The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-01-07
AN IDYL OF THE " HT."

%'" It is sunset at the H1' ranch. Four or
Eve cowboys sit gloomly about, outside
the ranch house, awaiting supper The
Mexican cook has just begun his fragrant
task, so q half hour rlust elapse before
these Arabs are fed. Their ponies are
turned into the wire pasture, their big
Colorado saddles repoae astride the low
pale fence which surrounds the house,
and it is evident that their riding is over
for the day.
Why are they gloomy7 Not boy of
s them can tell. One is from Princeton,
4 too. They have been partners and COM
paneros and "worked" the HT cattle to-
gether for months and nothing ever came
in misunderstanding or cloud. The
ranch house is their home and theirs has
been the unity of brothers.
! A week ago pretty girl, the daughter
of one of the owners, came to- the ranch
from the East. She was protected in the
venture by an old and gnarled aunt,
watchful as ferret, sour as lime. Not
that the pretty girl needs watching; she
is indeed in every move propriety's eli
max. No soft or dulcet reason woos her
to the West; she comes on no love
=. errand. She is elegantly and profoundly
tired of the East, that is all and longs
xSfor Western air and Western sights. She
has been at the HT rancha week and the
esboys have met her, every one. The
meeting or meetings were marked by
awkwar6ness as to the boys, utter indif-
ference as to the pretty girl. She met
Sthem as she met the ponies, COWS, horned
Hoads and other animals, domestic and in
igenous to eastern New Mexico. While
ssSsery cowboy was blushingly conscious
80 her, she was purely and serenely
@ltless of giving him thought.
this, pretty girl came the boys
: were friends and the: calm tenor OF their
. relations with; each other had never a
ripple. She was not there day before
each drew himself insensibly from the
others, and a vague hostility shown
dimly in their eyes. 1t was the instinct
af the fighting male animal aroused by
j presence of the pretty girl.
ences 3, dark, vague, impalpable, differ
ures fronich cut off each of these Great
with nm unhis fellows and inspired him
hate had erowSfon1ng and ,iumeasurable
their existence. with the brief week of
look for trouble sooA philosopher would
"What did you goSn goSn the HT.
die for, yesterday, Bill taSe "a, ny my Is, sau-
Moore to- cowboy by the ,sa.o sa,o ot 'pin p;il
Watkins. aame Oh Dill
Cause I allows I'll ride it :,
says Watkins. Thought it might hasoi1y, ~,
to carry a high-grade -puncheas.e se
once" ~
"Well! don't take it no more" said
Moore, moodily, ignoring the gay inso-
lence in the reply. "Leastwise, don't
come a-takin' of it an sayin' nothin.
You can palaver Americana, can't you?
When You sims to ride my saddle again,
ask for it; if you can't talk, make signs,
an II you can't make signs, shake
bush, but don't go to Injunin' off no
saddle of mine no more"
"Whatever do you allow is liable to
happen if take it agin tomorry2" in
luired Bill in high scorn.
Bill was of more vivacious temper
han the gloomy Moore.
''You takes it agin an T mingles with
'ou whole lot. mighty prompt" re- Y
lied Moore in tone of obstinate in
ury.
These boys were brothers in affection y
efore that pretty girl came, and either y
.ould have gone a-foot all day to lend
saddle to the other. Going a-foot, q
Atbing, let me assure YOU .