase in O
geometrIcal progression with the num-
beers of horsemeu engaged.
Here there were twelve or fifteen,
among the best riders I have ever seen.
ell mounted on fine and we'll traiued |
horses. II IS very easy to talk about |
picking up handksrchefs and quarters |
from the ground. leapinR on and off a
horse, or hanging on one side of MIN aud |
firing from under his neck, all the while |
going at full gallop, but there are not |
so many, even among thorough going |
cowmen, who can perform these fsats as
Is supposed. However, there were |
several in the party that could perform |