The National tribune., 1893-02-23


Chef had begun TO sing in his own peculiar
way, the sad history of that misguided Celt;
and ID was but two days since they had, with
much ceremony, ard with much kicking on
she part of the victim. ducked "Muggins." one
of the cowboys. because. in fit of abstraction,
he had uncOnsclously whlstleu couple oil DaTs
OF the prescribed tune.
No: IL was not the DewneSS of the song that
caused the Professor TO halt so suddenly, and
TO drop his lower jaw in order to listen the
better Nor was it the fact that he was, to the
best of his knowledge and belief ten or twelve
miles from any human habtation. Ii was,
however the fact that the lamented Mr.. Nc
Ginty's narrowing tale was being related In a
soprano voice of indisputable sweetness that
agitated Mr.. Pealc, late of Harvard, otherwise
known as 1.-THE Professor"
Who owned that soprano voice? The Pro-
fessor rapidly ran over, mentally, the list of all
the residents of that corner of the Territory
who could reasonably be included among the
possible possessors of such vocal gifts; but this
resulted in nothing, for there were only three
or four women in that vicinity, and none OF
them were Of the kind likely to derive any
pleasure from this sort of vocalism. All this
time the singer had been making the most of
Mr.. McGinty's misfortunes, and now started in
sfresh. The Professor suddenly became pos
sessed of an idea. If he kept on up the canyon
he would doubtless meet the owner of the
tween the brush and the little creek, and
quite naturally, two persons riding along this
trail in opposite directions, as the sound of the
voice indicated WAS the case, would no doubt
meet. So the Professor, wondering why this
hadn't struck him before, intimated to the in
teligent Rufus his bronco, his desire to ad
vance, which Rufus understood and acted
upon; and presently, having meantime SUI.
fered lapse of memory concerning certain
bunch Of stray cattle he had started out to find,
the Professor met the singer.
The singer was a young lady, just as the
Professor had suspected. She was moreover, a
decidedly progressing young person, which
fact the Professor noted at glance. She was
small aud plump, with very light hair, and
hardly the person one would suspect of having
such strong, full voice. She wore blue gray
riding habit, which had, beyond a shadow of
doubt, been made at least ] 500 miles from
where il was now in service; and the broad
brimmed straw hat. turned up In front to
reveal fluffy aud fetching hair, was the only
thing about her that seemed to belong in that
part of the country, excepting, of course, the
black pony she rode.
The "apparition," as the Professor afterward
described her. had her pretty mouth open to
tell how The lamented MeGinty, at q stated
hour on the Sabbath day, sttired in immscu-
late garments, was gazing steadfastly at the
topmOst point of stone wall OF some consider
8Die 2ltlIUQc. W0eU sne turned an abrupt curve
in the trail and met the Professor. It pains
me to record that for some seconds thereafter,
the countenance of Miss Estelle Hudson was
about the blankest thing on record, unless that
of Mr. Wendell Phillips Peale may be ex-
cepted.
1t was quite unromantic this meeting Of
Miss Hudson and the Professor. To the lattor's
assertion, made at q later date, that she was so
dazzled at first sight of him that her mouth
opened and remained in that position for FIVE
minutes at least, the young lady retorted that
the Professors whole face was open for the
same length of time; and, while / am prepared
to successfully contradict these assertions in SO
far as actual minutes and records are involved,
il is quite true, on the other hand, that these
two young people, when they first met, looked
very stupid indeed.
The Professor recovered himself first. He
dotted his sombrero with slight flourish. and
made brilliant remark. 1t was: GOOD
evening""
Then Miss Hudson pulled her scattered wits
together and made similar remark, adding,
by way of relieving the strangers obvious
embarrassment
II beg your pardon, but how much farther
is it to the C c. ranch? / had no idea had
gone so far"
The Professor started. "The &C CT" be re-
pested. why, you're going directly away
from i'll The &C c. is due north from here.
] should be very glad to show you the way;
] am going in that direction"
The spparition seemed very much dis
gusted with herself for her ignorance of the
country.
The ideal" she exclaimed give been
out riding almost every day since came and
supposed knew enough to find my way home;
but it seems don't"
Nor" smiled the Professor "Er-by the
way, since We are bound In the same direction,
al / hiatt Int reoif Is
added, az they started up the trail. ~ am
Mr.. Peale, Of the Circle Ellen ranch, down
the river"
The apparition laughed-it was impolite of
her, 1T must be coniessed-and exclaimed, IT.
relevantiy-
1.-The Circle Elem, What funny name
DO they really give ranches such names? Oh,
beg your pardon II am Miss Hudson oil
Philadelphia. My brother is manager of the
&C c. Maybe you are acquainted with him."
The Professors face beamed. with Dick :
Well, should say so! presume il is unneces-
gary for me 10 add that l think him the finest
chap IN the world. We are great chums
rather suspected you must be his sister,"
Miss Hudson halted. "Why, you must be
'the Professor Of whom Dick used TO write SC
much"
Yes; don't know Of anyone else in the
County who is dignifed with that title. But
by the way, WAS going to enlighten you on
tuS u OlTclo Ellen. You see
most OF the ranches have nicknames and ~
cur brand is L n within circle, il naturally
suggested Circle Ellen and that's the where
fore Of IT,"
"Oh, yes; how funnyi"
few moments later they reached the hill
road where the horses could travel side BY side
and the Professor entertained his companion
with stories Of the surrounding country.
"Over near that peak is where the Indian
surprised and butchered party of campers
cut during the Apache trouble few years ago
There were eight IN the party and not one es
capped"
How horriblei"
Yes. DO you see that tree overhanging tn,
road juEt aheadf Well that's where We hum
three Mexicans for numbering Joey Brown il
'sl"
Your" gasped Miss Hudson, recoiling.
Nh-why, y-yes-that is, no-not exactly
stsmmered the Professor. But you see i
had 70 be done, and as / was with the part,
that captured en- of course had to-er-as
sst, don't you seer"
Miss Hudson said "Yes." q little doubtfully
Right down st the foot Of this hill" wen
on the Professor is the spot where thu
Apaches killed Judge Mccain and his wife an
son--ShOt em from ambush"
How perfectly awful Oh, Mr.. Pealt
please talk about something else; IL just make
me shiver TO think of those horrid Indians!"
1ne Professor smiled an indulgent, superior
masculine smile. "0h, of course, there's n
danger nowadays. Old Victoria is dead. &c