Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1892-10-08
BAPTIZED BY FIRE.


In the late sixties Tnesummer rains
had made vegetation rank and the
buffalo grass was then thickly matted.
brown and dr. as powder The night
had been gray and still and given
place to a skylike copper in the morn
ing and strange stiffness brooded
in the air.
mad been giving orders for brand
Ing bunch of steers to send to the
lower range, and as | came up on the
porch ! discovered Cap in her dingy
old riding habit sitting on the edge
swinging her feet ana swapping u
quirs her pony browsing just in front
Of her and beside her was Henry, the
owner of the big Home" ranch ana
her affianced lover. His bride rein
was thrown over his arm, and he was
earnestly begging the girl to comply
with some request.
Please Cappie yield to me this
time.
But want the gloves aud whip
'G'll buy you a gross of silver
mounted whips and a dozen pairs of
Jouvin's best; import them especially
for the purpose. if you would give up
riding at the fair.
That would be a circumstance.
wouldn't it"' flashed Capitola Il
could shake them under Miss Oates
nose and say. There! Just see what
got for letting you win the prize. No
Hal. it isn't the gloves or the whip.
but mean little ambition that wish
TO crafty. That woman called me a
hoyden. an uncu!tivated little heather.
and said couldn't ride little bit. l
don't mind the hoyden and the heath
en-. Isuppose | am both. but l can
ride. and mean 10 do it. !"
Little girl you hurt me when you
talk so thoughtlesslyn
And you hurt me cruelty" she
cried passionately as she turned her
flashing eyes on him. I'm ashamed
TO acknowledge how much / thought
you loved me but you dent
My dear little wild bird / love
you. am twenty years older than
you are. but never said that to a wo-
man until met you | am graver
and quieter than you are, but | like
your sunny ways-your bright ma
ture My mother and sisters do not
know you as well as | do. and they
want me to marry Miss Gates They
are looking for flaws in my gem
and / don't want them to have a
chance to think they have found one.
1t IS such little thing | have asked
you"
= Neverr Cap replied augrlly. as
she lerked her hands away. They
may take me as am or not at all. Ii
mamma had lived maybe l would
have been ditferent-as pruues and
prisms as Miss Oates possibly-but
I've only had dad and he likes me
best as | am. never would have
thought OF riding at the fair. only
when we were all out horseback rid
ing one night after Miss Oates first
came she said purposely for me to
hear that sticking on" was not good
riding by any means and made fun OF
my 'old-fashioned'' riding habit
And Caps tears splashed down on the
dingy black calico.
You are much prettier in it than
Miss Oates is in hers. returned Henry
warmly.
''0h, yes!" said Cap mockingly.
much prettieri but you don want to
see me match my skill against her
grace; but | will; and l will win the
whip and gloves so now"
Then we will discuss the matter
no further"
'Adios. then. senior until this
afternoon and remember she called.
as she vauIted on Brets back and |
turned to go after to day mean to /
show that dad has as much money as
anybody. l don't care for dress but /
il you do you shall be pleased and I
with saucy kiss from her finger tips
she rode away.
When afternoon came the fair
grounds were crowded. Half dozen |
young ladies in prim black and blue
cloth habits chimney pot hats. long
gauntlets and wells which they wore
then. were gathered near the judges
stand and their escorts were chatting
with them, waiting the order to clear
the ring.
Where is your Lady Gay Spanker.
Henry?" asked his sister as he drove
up with his mother Henry frowned
slightly. but before he could answer
little buzz of comment called the
attention OF all as Capitola rode up
unattended She wouldn't even let
me ride my old cob beside her SO |
was there before her in the buggy.
Her slende. black mare was as met
tlesome as could be- and tossed her
long name and tail impatiently as she
obeyed that little hand. with its touch
OF velvet and grip of steel Cap was as
slim ana willowly as a cottonwood sap
ling in her close fitting black velvet
habit. She had put up all her curls
under little black velvet hat around
which was long black ostrich
plume
Miss Oates looked like thunder.
cloud She had expected to see the
child on her little mustang and in the
old black calico habit skirt she usual
" wore Henry smiled and went 20
bnts n ttrf4b N i,rf.s. ....l ]