The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1890-08-07
FETTERED.

FETTERED.
In Cheyenne's early days the sheriff
was one Of the most important person
ages i'll the country. In fact, he still
holds u conspicuous position in most
cities of the vigorous, impetuous west.
Some years ago Sheriff Black, of Chey-
onne, was much annoyed by the persist
ence and determination Of sundry suit
ors for the hand Of his fair daughter,
Miss Helen.
AS is always the case in mining dis
tricts the male population far outnum-
bered the gentler sex, and Miss Helen,
who was a handsome brunette, would
have been q belle among far severer
critics than tho youths of Cheyenne.
She had graduated at st. Louis, and
besides being a gifted musician was a
devout worshiper of nature and fond of
outdoor exercise.
Almost any fine evening in summer a
passer by might hear her rich mezzo
voice accompanying her guitar to some
ringing "ballad of the plains"
Unconscious was she of the fact that
the melody hoated out from the shadows
of the cottonwood trees and mingled
with the broad, effulgent moonlight,
and that many luckless youth dated
hopeless love from the first evening
when he had dropped in to help the
sheriff and the old servant in making an
audience.
Miss Helen cared little for the admira-
ton of men, but accepted it as matter
of course, having been brought up
among them. She enjoyed herself in a
fashion of her own, with her books,
guitar, sketch book and her spirited
horse, Wildfre.
Two of her lovers, however, seemed to
gain more favor than the rest, In fact,
popular opinion was puzzled as to which
would win.
One of them was tall, athletic young
westerner, who was as bright and in
MIGRATING of presence as the air he
breathed, and in whose clear blue eyes
not q shadow of deceit was visible.
Handsome, for true, but so sturdy and
independent that he impressed one Us a
young giant.
He was an ardent geologist, could
analyze q find" as well as an expert,
loved his mountains and worshiped-
Miss Helen.
But with all his devotion Joe was a
discreet young fellow, and held his curly
head up in defiance of mankind III general
and his rival in particular, and he never
let the fair Helen feel too sure of he1
conquest.
The aforesaid rival was a wealthy
young mine owner from Chicago-all
that is conveyed in the term "a polished
gentlemanw He had laughed heartily
when on departing for his new home his
Chicago friends had jokingly predicted
that he would lose his heart to some
western beauty. But here he was, eager
to lay his fate and fortune at the feet Of
the sheriff's queenly daughter.
One bright, breezy day in September
Helen cantered off soon after dinner
with her sketching material, ostensibly
to make some sketches of the autumn
scenery, but really to commune with
nature, the only mother she had evel
known, and to decide what answer sht
should give on the morrow to hel
wealthy lover, who that day had asked
her to be his wife. She told him that sht
must read her own heart before sh'
could answer, and he hoped for favor
able reply.
I Joe had been offended by one of he
hasty speeches week before. They wer
talking about Russell, and she had as
serted somewhat warmly that she knew
of 10 oae whose society she preferred
AS soon as the impulsive words wer
spoken she repented, but Joe rode ava,
with look in his blue eyes that max
haunted her ever since.
Somehow Joe's naughty head, fun,
back like stag at bay, kept looming u.
before her mental vision, when duty de
m&nded that she be thinking Of Russell
and his flGttering offer.
The hours wore on, and so preoccu
pied was she that she did not observe tn
heavy clouds that were rolling blac
and massive down the mount,::n sides.
Suddenly large drop splashed in he
face, and she looked about her II alarm
A heavy equinoctial storm seemed a
most upon her.
Wldfre spranG forward at the touc
of tl9 whip, and literally few in the d
rectioa of the house,
The great clouds We're rolling over tn
hills like giant og2es clad in rl:s.. Thu,
der and sharp, vivid lightning followed
and then the deluge.
Wildiire dashed on until they came t
the creek, and then the girl drew eac
in Gismay.
The creek was foalnirg torrent, an
she could not see the bridge.
Suddenly she heard mans voit
shouting to hec, and in Il few minute
Joe on his tough l.s.le mustang was b
side her. He woro buE!I.!o overco;
and threw large c.oa.; of her cv-n abol