St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-01-09
A TRAVELLERS STORY.
Chicago Tribune.

OulCdSO IIlUuucs
They were all commercial travellers,
enjoying their cigars on the veranda OF
a Kansas hotel, shrewd, intelligent
knights of the grip and sample case,
fragments of that vast army OF untirlng
business heralds whose ceaseless
labors keep the healthy blood forever
coursiug through the great arteries OF
trade. 1t was Sunday, and the genial
travellers were Willing away the hours
in that favOrite diversion of the drum
mer-story-telling.
"Yes, got my wife in this state"
said Frank Carpenter, a valued repre-
sentative of great jewelry house in
Americas greatest metropolis. st was
out in the western portion of the state,
where the larger cattle ranches are sit
uated, that first met the little woman
who now honors me by bearing my
name, and if you care to hear bit OF
romance I'll tell you how it all came
about.
Business called me to bustling
town on the Union Pacific road at
time when the county fair was IN prog
gress there. These cattle-range- fairs
draw great crowds, you know, for the
leading attractions are arenic contests OF
the most exciting and dangerous charac-
ter, such as riding wild broncos. roping
wild steers, etc. On this occasion.
however, public opinion seemed to be
conferred on bicycle race in which
burly cowboy and wealthy cattle own
er's elghteen-year-old daughter were
the contestants. A handsome prize was
offered by the managers OF the falr, put
sunk almost out of sight when COM
pared to the large sums of money staked
upon the races by outside parties.
During the forenoon the cowboy was
pointed out to me OH the Street-a great,
staggering fellow, wearing the inevl-
table white sombrero and displaying q
huge pistol in belt strapped about his
waist. He was talking OF the race to a
group of rough companions on the side
walk in front of the hotel. and before
heard him utter dozen words L had
sized him up as a bully and braggart,
and cherished hope that the girl,
rough though she might prove to De,
would do him up in the coming contest.
"The grand stand was literally packed
with excited humanity, and the ground
around the half-mile circular track was
crowded to witness the afternoon sports.
| was unable to secure seat IN the
grand stand, and, after much pushing
and squeezing, succeeded in gaining a
positiOn against the railing which i'll
closed the track, but few yards from
the Judges stand. | felt considerably
nettled. | don't know why, when l
discovered from the conversation of
those about me that the cowboy was the
favorite in betting circles.
'.The gong sounded, and the contest
ants came upon the track. L tell you
fellows, | experienced a delightful sur
prise when, instead of the coarse, sun
burned girl whom my fancy had pict-
ured, beheld the prettleSt little West
ern flower my eyes had ever rested
upon. Her face was OF a gentle. half
| tlmid cast; her eyes glorious, lustrous
| almost golden hair, which fell in
loose waves over her shoulders, was
| a fitting crown for such a lovely
little prairie queen. AS she rode her
| glitterlng, nckeled wheel slowly about
| during the arrangement of the pre-
| liminaries to the race | thought | had
never seen young woman whoes every
| movement was nearer the very essence
| of the poetry of motion and peerless
grace. | noticed that she seemed nerv-
Gus. somewhat ratified, you know. and
as she rode slowly by the spot where L
stood, could not suppress the words
| of announcement that sprung to my
| lips:
".Do not be frightened said. You
| will defeat him-l know you WILL
"'Thank you,' she replied, with a
smile that caused my susceptible young
heart to throb with pleasure. i hope
may. | will do my best
"They were called to the scratch to
receive their instructions from the
judges. The distance to be ridden was
| one mile. running start, and in mo-
ment they were off.
."rhis great crowd leaned forward
| with breathless interest as they sped
| away. their wheels closely abreast. and
the interest deepened as they completed
the first round and passed the stand to
enter upon the second half-mile without
| either having gained any perceptible
| advantage. AS the quarter pole was
| passed 1t was noticed that the cowboy
drew a trifle ahead. and the shouts of
his hackers and rough companions were
of the most encouraging nature. was
too far distant to be able to see the young
| girls face, but L instinctively fell
that it must wear look of pain
and modification. and that her heart
must have throbbed painfully over what
| seemed certain defeat. Under the wire
they flew, anuthe cheers were deafen-
ing as the cowboy passed the line fully
fifteen feet in advance OF his falr com
petltor. HadI possessed sufficient mus
cular power felt that would nave eX
nerienced sincere pleasure in springlne
over the railing and adnnhis tering {
good thrashing to the burly braggar
when | head him mockingly say to hel
as they came 20 a stop and dlsmoullted
.'Go nome an, wash your mammy
dishes. You cail't i,te Il little OFT
my blood was tired at the tauntihs
remark. and | holly exclaimed:
".,She is far better rider than you
and nothing but your brute strengthsde