Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1892-05-12

Slc nUu written II, WOUIu ptODdUIN nave
been Mollic Prescott, ut least such vas
the dcclarat ion of Rosewood Jim.
81 sees this ycre female year ago in
Tombstone" asserted that vcracious
chroniclcr, "where she cooks at the stage
station. an She gives it out cold she's
called prcscott-Alo Prescott AN most
likely she knows her name an l.nowcd ii
a year ago"
As Rosewood was n historian of known
pctulancc, no one cared to challenge either
his facts or his conclusions; SO the real
name of "rhe Cactus" was accepted by
the Cinnabar public as Prescott
1.-THE Cactus" was pcrsouablc lady
comely and round, and her advent into
Cinnabar society had caused something Of
of a hutter Her mission was to cook, and
in the fulfllmcnt of her destiny she pre-
sided over the range at the o. X hotel
Being publicly hailed as The Cactus
seemed in no wise to depress her. and it is
possible she even felt Il secret glow over an
epthe which was meant hy the critical
taste that awarded it to illustrate those
thorns in her nature which repcRed and
held in check the amorous male of CHINA
bar
Women were jewelry in Cinnabar, and
on her first coming The Cactus" hal
her he moment she stepped from the TIC
son stage six months before From tho
term every man." however careful
writer would except Rosewood Jim. That
obdurate scientist, given as he was to the
invcs. gation of he inner work. nes of faro
as a philosophy, had no time for such II
soft and lucet affair as love. Anot her
thing Rosewood had scruples of honor
born of his business
Life behind deal box isl mighty sight
too fantastic" GuOth the thoughtful Rose
wood, "for n family. 1t does well enough
for single footerS. which it don't make
much difference with when player pulls
his siXshooter an sends en- shoutin home
/ to heaven some abrupt. But there amt no
/ room for woman with n man who turns
/ cards as pursoot. Priests an gamblers
| ain t got no business with squaws."
As time went on the score of lovers who
sighed On the daily trail of THE Cactus
dwindlcd down to two. The rest gave out
/ disp.ted.
Pm clean strain enough" said Bill
| Tut in apologize description of his failure
to perscvcrc. but | knows when I've got
through. I'll play game to finish, but
when its down to the turn an my last
chips gone over tothe dealer. why shoves
my chair back anquits. An it's about that
away of an concerning my love for this
yere Cactus girl. Jest can't get her none,
an that settles it. now drors out an gives
I my seat to some one else"
"That's whatcvcr,' said a parsonage
known rs Texas Joe, who was an inter
csted listener to the defeated Mr.. Tut,
IAN YOU can gamble I'm with YOU on them
views. | loves The Cactus myself to a
frightful degree, an thar, times | jest
goes about whinin for her but we're awhile
, back comes proiectin around her kitcLen,
and bing.' comes Il skillet at my head, an
that lets me out. You bet | don't pursoo
them explorations around her 40 more. !
don't want to get my rope onto no woman
who is that Gallons as to heavc Kitchen
bric-a- brac at a heart that's pantin for her. -
Two lovers still knelt at the shrine Of
"The CactUs' These were hailed by the
men of Cinuabar respectively as Rice
Brown and Riley Brooks. y description OF
one would have been "A portrait of the
other. They were Young, good looking, of
the breezy southwestern type, tanned as &c
face and 1.-the and timber is black snakes
as to person. These still held the affection,
of The Cactus in siege and demanded
capitUatiOn That cstiuaDle virgin paid
no heed to their court, nor the comment OF
onlooling Cnuabar. She pursued her
path in lie even and unmoycd. She com
pounded her daily bread, compiled hen
daily napiacks and bruiled her daily beef
steak by that simple and ingenious process.
popular in tac southwest Of burning it OF
the griddlcs OF her range, and all rs com
poscdly as Il ouch l.canGcr never swan
, the IIcllcSpout nor Antony sighed or suns
in the ear Of Egvpt's queen. Stll it wa,
rnSsihln th.t ,Tbn Cactus" WAS n shal,