The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-07-24
att seems objectionable In such place

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"A thisr" and much more was said.
To all OF which the little woman sim
ply replied that she did not know.
After dinner had been served at the
tavern. and tho military officers had
taken their wives out TO the corrais TO
600 the Mexicans, and the wagon trains,
and the prairies, and it was time to re-
tnrn TO tho landing, the women turned
to their coppanion of the voyage and
asked her r she would go with them TO
the fort. adding that she could probably
find employneut there in some officers
family or she could return by the boat
n 81. Louis. To their CONSERVATION she
answered that she was going on TO Santa
Fe One of the wagon masters had his
wife with him, and she had already bar
gained with her for the trip.
There was nothing to do but to say
ooodbv. wish the woman safe journey
and success in her errand. After the de-
nartnye Of her friends the lone traveller
Immediately took UP her abode In camp
with the wagon masters wife. There all
was activity and hustle, preparations for
the tourney were going forward on every
side though it would be two or three
DAYS. they said, before the packing could
be completed and all made ready. Many
of the trains were ON the way to the
landing, others were already down by
the levee receiving their loads and the
remainder were preparing to start.
All save one. At Kings corral the
oxen were standing idly about, and the
stupid Mexicsns were looking along the
many little trails that conyerged to-
ward Westport, and up and down the
Kings highway" but no wagon mas
ter was in sight for them. In half an
hour q well dressed Mexican galloped
UP to them on mustang, hurting
native oaths at their logged faces and
cruel. black eyes. The ''greasers" fell
to work and jabbed the unofending cat
tie as they yoked them up.
1T is a bad piece of business" said
the wagon masters wife to her guest,
companion or servant (she could not de-
fine the position which the strange WON
an occupied in her mind and her fami-
ly). "The man King went off with the
others TO see the boat come In and no
BODY hain't seed him sence. Leastways
he started down the trail he made his
self over the hill wander, an that's the
last Of him. It's more like Mexican to
act that away, an the men folks say
King seemed like a right decent Teller"
The stranger said nothing, but busted
herself about the cooking she had volun-
teered to assist with. Some one was re-
cruited or promoted to the vacant wagon
mastership and the packing went on.
The next day when the wagon masters
wife arose from her siesta under the
wagon, she saw the strange woman com
ing toward the corral along the Kings
highway" When she drew near and sat
down in the grass quite out Of breath,
her hostess said:
"Where on airth hev you been? l
missed you the minute Igot awake. You
hain't been out jest to pick them flowers,
hev you? Jest you wait twell we git out
on the perarah where there's been no
grain to speak Of if you want to see
flowers"
The wagon masters wife never knew to
certainty just what became of the fiow-
ers that were gathered on the Kings
highway" but she took it for granted
they were thrown away after she had
impaired the information Of finer ones
to come.