The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-04-15


ms. Rsssrs Lsuis s..vs-.o. Ten. ss-s
Epissses 80 her Early wsstsrs HsGs.
Once. long time ago. Mrs. Robert Leuis
Stevenson lived out in Western mining camp.
That was before the brilliant English esssyist
and novelist saw her and fell desperately in
love with her. but even then she must have
possessed some attractions for the stronger
sex. since she was the recipient Of frequent
presents. These gifts. which were Of simple
but touching character. such as red apples and
sage hens" we're always made anon mously.
and, try ss she would. Mrs.. Stevenson never
succeeded in surprising one Of the donors in
the act. Although the white men In camp were
thus gallant she received rather . bad impress
sion Of the courtesy Of the noble red man. ~
mar be guessed from the following incident
which Mrs. Stevenson relates with consider
able enjoyment:
"Ihsd always been led to believe that the
Indians called their wives sdusvs.' that their
conversation was principa Ugh ughi and
that first last, and all the time. they demanded
'nrswater.' Instead OF this the unsophisti-
Gated ssvsess with whom came IN contact
shuddered at the taste Of spirits, had . fair
command OF English and called their wives
'mahalas' and themselves 'hombres' NY
cousin Ben. . remarkably handsome youth,
whose few years came to an untimely end In
that foriorn country. was always very good In
C u f Who 10
sHpsms disfsyor the spectacle OF Ben washing
oh. the mshaia makes me- was the
You mabsls p" inquired Jim.
Ben replied In the Affirmative. whereupoa
p.ar.a on .rS i HS. tP to e. distant s
Late in the evening he returned. greatly IA
.pSs "i.a a,i Sn p. Esne fSftsp yGans
Z Il 6:s ~ S:I WHIP you nshsla' no good
Hl. i.se eloSdsd At B:n,ss refusal; then On
camp as; @ na 8s nRsi
tSnes. wSiis Of ,esirs brains. ,isweet6resd..
Initiation plum pudding. which did very, well:
owing Ben in The iite6sn alter .sysf,tSins
Ss 70 s' asa's 's' ssSr
bane nuttered in between biz feet. This hen
to n eomaa S.w wAS
the house doing more or less damage. Snt
began hopping about in the idiotic manner OF
hens upsettine dishes. and utterly refusing to
exit. Never was creature more exasperating
than that hon. Finally she pumped Into pan
OF dough had set to rise. Ben let fly
hatchst he had picked up from the hearth; It
went .tr.ight 70 the mark; and the hen was
suit fiiied us with CONFORMATION. We closed
the door, shot the bolt. drew the curtains. and
sat down In council to consider the question
OF what We should do with the body OF the hen:
fowl In Reese River was an article OF untold
value Its price might ruin un Ben sug-
And become bond slaves 70 China for the
rest Of our lives returned Besides. We
found that neither OF us had the courage to
confess the deed and say. ike George Wash
ington, L did II with my little Ratchet Burn
ing In the kitchen stove would not be safe. for
the odor Of burnt feathers might betray US.
Time pressed. and We had come to no decision.
ing up the fowl he buttonsd II inside his coat.
snatched up his hat, and disappeared. In
hort time ne returned. unbuttoned his coat.
and produced the fowl. pluckod and ready for
Into the oven with IT,. said he. L had
meant to shy It down that old shaft behind the
house. but hadn't the heart to waste the good
meat Il will look well at your dinner party.
and guests do not ask questions
But the feathers and the rest 2 asked,
d sa souds4 and
tied up tho handEsrchief and dung Il to the
bottom OF the shaft. There's not so much as .
pin feather OF evidence against Us. After din
ner I'll send the bon 60 the same road
II detected look OF surprise In the faces Of
my guests whom the hen wa. served. but
who would have suspected trsachery from an
imp hardly wsaned piped up with. oh. II
that the chicken you and Ben stole -"