The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1894-06-22
A WESTERN IDYL.
Adventures Of the School Mistress
at Bang-Up City.

lose Kenyon looked 1nClgnanC as she
said this.
AS she gazed about the collection of
saloons and other dingy shanties which
constituted the only visible portion of
the far famed mining camp the indig-
nant expression on her face deepened
in intensity.
For Miss Kenyon had been led to ex-
pect very different sort of place.
She had been told that BangUp City
was species of earthly paradise, whose
inhabitants were SO we'll satisfied with
life there that they did not care to
make even short excursion out into
the outer world.
she murmured, 81 cannot understand
how anyone can ever be induced to re-
main in the place over night. Where
is all this western buStl. of which
have heard? Where is the enterprise
which builds complete new cities in u
month? Bah! l have been imposed
upon;
She paused, irresolute, upon the
platform of the little depot that was
half a log shanty and half tent.
Rose kenyon was Il very fair vision
to gaze upon. Young--not over twenty
and pretty - deciietlly: pretty she
was the kind of w oman ". ~ can be de-
pended upon to set mascu!,.lty by the
ears.
SuitOrs were no novelty 10 Rose. She
had had many lovers, but had sent
them all away. Not one OF them had
ever s"?roaciled her ideal.
A.d now she had been allured to the
Rockies by the iliiterate invitation OF
three men, who subscribed themselves
as the school trustees OF Bang-Up City.
They hal confessed, in their queer
letter. that BangUp City was as yet
without schools of any description, but
they had invited her, at salary which
had astonished the New England
schOOl-teacher, to come out and change
the state OF affairs at Bang-Up City.
And Rose had accepted She had ex-
pected that the trustees would be at
the station to meet the first teacher Oh
their new community, but there was
not Ii 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 a monde
script-lOo&ine Chinaman who was com
ing ieisurely up the road. lie was not
an inviting specimen Of the Mougolia1
race. 10 tc1i;i With, he was dirty. Te
add to tiat he was very ragged. And
to cap al, he had one of the most hid
eOuS facus ever seen.
''Clliy W Clip. missy?' he demand
ed. as il c;.lae close to her and picked
up til. heavy valise which lay at Mis-:
kenyo.is feet.
lis there 4 hotel here?" Rose asked
YES, missy;you wantee go there?"
Yes
Then l cally yo' bag"
"How much?' asked Rose. She had E
New England eye to the cost of things
Two bitee, 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 were good many men about.
AS she walked along the number OF
men became larger, and she noticed
not without uneasiness, that they all
appeared to be followed her. For. in
some way, it got noised about that this
decidedly pretty young woman was the
new schoolma am
AND every mothers son of them felt
that he had an interest in the school
ma'ams to pay whom all were to be
taxed.
By the time that the Chinaman came
10 stop before shanty which looked
just shade more pretentious than the
rest the street was crowded by miners.
They all stared at her, yet Rose could
not help feeling that she was the re-
clplent of attention most respectfnllv
meant
Jim Walker. big, handsome fellow
made SO bold as to step up to her and
inquire:
Beg pardon, but mebbe yer the new
schoolma'am?'
''Yes, l ann
Walker turned to the Chinaman and
said authoritatively:
Drop that grip right there, Jim Wab
I'll LOOK after it,
You pay me, Missy" said the China
man.
any miner would have given five
ooi'ars bonus for the privilege of paw
ing the Chinaman, but all felt, after a
orlef inspection of Miss KENYON. that
1t would not be safe offer to make
MISS kenyon took out her purse and
drew from it a silver quarter.
-Four bites,' said the chinaman.
:" n.y." expostulated Rose. .von
oHered to carry it for TWENTY-FIVE
cents''
You heap lie," retorted Jim Wah
Me said four bitee-"
jim ~Wah didn't finish. There was =.
'ouu' Sharp report, and the Chinaman
oie s. oStf and over on to the ground
noioins lis side and yelling with
walker pulled off his sombrero and
oo"in@ tn native grace, and hold;no
'ne smo. ms pistol pointed at the
ground. s., id: 'Ao
oeg yer pardon for soaring YER
miss. but co Chinese galoot can insnlt
lady WIKI n I'm round,
For Rose Kenyon had piven .
s.aftied shrek, AMI now looked as IL
she was about to fain..
me next Instant. to the amazemant
q all the miners, she was kneeling in