Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1892-09-01
BAPTIZED BY FIRE.

| 1T was an early SeptemDer morning
in the late sixties The summer 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 skyljko copper in the morn
ing. and strange stiffness broodod
in the air
| had been giving orders for brand
ing n bunch OF steers TO send 10 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 IL
quirt her pony browsing just in front
OF her and beside her WAS Henry, the
owner of the big Home" ranch an |
her aftianced lover His bride rein
was thrown over his arm. and he was
earnestly begging the girl TO compl :
I with some request.
Please Cappie yield to me this
! time"
But | want the gloves and whip "
an buy you gross OF silver
mounted whips and Il dozen pairs of
!
for the purpose, il you would give up
riding at the fair.
That would be circumstance.
wouldn it@' flashed CapitolL Il
! could shake them under Miss Oates
nose and say There! just see what |
got for letting you win tho prize. No,
| Hal it isn't the gloves or the whip,
| but mean little ambition that | wish
to crafty. That woman called me Il
hoydcn, an uncu!tivatcd little heather.
/ and said couldn't ride q little bit. |
don't mind the hoyden and the heath
en- suppose | am both, but can
/ ride, and mean 10 do it. "
Little girl you hurt me when you
| talk so thoughtlcs ,ly."
And you hurt me cruelty" she
cried passionately, as she turned heg
flashing eyes on him. Pm ashamed
to acknowledge how much | thought
you loved me out 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 us we'll 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 u
,hanco to think they have found one.
1t is such a little thing | have asked
YOU
" Never" Cap repliel angriIy. as
she jerked her hands away. They
may take me as | am or not at all. II
mamma had lived maybe | would
have been ditlcrcnt-as prunes and
prism5 rs Miss Oates possibly
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 nigh, 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 odd 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
'Oh. yes" said Cap mockingly.
much prettier; but you don' want to
sec me match my skill against her
/ grace; but will; and | 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 vaulted on Brets back and
/ turned 10 go after TO day mean TO
show that dad has as much money as
/ anybody. don't care for dress. but
if you do you shall be pleased " and
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 chime, 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
IA little buzz OF comment called the
attention OF all as Capitola rode up
unattended She wouldn't oven let
me ride my old cob beside her. SO
was there before her in the buggy
Her slendo black mare was as met.
tlcsome as could be, and tossed her
long name aud tail impaticutly as she
obeyed that little hand. with its touch
o. velvet and grip OF steel. Cap was as
slim and willowly as 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 a thunder
cloud. She had expected 10 SEQ the
child Oh her little mustang and in the
old black calico habit kirt she usual
ly wore. Henry smiled and went 10
her instantly with a loving word. and
| knew the clouds had disappeared
for time.
The tournament began; up aud
down, around this way and back that
under the cOppery sky the ladies rode,
then paused. The judges were unde.
cided, SO they went through the PAGES
again. No decision. The ladies
would please change horses.
Cap was off Roudo in an instant,
but many OF the ladies demurred.
Miss Oates positively refused to mount
anything but her own thoroughly
trained animal The contest mario wed
to Cap and two other plains bred girls
but even they dared not mount Rondo.
Cap rode each OF the six horses in
turn. As she changed the seventh
and last time to Rondo she rode &c
me.
Uncle, don't you smell the prairie
fireP she asked uneasily.
Yes" replied. but it's aeros:
the creek; il can't reach u.s."
Il was thinking OF the schoo
house. she replied hurriedly as the
judges called. school began IL