River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1894-05-10
A WESTERN IDYL.
Adventures OF the School Mistress
at Bang-Up City.

As she gazed about the collection Of
saloons and other dingy shanties which
constituted the only visible portion o.
the far famed mining camp the indig
nant expression on ker face deepened
IN intensity.
For Miss Kenyon had been led to ex-
pect a very different sort of place.
She had been told that Bang-Up City
was a species Of earthly paradise. whose
inhabitants were 50 well satisfied with
life there that they did not care to
make even a short excursion out into
the outer world
From what I can see of it."
she murmured, Il cannot understand
how anyone can ever be induced to re
main in the place over night Where
is all this western hustle of which
have heard? Where is the enterprise
which builds complete new cities in q
month? Bah. ! have been imposed
upon.
She paused, irresolute. upon the
platform of the little depot that was
half log shanty and half tent
Rose Kenyon was a very fair vision
to gaze upon. YOung-nOt over twenty
and pretty - decidedly pretty she
was the kind of woman who can be de
pended upon to set masculinity by the
ears.
Suitors were no novelty to Rose. She
had had maay lovers, but had sent
them all away. Not one of them had
ever approached her ideal
And now she had been allured to the
Rockies by the illiterate invitation of
three men, who subscribed themselves
a. the school trustees of Bang-Cp City.
They had confessed. in their queer
letter. that Bang-Up City was as yet
without schools If any description, but
they had invited her, AT a salary which
had astonished the New England
schoOl-tedcher, to come out and change
the state of affairs at Bang-Up City.
Aud Rose had accepted She had ex-
pectcd that the trustees would be at
the station To meet the first teacher OF
their new community. but there was
not a soul near the depot. Then Rose
remembered that she had not told
them ON which day she expected to ar
rive.
Finally Roses eye fell upon u monde
script-lOokine Chinamau who was COM
AAAE AEA1NANAN hR LAAN AteANA- AAN - - nv
an inviting specimen of the MoBgOlian
race. To begin with, he was dirty. To
ada to that he was very ragged. And.
TO cap all, he had one of the most hid
eOus faces ever seen
''Cally yO' Clip, Inissy?" he demand
ed, as he came close to her and picked
up the heavy vaIise which lay at Miss
kenyon's feet
is there a hotel here?- Rose asked.
Yes. missy; you wantee go there?'
Yes
Then cally yo' bag
How much2f asked Rose She had
New England eye 20 the cost of things.
Two hitee. missy"
''All right Lead the way to the
place.
The Chinaman started down the
dusty road. followed by Miss Kenyon.
As they got into what might be called
the heart Of the city Rose saw that
there wer a good many men about.
As she v j lSed along the number of
men becau.e larger. aud she noticed.
not without uneasineSs, that they all
appeared to be followed her. For. in
some way. il got nOised about that this
decIUedlv pretty young woman was the
new schoOlma'am-
And every mothers son of them felt
that he had an interest in the school
ma'am, to pay whom all were ID be
taxed
by the time that the Chinaman came
10 a stop before a shanty which looked
just shade more pretentiOus than the
rest the street was crowded by miners.
They all stared al her. yet Rose could
not help feeling that she was the re-
cipient of attention most respectfully
meant
Jim Walker. big. handsome fellow,
made 50 bold as to step up to her and
inquire:
BEG pardon. but mebbe yer tie new
schoolma'am?"
Yes. ! am
Walker turned to the Chinaman ard
said authuritatively:
'Drop that grip tight there, Jim Wah.
Ill look after il"
"You pay me. missy" said the China
man.
Any miner would have given five
dollars bonus for the privilege of pay
ing the Chinamau. but ell felt, after a
brief inspection of Miss Kenyon. that
it would not De i safe offer . make.
Miss Keny = took out htr purse and
drew from ; = silver quarter.
-Four bites. said the chinaman.
Why" expostulated Rose, you
offered to carry it for twenty-five
cents"
You heap lie" retorted Jim wah.
ME said four bitee Z"
jim Wah didn't finish There was a
loud. sharp report. and the Chinaman
rolled over and over on to the ground.
holding his side aud yelling with
agony.
Walker pulled OF his sombrero, and,
bowling with native grace, ana holding
the smoking pistol pointed at the
ground, said:
Il beg yer pardon for soaring yer.
miss. but no Chinese galoot can Insult
lady when I'm round"
For Rose Kenyon had given a
startled Shrek. and now looked rs il
she was about 10 fain..
The next Instant. to the amazemeEt
OF ell the miners. she was kneeling in
the dust by the side Of the wounded
Chinaman.
Jim Wah Law silent under the touch
of her fingers. rs she examined his
wound
He's not very badly hurt, after all,
she said. finally.
Jim Walker stood over her with a
shame-faeed air and said:
NO. miss; he amt very bad hurt.
that's sure. I'm ashamed Of myself
ought have dore better The next
time III make sure of killing the noon
eyed galOot-"
Rose looked up at him with look of
disgust.
Then she turned to the Others and
said:
"Gentlemen. viii some of You pick
up this wounded man and take him TO
bed in the hotel? No. sir, In needn't
offer to help" she cried, as Walker
stepped forward eagerly. W. We done
quite enough already.
I'm sorry. honest. miss. II I've hurt
your feelings" faltered Jim Walker.
and there could be no doubt that he
was sincere.
And the Chinaman-are you sorry
for him?" she demanded, sternly.
mo, miss; nobody ont this way is
ever sorry for Chinaman-"
"But he has a life. sir"