The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1895-03-13
SELECTED STORY.
Mrs. Buck Upper.

IOOIu IdlltOhu tuoOiNON w
seek shorter route to fortune by join
ing the tbrong that was just then rush.
ing to the silver mines of the south
west. But, alas, for the best laid plans
of an unsophisticated tenderfootl Six
months later found myself one day
stranded in wretched little mining
town, without a dollar in my pocket.
How happened just then to meet
it is no part of my purpose to relate.
Suffice to say that when he offered to
send me seventy-6ve miles into the
country with party of men who were
to take charge of one of his ranches,
accepted without demur.
There were five of us, with all pos
sible diversity of character and bring
ing up. Dennis O'Flaherty was a bril-
liant young Irishmsn, the son of New
York alderman. He had broken with
his family because of his disposition to
flirt with pretty girls rather than to
study for ORDERS" as had been in
tended. 81 Larkins was typical down
easter, big and raw-boned, and until
six months ago he had never been be-
yond the New Hampshire hills. His
very opposite was Ross Harper, a dap
per little fellow, who, in spite of his
sombrero and brace of pistols, looked
very like one of the dummies that used
to adorn the front of his clothing store
back in Cincinnati, but for all that he
was plucky and clear grit to the back
bone. Then there was Buck-Buck
Upper.
just where he hailed from no one
ever seemed to know. He seemed to
be a part of the wild West himself, and
his knowledge of its bold, wicked ways
was something marvellous. He had
playful habit of galloping across the
country, firing right and left simulta-
neously, or of dashing unheralded
through shops and saloons on his mus
tang. Buck was an inveterate gam
bier, though something of bungler, it
seemed-at least, his earnings went reg
ularly into the hands of the faro bank
dealer at Waho.
One afternoon, as Buck and were
returning from beyond the canyon,
where we had gone in search of some
missing cattle, we came upon the trail
of company of horsemen. From the
broken bits of saddle, cooking utensils
and papers that were scattered about
the gorge, it was evident that there had
been runaway AS reading matter
was at premium just then, l was off
in an instant and was gathering up the
papers, which proved TO be of recent
date. So absorbed did l become 10
their contents that it was some minutes
before 1 noticed that Buck also had dis
mounted, and was examining with
great interest something that he had
picked up from the roadside.
1t proved to be the photograph of
woman-a fine, oval face, the slightly
waving hair brushed simply back from
the low, broad forehead. The eyes,
that you would have sworn were clear
gray, seemed to look into your own
with sweet, trustful expression. Sew
eral times during the ride home Buck
took the picture from his blouse, re-
garding it with an air of pleased Tner-
ship.
When l came into the house after
putting away the horses, found him
busily engaged in fastening the picture
to the smoked wall above the chimney
piece.
at amt no place for SUCH" he
said, nodding his head at the picture
and glancing alphabetically about the
room, "but Buck rupper's proud to
give you the best he's got"
Looking upon the matter as a great
joke, when the others came in l led
them to the picture, presenting them
with mock ceremony to Mrs. Buck
Upper. The name seemed to tickle
Bucks fancy, and he repeated it over
and over to himself with a pleased
chuckle.
From that time, "Mrs. Buck Tup-
per" became hous ehold word with us !;
but it was not until some weeks after
this that we learned how much of a
reality she had become to the eccentric
fellow. One day, when one of his
chums from Waho was in the midst of
doubtful story, Buck had interrupted:
''Gimpsey, don't low that's jest the
talk right nice woman likes to listen
to-" glancing significantly at the face
on the wall. Gimpsey stopped, dis
concerted and astonished. He did not
finish the story. think he went away
believing that Buck was bit touched;
indeed, am not sure but the rest of
us shared the opinion.
1t was evident that, for some reason,
a radical change had taken place in
him. He went no more on his bolster
GUS crusades, and on Sundays, when he
was off duty, had found him several
times trying to spell out the words in
the little Bible had carried with me
in my wanderings.
For several weeks flaming bills had
been posted about announcing that
there was to be great time at Waho
on Christmas eve. However, when l
mentioned it to Upper he shook his
head slowly:
"Naw, did think some about it,
but Mrs. Buck Upper Hooking up at
the picture with half smile -"
'ilowed if she was here she'd rather l
wouldn't"
Seeing that was disposed to listen,
he went on: " never had no bripgin'
up, reckon, but l sort o. felt from the
first as though that picture was token,
an says, Some day you'll find that
woman herself, Buck Upper OF
course l never could be fitten for SUCH"
aighing humbly, "but | made up nv