The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1894-06-08
A WESTERN IDYL.
Adventures of the School Mistress
at Bang-Up City.

80 this is Bang Up City? Then the
place is a living geographical lie"
Rose Kenyon looked indignant as she
said this.
As she gazed about the collection of
saloons and other dingy shautics which
constituted the only visible portion of
the far famed mining camp the indis-
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 Bang-Up City
was Il species of earthly paradise, " hose
Inhabitants were so we'll SAL iSticd with
life there that they did not care To
make even Il short excursion out into
the outer world
From what / 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 lii IL
month? Bah! l 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 very fair vision
to gaze upon. Young--not over twenty
and pretty - decidedly pretty she
was the kind of W oman who can bc de
pended upon to set masculiuity 10y the
ears.
Suitors were no novelty to Rose. She
had had many 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 iiliterate invitation of
three men, who subscribed themselves
as the school trustees of Bang-Up City.
They had confessed, in their queer
letter. that Bang-Up City was as yet
without schools of any description, but
they had invited her, AT a salary which
had astonished the New England
school-teacher, to come out and change
the state of affairs at BangUp City.
And Rose had accepted. She had ex-
pected 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 a monde
script-looIling Chinaman who was com
ing ieisureiy up the road lie was not
an inviting specimen of the MoDgolian
race. To begin with, he was dirty. To
add to that he was very ragged And.
To cap all, he had one of the most hid
eous faces ever seen
'-Cally yo' Clip, missy?" he demand
ed, as he came close to her and picked
up the heavy valise 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 much?' asked Rose. She had a
New England eye to the cost of things.
Two bitee, missy"
''An 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 ot
men became larger, and she noticed,
not without uneasiness, that they al
appeared to be followed her. For, il
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'a am, to pay whom all were 10 be
taxed.
BY the time that the Chinaman came
to- a stop before a 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
cipient of attention most respectfully
, 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' ann"
Yes, | am
Walker turned to the Chinaman ant
said authoritatively:
Drop that grip right there Jim Wah
I'll LOOK after it,
You pay me, missy" said the China
man.
Any miner would have given five
dollars bonus for the privilege of pay
ing the Chinaman, but all felt, after {
brief inspection of Miss Kenyon, tina
it would not be Il safe offer to make.
Miss Kenyon took out her purse anC
drew from it silver quarter.
-Four bites" said the china man.
''W hy," eXpostulated Rose, ''yor
offered to carry it for twenty -fiv,
cents"
You heap lie," retorted Jim Wah.
Me srid four bitee-'
Jim Wah didn't finish. There w"
loud, sharp report, and the Chlnaiha,
rolled over and over on tn the &rouili'
holding his side and yelling WIN
agony
Walker pulled off his sombrero' ana
bowing with native grace, and holdini
the smoking pistol pointed at TN