The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1896-11-28

Susan Hebron was not widow wher
she started for the gold regions one spring
morning back in the 10Y. She left Mis-
souri, with her husband, pair OF mules, 6
COW and two small boys,
Hebron was man who was always
nursing a cold and asking fatuous ques
tions. On the way to the 'Iromlsed
Land, as the Black Hills country used to be
called, he acquired a fatal habit of sitting
with his feet to the roaring camp fire and
his back to the draughty tent flap.
After the mules were sold to pay the
funeral expenses. the widow bowed her
head, reflected, and subsequently gathered
together the cow, the boys, her little re-
manning cash and kept pluckily on toward
the Mecca for which she had left the Mis-
souri, farm. She made many long visits at
various ranches ell route, where she cooked
and served for her board, and finally, late
in November, the mule train with which
she was travelling went into camp at the
edge of Palmer's Gulch.
''Faro Jim," the best hand at deal IN
all the Northwest, was postmaster Tor the
week at Palmer's Gulch; that is to say
it was Jim's week to saddle Jenny and
hustle down to meet each of the passing
mule trains, which constituted the Black
Hills mail service in those days.
When on this dull November day jim
dashed up to the wagon designated by one
az .Ia f.g.r drivers aq the email bag" and
hastily pulled aside :. turkey red curtain,
he was erected with shrill shrek, and his
eyes met, not rusty old mail bag, but the
charming widow in the act of comhlng
mass of shining brown hair and blushing
furously at the intrusion.
Seeing the confusion of the bronze giant,
who seemed too stricken toeyen drop the
red wagon flap, the little woman laugh
inrly made him wait and she would pass
out the bag, and warned him in the future
to ring the bell instead of attempting to
crawl through the window.
"Faro JIM was not clever at repartee,
and his only lswer was to seize the bag
and flee precipitately in search Of the atore-
said driver, whom he only absolved from
the "dandiest kind OF licking on gleam-
ing from him a curt biography of the lovely
widow.
The camp was electrified with the news
of Mis- Hebron's proximity. Fully to APP
no horne
in mind that up to this date Palmer Gulch
had lacked two essential features OF civil
lied life-women and a cemetery.
The latter could be safely trusted to
Providence and the unexpected visit OF
''Poler Charlie" who was famous for adj
vancng civilization along this particular
line, but the woman question had been
serious problem, and the Gulch did not
propose to lose ready-made chance of set
tling it.
In 10 minutes committee Of the best
looking men in Palmer's Gulch had been
selected to wait upon Mrs. Hebron ana
urge her to pay the camp visit at her
earliest convenience and remain perma-
nently if such were her pleasure. When
women have the charm of novelty, ohiv-
airy abounds, and Mrs. Hebron's trip, on
the following day, from the mule train to
the Gulch took on somewhat of the air OF a
triumphal pageant The best cabin in the
camp was placed at her disposal and Faro
JIM not only appointed himself commits
sary-n. chief, but actually MIXED the COW
and parted with box Of his best poker
chips that the smallest Hebron boy might
play blocks to his heart content.
Dave Holman endearcd himself to every
man in the camp, except Jim, by suggest
ing that they indulge in particular "lay-
out" for the cominr Thanksgiving. "Prunes
and canned oysters and whisky may be
good enough for the camp" he said, "but
it ain't no itten grub for women and
children"
Uncomplimantary illusions were rife as
to the right to ozi-,cu.e Of Il store that
''didn't keep no womens truck, nor play
things for Kids, nor even paper collar on
draft!'
But Jim brought about peace and re.
established himself in popular favor by
volunteering to do the shopping at the
storm and camp gossip that the Indians
were con the sh0ot1