New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-11-10
BETTY'S STORY.
AN ADVENTURE IN TEXAS.
BY ELLEN MACkUB BIN.


veranda which faced west. and the morning
sunshine had not yet forced these pretty iue''
from this lofty perch. whence their beauty io,."s
o,.es babald the fairness Of Berkshire Vaiiey
o,,,snread below them Golf had temporarily en-
crossed the men Of this house party ana d
rather slumberous silence. born OF me iatehess oi
last nights dance and the freshness OF the couh-
try air sank presently upon the deserted fen'-
nine assembly
1--WE shall be asleep in another moment unless
some effort is made TO keep us awake girl ue-
clared with sudden energy. 1T would be 100 ''oi-
tifvinr to confess to those fellows. when they re-
turn. that a nap proved our only resource III
their absence Tell US story, Betty.
a story? I? Are not you content with near
Ing my huband relate his adventures, like
modern Sinbad"
Rex says that you have had more adventures
than ne; tell us one. sweet Betty!
Three or four voices joined the suppant until
Petty Wharton implored a pause to collect her
;houghts-a pause during which she gazed a III
tle wistfully across the brilliant foreground OF
garden toward the purple background OF MUS
while the others gazed not a little curiously at
her.
They were all Of them curious about this OLD
conlrade who had left them on her wedolng Gay
three wears since to go TO Texas ranch. WINNER
her husband had been ordered by counci OF
doctors as the sole remedy for a serious threat
ening OF consumption. Bettys letters were orle1
and infreouent but there mention OF rough
iournevs and hard work. of long illness and swift
danger When the Whlrtons at length came for
their first visit these friends, the gay tenor OF
whose lives had run smoothly through familiar
channels expected to find many changes In the
wanderers Yet they had found few. Rex. IN
decd showed regained health by every glance
and movement and the stories he told were as
picturesque as the adventures of soJourher IN
the wilder ess should be Bat Betty seemed quite
the same Betty who had gone away. was she'
who dressed and danced and chartered so blithe-
y, the woman who had worked and hoped and
dared so dauntlessly as her husband declared?
.you remember Rex and l were married In
January" Betty began. I'VE went Immediately
to Southern Texas where he intended TO puy
part Of a cattle ranch. after trying the Gil
mate for a time. Our journey was tedious. the
ranch rougher than we had imagined, but as
long as cool weather lasted. Rex improved and
was able TO be on his horse most OF the day.
did you ride with hm?'
Betty laughed.
when had learned 10 manage an animal l
could never have mounted here. The education
Of a Texas housekeeper includes varied lessons,
and knowledge Of horsefesh and the use OF
firearms is considered as important as the arts
of washing and cooking Ny hands" she an
swered an aghast questioner smiling down at
the white fingers casped on her knees. they
came right after I got an excellent Chinese ser
want and lived for month in gloves and he-
camer cream. We made gay bvouac OF our
hardships, however. while Rex remained well.
But with March the hot weather began To say
that it began gives no idea Of its suddenness. 1t
..lx nod
He ceased to eat or sleep. and would return to
me exhausted by an hour in the saddle. Early IN
April he had a hemorrhage. God knows how long
II was before they brought a doctor. IT
seemed eternity Then he rallied somewhat HIS
nluck is Nmtless and ne insisted upon riding
again in the freshness Of the mornings. The
doctor said nothing and | guessed that Rex mad
sworn him to silence to spare me anxiety, VINO
counted every cough and listened for every gasp
ing breath One day he dropped into my arms
as he cismounted. and there was another
hemorrhage. | had learned what to do for him.
and he was better when the doctor arrived but
! could bear suspense no more. / drew the doctor
outside the cabin and desired him to tell me
what hope there might be for US. and what pos
sibility Of Strengthening that hope. He answered
buntly that the climate Of this portion OF Texas
was thoroughly unsuited to Rex. who needed
added we could not get away just then The
ranch people had begun the spring roundup
and nobody could be spared from that all-absorb-
ing business TO drive us &c the railroad, hum
dred miles away.
81 can drive, I cried and my business Is TO
save my husband" OBetty's voice quivered. and
the hearts Of those other women thrilled under
their dainty laces) The doctor demonstrated,
and SO did Rex. when he was able to speak
They both urged that Journey through such an
unsettled country would be dangerous without
driver. whom should have II waited
week-a week which would increase seven-fod
the danger which was nearest TO u.s. retorted
Suddenly the doctor became my ally. He didn't
look your idea OF a doctor, girls a big. brawny
young fellow in flannel blouse. with a brace Of
pistols slung beside his case OF surgical instru-
ments and a stronger odor Of whiskey than Of
medicine about his saddle bags, though he put
up his own prescriptions. Yet he was clever and
kind and when once he had come over 10 me, he
helped me wonderfully We bought a light
wagon and pair OF tolerably well broken
horses. and. equipped with the merest neces-
saries In clothing and provisions. we started on
the morning succeeding the doctors verdict. At
the last he very going with us. but
there much Illness among his widespread pa
tents. and finally We departed alone. Our plan
was to cut across the prairie to a newly finished
branch of the railroad which would convey US
a decenty civilized mountain resort, where
Rex would have invigorating climate and
some Of the comforts for lack Of which he was
dying We had arrived from another road and
all we knew of our present way the doctors
instructions The drive would take US three days
TO accomplish, and lay through the dry region
Of Texas, where population is scanty. because OF
the scarcity Of water. The solitude was intense
the depressing solitude Of the plains. Yet that
this solitude should be undisturbed was our hope,
2 possible encounter our dread"
Indians? You brave Betty"
There are not many Indians left In South