Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1895-07-19

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And how far is it to this Gamer
on's?" she irrelevantly demanded, some
what obviously regarding the road
ahead, which seemed to be leading
away into all unbroken wilderness.
"Only about three miles, though I am
afraid it may seem to you longer" with
a deprecating smile "There is certain
over and overishness about the scenery
which seems appreciably to lengthen the
miles, and especially to q stranger. You
will find it a tiresome trip, / am afraid.
"Oh. no! 1t is pleasant to be out in
the air after the dusty, stuffy cars. y
Her tone had grown insensibly more
friendly. The refinement of his speech,
his easy courtesy, indicating no small
est consciousness of any social difference
which might count to his disadvantage,
tended to deepen her impression that
this could be no common cowboy. "And
do you live there?" she asked interest
edly, pursuing her own train of thought.
"At Cameron's? Oh, I have been
stopping there for couple of months
now. I am there off and on. have a
place of my own over on Lost river
not much of a place''-as if fearful of
seeming boastful-"but, such as it is, 1
live there when am at home. have
been breaking horses at Cameron's."
"Ohp' returned Miss Ellery, with a
slight falling infection. She was con-
scious of vague disappointment, cou-
pied with a sort of unreasoning resent
ment, as if he had been guilty of willful
Misrepresentation. Any distinction
which might appear in her mind be-
tween cowboy and an acknowledged
horse breaker could only be to the ad-
vantage of the former. With methods of
deduction wholly feminine, she Jumped
all persons having avowed connection
with that scapegoat Of race track gam
bling, the horse, in one category Of
sporting characters, all more or less dis
reputable.
They were going at brisk pace over
a rolling country that seemed to have
no limit, line upon line of dull faded
green's and browns and shadowy grays
merging into hazy blues and purples at
the horizon line. No tree or shrub or
distinct object Of any sort broke the
monotony, that was as bare and starved
of beauty as though God had completely
forsaken this part of his world. But
soon, passing through another gate,
they came upon cattle innumerable,
sleek, well fed creatures, all raising
their heads to stare with wild, shy eyes,
as the blackboard passed them noisily by.
"The cattle are looking we'll this
year." the young man observed after a
little, with evident desire for making
talk.
"Are they?' she dryly returned.
Then, as if somewhat regretting the
snubbing tone of the speech, she added,
II am afraid that am rather lacking in
appreciation of cattle. -
Indeed" smiling amusedly, with a
glance that asked for explanation. "Do
you share the usual feminine prejudice
against their horns?'
"Ah, they are Objectionable in SO
many ways. They are so aggressively
large, don't you know?' half laughing
In spite Of herself, as it seemed, her
manner would grow almost too friendly
as she encountered the cordial good will
of his smiling glance. "And then I can
never get over the idea, given sufficient
provocation, they might bite"
"Biter' with big, hearty laugh.
"You have never been west before, I
imagine.
"No; this is my first experience.
"And-perhaps the question has not
grown quite stale yet-may l ask what
you think of it up to date?"
well, there seems to be good deal
of it" she returned, looking away, with
all elusive smile.
"In other words, you are not in love
with the country"
"Oh, I don't believe in love at first
sight under any circumstances. -
"No-don't you?" regarding her rath-
er fixedly. with broad smile.
And l have had SO much to do to
correct my preconceived ideas that I
have hardly had time to analyze my
impressions yet.
"And in what particular has it dis
appointed you?"
Il did not say that it had disappoint-
ed me. 1t is only little-different.
For instance, these plains. had i'm
agined the plains as vast stretch of
country lying perfectly fiat"
"'Flat, stale and Improbable
is what a good many have found it all,
1 fancy" A shadow fitted across his
face which limited that he might have
been speaking out of his owl expert
ence "But of course you are not going
to charge it up against the country that
it is spiced with little more variety
than you had anticipated, if it only
happens to be few feet here and there
in the matter Of altitude"
"Oh, no; it is quite an Improvement
OH my expectations in that particular.
And the people, had somehow looked
for rougher class than have met as
yet" she said slowly, with a sharp
glance at him. Perhaps, incidentally,
this young man might be good enough
to explain if he were to be taken as a
fair type of the genus cowboy.
Ibid you look for Indians in war.
paint and cutthroats in the guise of