The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1897-12-01


through the summer on their way north
and had not been pushed fast enough.
In the camp wagon that was with them
was a woman, She came to the ranch
house to get some food and we kept her
there all night, the cooks wife sharing
bed with her. The girl-for she was
not more than child--asked if we
knew Jim Morris. Of course we did
not, but when the next morning she
took from her neck locket and open
ing it, showed us the face of yellow
back" we all looked blank enough, l
tell you.
She went back to the wagon, but
they did not get any farther. The man
got sick somehow, and the woman went
to the other ranch, where she met
Jeanne Arsey, the girl that had the
love of Jim-or thought she had.
Well, the expected happened. She
told her troubles to Jeanne and the girl
knew she had been making love to a
married man. Mad? There is no
word to express it. She fairly ragged
and rode the plains for days almost be-
side herself. She vowed that she would
kill him and then was willing to forgive
for the wife's sake. But Jim did not
come then.
The wife stayed and grew sick faster
than her father. At last she died and
Jeanne was free. But those who kne W
were glad they had not the task that
was before Jim when he came home.
Our boss told US one day that the
herd would be in in week. The
ranch was prepared for the coming, and
the cowboys looked forward to the
event with interest. for they would get
a day off in which they could go over to
the settlement.
At last the herd was within a days
drive and the whole settlement was
waiting for it. The boys all knew the
situation between Jim and Jeanne and
wanted to see what would happen.
Jim was tired when he came into
camp and did not want to talk. He ate
his dinner in quiet and then said :
"Let's 60 over to the town."
OF course we were ready, and half
dozen of us went with him. On the
way he asked if we had seen Jeanne.
We told him nothing of the visitor of
the past few week, and only when we
got to the town did we see him look
cheerful.
Jim drank harder than / had ever
seen him do that afternoon, and about
four O'Clock was in lively mood, ready
for any sort of an escapade.
As we rode down the little street we
saw coming in from the ranches a
woman on horseback. All the herders
fell back. They did not want to see
what happened at too short range.
| 20 oil
hurried forward to meet her. But she
did not hurry. Instead she was in the
most exasperatiEg state of elaboration
GLOW are YEP" cried Jim, 30 that we
could all hear.
There was no answer.
"What's the matter?" he demanded
"Don't you want to marry mep"
For an answer she gave her horse 9
blow with the riding whip and came up
to his side. In her hand was the raw.
hide. She lifted it high and before he
could see what she was going to do il
came down across his face again and
again. He fairly howled with pain, but
she rode back to her side of the street
and kept up the highway.
"I'll kill her," shouted jim, and away
went his horse TO the saloon where he
bad left his revolver.
AS he stood before the bar trying tc
get the barkeeper to give it up she rode
in front of the house.
"Jim Norris" she cried, "come ou
here"
How white Jim turned! but he went
" You cowardly sneak" she began
i thought loved you once, but now
know you. Do you remember those
nights that l used to scare you away
from the mavericks 2"
Jim looked at her in establishment
Had he been outwitted by woman?
"And last month / held in my arms
woman who had this picture. Do you
know it ?"
She held out the miniature that wal
in the possession of the woman with
the herd. Jim shuddered.
Where-where did you get it ?''
"From your dead wife's hands. Sht
believed in you and l did not tell hel
better. She died blessing you, and de
you know where you ought to bep"
The woman's eyes fairly blazed al
she sat there on her horse and faced
the little company of herders and sa