Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1890-08-13
ALENIA.
shes comet
L--.-.-. --.-M.

Here she bei'
One rough lead after another was
thrust into the open doorway of the
long room which served AS postofiice
and general store TO announce that
the event Of the day WAS at hand.
Willis Boothroyd followed the others
to tie street. He would satisfy his
curiosity by a look ut this 'AleXy.'
whose name was in eyerybody's mouth.
He beheid her. the centre of an al
ml'lng group, mounted man fashion
upon sturdy mustang. Her costume
Of dark blue flannel, with its loose
blouse and full Turkish trousers, met
below the knee by untanned, close-fit-
ting boot, might be different from or
d nary, but WAS not unwomanly. Her
pume@ranate-cOlored face, with its
rich browns and reds, half hidden un-
der the deep VISOR of a trim little cap,
showed perfect health; and the dark
eyes rOamed pleasantly over the assem-
bed counteuanceS-seei them only
as those of friends-until they cane to
BoOtiiTOyd'S own.
Then the expression was changed, and
a touch of defiance was added to the
feaTlessneSs. She bestowed upon him
10 second glance, and as soon rs the
postmaster had securely fastened the
mail bags behind her saddle she made
a dashing little military salute to all,
chirruped To Bolero, and was off like
the wind. AS she galloped out of sight
the ldiers sent up luSty cheer; a mo-
ment later there floated back the echo
of 4 musical ~ o-oh-hol' and CrimminS'
Station returned to its gOssiping laZi-
ness.
How long has Miss Rae carried the
mailI'
'Ha-Ow long? Let me see! l reckon
t must be abaout 4 year-come Aur-
gust. Jim, ha-ow longs AleXy ben
on the ruwit?'
Nigh year. Ever sence she come
hum from tn East. She went ter
school il BCstin, t'other cOast-croSt
cOuntIy-sO 10 speak
Then She is an educated woman?'
'Eddycatedl Ed-iy-cated? Wa-all,
stranger, that thar is abaout the green
est thing t ye've said yit. Eddycated!
| should say so. That thar gal knows
mOTe'n all creation. She larned so
much she. busted the college she was
tn. an' so they packed her back West.
whar thar's some room. She kin write
her name 18th hull string o. initials
art II, an ca one Oh 'em means
some o. dipl1my she's took l amt
no great schO AID myself, but what that
thar AleXy Rae dunno amt twu;h much.
Humphi Tdd, c,Iteil HI-mr
Tie speake. iIlt-l hack his chair and
puiiei his Indignation through his pipe.
His silence WAS anOtheT's opportunity
'Where'd you come from stranger?
Askin and answerIn's the same game
er ~ orter be-
'OhI' laughed Brothroyd, good ma
turedly, Il came fro that same Boston
which was houoTed 10y your fayorite's
presence. l au a CeOlogist-one OF
party travelling through these moun-
tain; but I've cut loose from the Others
for a few days TO make q little tour on
my own account
Then yOu aIn't a-prospectin'f'
For gnldE No. /, too, have been
sent West 10y a college, but not, like
your han isOme mail carrier, because l
knew too much-Tather In pursuit of
more knowledge
Lori grunted the man with the
pipe, we've no call ter tell ont
y laugh ran around the circle
Then ye must a-knowed heI tharp'
Ne. 1 regret that l had not that
pleasure
How came she 10 take up such a
life?'
Material enough replied the post
master. Her father owns the stage
line that Tuus atween Bloomin' City
am IIerrick's Station, further daown
sire IN. She cum hum, an hadn't
nothin' ter do. Old Rae's rich as thun-
der, an the gal likes tine open. She
b'lIryes in WORK, tn. llain't lazy
bone in her hull body. So she arms the
rg'Iar wages, an supports an ole feiler
what usen ter carry the mail, till he
got held up and shot, an left ter be
half chawed up 10y bars
'Ou this same rnute?'
Yes, slrl Od Rle he b'lIeves the
Hermit robbed the mail llsself, an
won't do nothin' fer him; but Alexy,
she don't, an she takes keer " him
splendid
.Speakin' % bars interjected the
pipe smoker; Fhar's the gal fer y,l
Why, one day long back in the spring
she was comm 'long toward Grim
minses when, my graciousl thar sot
three bars right ahead on her in the
road. BOlero, lie got scairt an throwed
her, then star off back toward Boom
in City. But sine mp an arter him! L
tell We, she runs like 4 deer She out
run the mustang an caught him; then
she Jumped on tut Sluulc an ItSs TCue
Inn back agin, right amongst them
thar grizzly cusses, an by 'em, on Ter
Crimminsesl Reckin twor the bars
was scIirt that time. Sence then she's
met two NV the critters, but they didn't
dast to tackle her. Reckin them rela-
shuns o. theirn II spread the story;
cause them two jest sneaked off outen
the road 5 if they couldn't look sech a
gal IN the eye. smart an plucky? You
betl'
Willis 5oothroyd spent that night at
Crimmins's. He heard many more
stories of the pretty carriers advent
ures over her twenty-mile route, which
lay recily through the heart of the
mount1ins, and was lonely in the ex-
trrm,. But the girl seemed utterly
| fearless, and there was not a man in
the whole country but what would
/ have laid down his life to defend or
| ayenge Eer had iced arisen
/ Yet that which interested him most
was her devotion 10 the neglected, mis-
/ Judged Hermit her predecessor, who
I by his enemies own showing, must
| have been a man OF no ordinary daring
and intelligence. He fancied a .ump-