Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1890-01-24
The "Professor's" Claim.

The "Professor'S" Claim.
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. expressive and fringed with
heavy black lashes. She was strong
limbed, we'll developed and hearty
girl Of twenty-five, or thereabouts, at
the time of this story, and was known
| to the Skytown community as fear
less woman, and no less peculiar than
brave.
Peculiar, indeed She had no rels-
tives that any one knew of, and was
all alone way out in that Western
country, and for woman to be alone
in Dakota in 1913, and especially
'holding down a claim" ten miles
from any one, presented a spectacle
of self-sacrifice and daring rarely ex-
hibited by the gentler sex.
But Nance was equal to the emer-
gency. IL she had heart to dare,
she had an arm all-sufficient for her
protection. She could handle gun
with the skill and ease of a profess
sional ranger and had more than
once demonstrated her superb horse
manship. | have seen her break the
widest Of bronchos to the saddle,
and by score OF similar acts pro-
claim herself the mistress OF the situa-
ton.
Yet. with all her masculine quail
ties, 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 when
ever she came to the store to trade, it
was treat for me to draw her out IN
conversation. She was usually very
reserved, but from time TO time
CLEANED a few facts concerning her
early life. She was born in Califor-
MIA. There was a tinge OF Indian
blood in her mothers veins and her
father was miner-a "forty-niner.
Her whole life had been thrown in
the most rugged surroundings, and |
could not but wonder how she had
grown up into scathless womanhood.
She was diamond in the rough
could see that and | 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 mysterious to
us all
Along in the summer Of S3 u young
fellow from the East came to Sky
town and settled down among us.
He was pale, sickly looking indi-
vidual, 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 a scholarly air that he was i'm
mediately christened Professor. y
His father, he told Inc, had sent him
! West for his health. He had come to
Dakota with the avowed intention Of
roughing it, and wanted me to advise
him the proper method for seeing the
greatest amount of pioneer life in the
shortest possible time. | advised
him to take up claim, roll up his
sleeves and do as we Dakotans did.
He followed my advice to the letter
| introduced him to Charley Atwood
and he purchased of him the relin-
uuishment of fine 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 ac-
! oueinted with Nance Williams, and
| they grew TO become steadfast friends.
| knew their friendship was warm,
but did dot dream it was strong as
after events proved.
One night, about or o'clock,
Nance Williams came into the store.
! She did not show much excitement,
but her eyes blazed in manner that
evinced her feelings. She approached
me and said in low tone:
I'D like ter speak with you, Mr..
/ Barlow"
She looked sideways at two or three
loafers in the store and / knew she
desired to see Inc privately. l was
somewhat surprised, but conducted
her to my little cubby-hole Of an
Office.
What do you suppose Rice Field
ing. Tom Jenkins an all that gang
are going ter do tonight 2
Her voice shook with passion.
II cannot imagine, Miss Williams,
said | in tone of alarm.
They're over at Spangler's plottin
to beat the Professor out o his claim.
"You don't tell mel r
Il do, though. You see, the Pro
fessor is out O. town an that gang