The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1894-05-17
ONLY A COWBOY.
LIZARD, you surely are not In earnest
w eyes, 1 certainly will do 1t, Ross
Hal ha by love, ] will, lust for the

~ - A&4ShA~hs, thCh iauha Cu Ouliikut.
Upon my word, never saw such
fellow as you, Ward Cameron; you're
just as ready for any escapade at the
age of twenty-eight as you were at
eighteen"
Correct there" returned the other,
with a quizzIcal look In the heavily
fringed brown eyes, "and / might men,
tion certain hnmbug that is quite
ready to follow my harum-scarum lead.
! was deeply interested in Aunt Helens
description of the little teacher last
evening, and today / saw her-myself
unseen-and ! shall attend her school
for the chance of a lark, If nothing
else.n
TRY 1t on, do, you Harvard grad
uatel' laughed Ross. "Don cowboy
garb, talk bad English with that highly
cultivated voice OF yours-ha, ha It's
no go, Ward; you'll he twigged in a
moment"
But In this Ross, who that very even
ing was unexpectedly summoned to his
eastern home, proved to be mistaken.
Although the surprise that pretty, gold
en- haired Nina Leighton encountered
the next morning when she crossed the
threshold of her little schoolroom was
not altogether a pleasant one, no sus-
piclon OF the truth entering her mind.
There stood tall, finely proportional
man, evidently awaiting her arrival.
For an instant she paused In the DOOR
way as her large blue eyes swept the
face and form of the intruder; then, re-
gaining her self-possession as best she
could, she advanced toward him, and in
voice sweet and girlish, but with a
ring of dignity in its tones, said:
Good morning, sir"
"Morn," returned the man, doffing
his sombrero.
He said no more, and with the deter
minatior to make the best of the sItua-
ton, Nina called her school to order,
then again addressed the stranger.
4haJ 4 aoh ~ WAL we
are indebted for this call, sir2n
"Wall," explained the fine looking
fellow, with the corners of his mouth In
very shaky condition, Eyer see ledge
Browning over thar" with a nod in the
direction of that gentleman's home,
"whar me and my pard, what's been
with me on the frontier, came night
afore last, is my uncle; and when got
with folks what's got book larnin' I felt
like was of my reservation. Yer see"
with desperate gravity, 'rm sort of a
stray, but I'd like to be punched In this
roundup"
81 understand, returned Nina, vastly
relieved. "You wish to attend school.
Your name, please"
"Ward Cameron"
"Well, Mr."
"Oh, don't go ter mastering me |
Amt ! corralled along with the restl"
with an awkward geLture In the dlrec-
tion of the seats occupied by the scho-
lars, who were silently enjoying the
little comedy.
"Of course you are one of my pupils"
said Nina, smiling In spite of herself.
"And now, Ward" with deepening
color, ait will be necessary for you to
go through brief examination, that
may determine what studies to select
for you; SO please be seated"
But the fact was soon disclosed that
the cowboys education had been sadly
neglected.
Weeks heightened into months, and
Nina Leighton found the time passing
very pleasantly.
Daughter, have you any trouble in
the SCHOOL," quietly asked NIna's mother
noting the girls preoccupied manner
as they were seated in their coy sitting
room one evening.
mo, mamma" smiling ~ have not
had the least bit of trouble with The
old time incorrigibles since Ward Cam
eron came; whether on account of the
good example he sets, or because of
secret orders used, am unable to say
but certain it is that the pupils are
models of good behavior. l often wish
you could see them gather around him
at recess while he relates Indian stor-
les. He is perfect ignoramus, al
though he does his best to improve,
often soliciting my aid in the solution
of problems that ought not to puzzle
the youngest child In school; yet his
description of wild western scenes and
adventures are so graphically told that
his audience is held spell-bound. But
oh, what language! What grammarw
She wss silent for a moment, then
went on:
mamma, why is the one thing most
needful to compel natures handIwork
so often withheld Ward Cameron,
with his grand figure and handsome
face, would be perfectly irresistible If
he were only educated
"Be careful, Nina" replied Mrs.
Leighton, "that you do not, in your abb
sorbing interest, teach him something
not contained in school books
Nina's lip curled, and fash of an
noyance crossed her face.
"How absurd, mamman she exclaim-
ed, contemporary. "He is only a cow
boyw