The Opelousas courier., 1892-11-26

EFsA%SEa@ 80 CoufcESiHS Mys-
t%eriously until dis.
lance blended them into one.
Back of it Jared the wide main street,
with stores and cottages Unfortunately
mingled, which marks the disconsolate
prairie town. Beyond, Enclosed by q
white picket fence, struggled tho DESC
late graveyard.
The only thing in plenty which
nature supplied was room. There was
an abundance of space. 1t was quite q
walk to cross the street. Neighbour
houses stood a!oof. Nobody was
| crowded, ever in the graveyard.
The telegraph operator, satiated with
Landscape, leaned back, stretched him,
self pr~odigiously, yawned audibly and
collapsed in his chair, which creaked in
vexed remopstrance. He tossed a re-
mark over his shoulder, $50 this ID
what you are yearnin' for, Davea"
Dave took his cane, and, limping to
the door, viewed the inertness in
silence. Then he reused himself and
sa.d cheerfully:
"a telegraph operator is all Pm good
fur since l got hurt"
@.Seems like the com'ny might have
done more for you when you got smashed
up in their own accident. 'Twouldn't
have hurt EN- none to keep you as 4
conductor" g~rumblcd his friend.
Suddenly the afternoon stiffness was
broken by excited voices and the sharp
barking and yapping OF dogs. 10.
brought his feet to the floor in a hurry.
81 can't leave the machine, Dave. G..
and see what the rumpus is about.
bet Brier Rose is up to somethin.' II
takes that there girl to stir up the boys.
No, Foxy" he said to his terrier, who
was whirIing around in an ecstacy Of
anticipation, ssyou stay here. If Brief
Rose is at the bottom of it, a little
teller like you might get lost in the
shuttle
Dave obediently limped up the street,
where, in the midst of a crowd of rough
men, stood a girl holding some little
animal high above her head, while the
dogs leaped and snapped around her.
The girl, with scarlet cheeks, begged
and scolded and threatened them all to
their infinite amusement.
aCsll off your dawg, Jim," she said
iercely to the owner of the largest,
whose leaps sometimes almost reached
the quivering little object IN her hands.
"Throw down the beast an | will
he answered.
ssIf that there dawg gives anothe,
jump, I'll pizen him before sunup," she
said, slowly.
Jim made a lunge for the dog, and sat
on him to keep him down, while the
crowd hooted in derision of his obedi-
ence.
ssWhat's all this" cried Dave, cGm.
ing up and pushing MS way through
their midst.
"Brier Rose is being held up!' criet
a voice.
The crowd yelled with delight. The
girls whole face became white with rage
as she singled out the speaker.
you'll pay for that, Ben Miles, Al
you've paid BEFORE" she said.
'Call of those brutes," cried Dave
rapping the nearest dog with his cane.
aFor shame, to tease q woman!"
"Look a hyer, stranger said
young giant, menacingly. He lowered
above Dave, who stood his ground.
aI'in lame and no account in a fight
said Dave, ssbut half a man amt goTns
to see a woman tormented."
.Who in thunder" began hi
threatener; but Ben Miles laid a hand on
his arm.
"Hold on, Jim," he said; ssthat
there's Dave Comstock, conductor o
the smashed up No. ~
t'Not the Teller that got hurt sayin
the baby2"
aThe same"
ssSho, s~trangerl" said the Modified
Jim.
aYou.re welcome to interfere. uIv
US yer hand. We wouldn't hurt her fe,
nothin. Bless my stars! Brier Rose
can take care of herself better'n mos
men,"
The dogs were all held now, and the
girl put her tired arms down. Sht
looked ~curiously at the man, whose
brave story she knew by heart, as sh'
heard him defend her.
To be sure, she had been defended be.
fore; there was hardly a man who
would not have risked his life to ave
hers, but they leased her numerically
when they got the chance. Dawes in
reference was on a new line. She die
not quite understand Il, but it appealed
10 her at once.
When Dave went back to the station
To tell Joe. the latter reared with de.
light.
aJust like herl Exzsttly like herl'
he cried, slapping his leg so inhumanly
that his lame friend WINGED for him.
aNho is Brier Rosea' he repeated, in
answer to Dawes question. "You don't
know much if you don't know old
gryan's daughter. She's the best known
girl from Horseshoe Gap to Powder
erik. Old Bryan's been engineer oD
Tee road ever since the track was laid.
All eyes she was then, as che is now.
What wasn't eyes was temper. Same
now. aavIn. that new she bosses the boys
IN addition to old Bryan. SLe q run
an engine with the best OF EN-. Bryan's
taught her all the tricks, and he thinks
the sun rises and sets for just her
aStrange she would defend q gopher,
when she's so hard on the boys OBJ
served Dave.
That's just it. That's Brier Rose
She got more tame pets; she's friend.
lier with every beast ID Weepins WilIel
than with any Of the boys. She amt
sva,, 0nf q haad f,,y anvnadr h,,t cIc