Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-06-19
The Stnru Teller.
TEXAS STORIES.
A Watermelon Dinner---An Ep'
isode of Semi-StarVatiOn.

"No," said the cowboy, with q
smile, as be pushed away the plate
holding a segment of dewy, pinky
fruit, II don't eat watermelon, and
I'll tell you why.
"I was quite youngster when l
got the ranch fever and started out
with a cousin of about my own age
for a big cattle ranch in Texas, in
which his father was financially in
terested. 1t was our first trip of the
kind, and we were both young and
pretty green-typical tenderfeet, in
fact.
"The ranch was ninety-6ve long,
weary miles from the nearest town and
railroad, and you can fancy our feel
ings when, after riding over this dis
tance on two of the most angular little
Texas bronchos ever given to eques-
trian novices. we arrived at our desti-
nation, to find no one at home but the
caretaker and couple of men, all the
rest having gone off on long round
up. 1t was early autumn and fine
weather, but the place looked dismal
enough, not suggestion of civilized
comfort. The caretaker advised us to
remain said we might be sent for any
moment to join the outfit, as there
was a short count of men just then,
but told US frankly we would have to
rough it, as provisions were pretty low.
"It wasn't precisely what we had
anticipated when we made our gilt
edged plans at home, but we couldn't
turn back at once, and, to tell the
honest truth, we didn't want to strike
that return trail to the railroad until
our bruises had healed up little.
We did rough it, for sure. Our diet
was principally beans and tallow, not
appetizing, although We were hungry
enough at mealtimes to eat shoe leath-
er. We generally practiced riding
and roping all day under the tuition
of the caretaker, in order to fill the
bill if sent for suddenly to join the
outfit; and we took general lesson
in caring for the stock and working
round the place.
"After about three weeks of it, my
cousin gave out; said his stomach
wouldn't stand any more beans, and
he was going TO start for civilization
he had had enough of ranching 10 last
him a lifetime. So he left in disgust,
but stayed on. I had come to stay.
I expected to rough it a good deal,
and although I didn't altogether enjoy
it, I wanted to see the thing through.
"a week later word was received at
the ranch that one of the boys had
been hurt, and as I was the most avail
able of the home force, I was notified
to start off and take mis- place. Per-
haps you can imagine my Importance.
I fairly bristled with youthful pride.
The outfit was about $50 miles to the
south of us, and on my way there l
was obliged to pass through the little
town where my cousin and 1 left the
railroad on arriving in Texas. 1t oc-
Cured to me that under the circum-
stances of the past month, and pre-
sumably of some future months, a
good, square meal would gild the
present moment, and possibly lend a
halo to both past and future; so 1
proceeded to look up the best restau-
rant in town-sort of feeding trough
in the slough of civilization, it proved,
with the queerest old duffer standing
in the doorway.
"He was using toothpick upon the
one tooth that graced his jaws, had
leans trousers stuffed into coWhide
boots, and a dirty sombrero on the
back of his grizzled old head !; but his
responses to my plea for dinner gave
him for the moment an Importance
and attractive personality not possess.
ed by the governor of the state.
"'Have you any nice beefsteaks p
I asked.
"'You bet
"'Can you broil me good big one p
"'You bet.'
"'Can you fry me some nice pota-
toes, crisp?'
"'You bet
"sAnd coffee ?'-but I didn't wait
for another you bet.' I gave the or
der and sat down in the bar, my mouth
fairly watering in anticipation of a
real dinner once more. After month
of beans and tallow, you can fancy
what visions of juicy steak and nicely
Drowned potatoes fitted through my
brain. I could just catch the fumes
of the onion and pork frying delicious
ly, and fancied / could hear the little
sizzle as the potato slices were dropped
in.
"I was so intent upon the thought
of my coming feast that I never no.
ticed a great hulking fellow who walk
ed into the bar, and, ordering large
watermelon, cut it open and began to
eat. Presently I heard him say, in
very mild tones-I should have taken
warning from that very mildness, but
I hadn't sense enough-'Have some
melon, sonny p
"'No, thanks said I, carelessly.
"'Oh, do; it's fine
"'Thanks, but I've ordered grub
"'Really, yer better try just lit
tle;' this rather insinuatingly.
"If I had not been SO Internally