Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1894-03-02
AN OUTLAW IN PETTICOATS.

/ Mamie Leatherbury rocked to and
fro in a big rocking chair on the YER
anda of a long, rambling, two-storied
house, which nestled in garden
abloom with semitropical plants and
trees, down by the Red River Tex.
Quite 4 frOwn gathered ON her piquant
face as she dwelt on her mornings
mishaps. She and her fiance, Forrest
Fairfax, had only been in Texas a few
days-he for the purpose of looking
after some cattle interests, and she for
the love Of change and to see her mar
ried sister, with whom they were stay
ing. Mamie Leatherbury was a veri-
table gypsy at heart, for she never was
so happy ats when she was wandering
about with the same restless fever
which is the heritage of that pictur-
esque tribe Flicking the dust off her
riding boots with her whip, she rose
and walked rapidly up and down in a
high temper.
''Why did they send me such an I'M
broken beast? I'm not a circus rider;
| besides, no girl on earth could sit such
Il chain tightening performer
Her eyes filled with tears as she talk
| ed and the show she had made of her
| self turning SOnerSallltS and landing
ON her head in Il cactus bed before the
amused natives, an hour or so before,
was vivid in memory. Forrest Fairfax
waiS sitting ON the veranda railing,
smoking a pipe. His long legs tangled
down in an awkward way ON the flow
Ia,, IN hn 1o4, Of. ioc
mine vine, which was timidly climbing
frai, trellis.
cit was the best they had, Nan, so
the livery stable keeper told me- look
| ing as concerned ais it was possible
for any one to look with his round
pink face, whose natural expression
was a superabundance in good humor
and health
Just at that moment her attention
was DRAWN to a dark object, which
drew neaer and nearer over the prairie
The object proved to be two horses-a
woman rode one and Led the other. Be
ing lover of horsefesh, like all her
country people, she involuntarily took
in all the points of a horse. Suddenly
exclaiming with lively interest: "Now,
that's the sort of a mount I take pleas
ure in. See how even his gaits are,
and how well bred he is"
The woman halted in front of the
house, and in al twinkling jumped off
and advanced to the steps, leading the
ned face. Mamie noticed that she was
very young-not more than 16 Or II at
the most. She wore brown breeches
and boots. Her short cloth skirt was
similar to those worn by women on the
moors in Scotland. Around her throat
was twisted a yellow silk handkerchief
and her head was protected from the
brilliant sunshine by a large sombrero,
such as the cowboys wear.
Good evening, lady. I heard this
morning down at the ranch that you
are locking for a saddle horse, so I've
brought one to show you''
! She took her sombrero off as she
spoke and wiped the perspiration from
her forehead, where her short black
curls clustered in damp little rings.
Her ungloved hands were tiny and
| DloWu, uuC any Oue cOuu see TQey
were strong 3s steel
| Mamie walked out on the grass to
examine the beautiful animal closer,
as she answered: 81 am looking for one
to hire, but don't wish to buy, because
we shall only be here few weeks"
A shade Of disappointment fell over
the little horse dealers face, but bright
Fening up, she said coaxingly: Come
and have q ride on him, and / think
you may change your mind @~
Forrest began to feel uneasy.
Us he gentle?'' he asked as the nery-
Gus creature put back his ears, snort
! ing at such familiarity.
"Oh, perfectly You see that I've
only plain snaffle On him. His mouth
is like velvet"
Nannie's admiration prevailed, so
she insisted on mounting, and in mo-
ment was in the saddle.
"Shall I come along too?' he asked.
| my horse is just around the field in
a she'd
ooh, no, thank your she answered
i lightly. Il think we can get along
very well" and she smiled down in the
lbewitching eyes of the little horse deal
er, who seemed very much pleased
with the arrangemnt, as she jumped
up on her horse without any assist
ance. In a second they were both trot-
ting off very quietly to a part of the
prairie where there was fine going.
81 shall only be gone for an hour,
Il Forrest. she called back as they broke
into a canter.