Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1892-07-14
BAPTIZED BY FIRE.

Uncle Zarah. THAT riding master may
think he knows it all so far as srace' is
concerned, though his ideas of grace differ
with mine materially, but I'd like to tell
him about one woman have known who
had been accustomed to the management
OF horses in rural parts or on the plains
who had been at home ON horses back
all her life and seldom essayed any gait
but a gallop, yet who could lay it over
any rider In this city for grace"
Uncle paused to polish his glasses, then
remarked interrogatively: "You remember
Mrs. - Her name was Captola. Did
ever tell you how Cappie won her husbandp
at was an early September morning in
the late sixties. The summer rains had
made vegetation rank and the buffalo
grass was then thickly matted, brown and
dry as powder The night had been gray
and still and given place to a skylike cop
per in the morning and a strange stiffness
brooded in the air
81 had been giving orders for branding a
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 and swapping
quirt, her pony browsing just in front of
her, and beside her was Henry-the owner
of the big Home ranch and 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 and whip
"Tll buy Won gross of silver mounted
whips and dozen pairs of Jouvin's best,
import them especially for the purpose, If
you will give up riding at the fair
"'That would be a circumstance, wouldn't
itP flashed Captola. I could shake them
under Miss Oates nose and say "Therel
Just see what got for letting you win the
prize" No, Hail. it isn't the gloves or the
whip but mean little ambition / want
to crafty. That woman called me a
hoyden, an uncultivated little heather,
and said couldn't ride little bit. Idon't
mind the hoyden and heather. suppose
lam both, bat can ride, and mean to do it. )
Little girl, you hurt me when you talk
30 thoughtlessly.'
"'And you hurt me cruelty she cried
passionately, as she turned her flashing
eyes on him. Pm ashamed to acknowl-
edge how much. I thought you loved
me, but you don't. When you see me be-
side your mother and your Incompatible
sisters and-and that horrid prim Puritan,
Miss Oates, you get ashamed of me and
want to make me over BY the square and
level of your own social world, but-you
can't do it. I tried to cultivate the little
prairie anemoues, but they always died.
III die, too, under the cultivating process.
50 you'll think-you can have your ring
back and with little sob Captola began
to tug at her gauntlets, but Henry caught
her hands.
"'My dear little wild bird | love you.
am twenty years older than you are, but
never said that to woman until | met
YOU. l am graver and quieter than you
are but ! like your sunny ways-youl
} bright nature. My mother and sisters dc
not know you as well as l do, and they
want me to marry Miss Oates. They art
looking for flaws in my gem, and dom
want them to have n chance to think the!
have found one. II Is such a little thing
have asked you. Your father is away
there is no one to attend you, as you ut
terly refuse my escort unless desert m!
mother and the other ladies, which | can
not do. You-well, you know, little girl
that you are very unconventional in boil
manners and dress, and | do wish yol
would try to win them over, child Henri.
paused, feeling that he was making ba'
matter worse.
"Neverp Cap replied angrily, as sh
me as | am or not at all. II mamma hal
lived maybe would have been different
as prunes and prisims as Miss Oates, pos
sibly-but Pve only had dad, and he like
me best as am. never would have though
Of riding at the fair. only when we wer
all out horseback riding one night afte
Miss Oates first came she said, purposel
for me to hear that sticking on" was nc
good riding by any means, and made flu
of my "old fashioned" riding habit An
Caps tears splashed down on the ding
black calico.
"'You are much prettier in it than Mis-
Oates is in hers returned Henry warml.
"'Oh, yesp said Cap mockingly, 'muc
prettier; but you don't want to see m
match my skill against her grace; but
will, and will win the whip and glove
so nowp
"'Then we will discuss the matter 1
further.
"'Adios, then, senor until this afte
noon, and remember she called as 81
vaulted on Bret's back and turned to g
after today mean to show that dad HI
as much money as anybody. 1 don't ca
for dress, but if you do you shall
pleased and with saucy kiss from b.
finger tips she rode away.
II felt sorry for both, but | knew
would come out all right. In his summe
ON his stock ranch, only two miles ava
Henry had seen Captola grow into wi
full but lovable girl, and had yielded up {
the strength of his great heart to her, b
as she was too young to marry he W
waiting for her. His mother and siste
had come from the Quaker City to !
spect' the possible addition to the famil
and were Mortified at her unconventiona
ties, particularly her going about by h
self The special grievance was over t
county fair.
miss Oates and some of the city gi
were going to ride for the prize, proper
ohsperoned, of course. Captola suddeI
decided that she, too, would ride. I
rules for entry required saddles, piece
furniture Cap sccrned, and besides
riding alone. Henry feared that she wot
be defeated bv Miss Oates who was