The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-09-22
A ROUGH RIDER.


stiff1y over all that had required his min
istrations. Bud Wilson, cantering down
from the Fill range, caught sight Of the
unusual throng and flung his horses head
up sharply by the side Of the house.
'sWhat's the racket" he asked of one of
the men standing by. "Some one hurtP''
Jim McMilIan's baby's dead
Bud Wilson was a handsome fellow.
He sat horse superbly and rolled ciga-
rettes to perfection, bending them in the
Mexican way. In the surprise of the an
nounoement he rolled one now, placing
the wigp of paper on the pommel of his
saddle while he poured the tobacco into
it. After meditated Whit or two that
burned the paper half down to his fingers
he threw his cigarette away, and swing
ing down from his saddle tossed his bride
over the nearest fence post and walked
back to the door as softly as his high heel
ed boots and sWaddling gOatskin 'tchaps'
permitted.
Bud Wilson had at one time been very
attentive to Lizzie Mcmillan before she
was Lizzie MCMILLAN. Certain of the range
people had said sit would sure to be a
match, - but Billy Howe, Buds most in
innate friend in the round up gang, had
prophesied that ''ye wouldn't rope Bud
fer no such halter yet, " and they had not
d The door was pulled open at the new
pomer's knock. He paused q moment on
the threshold. then walked in with bowed
head and stood looking down at the figure
On the little white coffin, holding his broad
sombrero in both hands, with it's heavy
row of buckles glinting around the crown.
] While he stood there the mother, whose
silence had at last found voice, sat in the
adjoining room looking over the empty
field. She was grooming to herself softly:
Eyes. My pore child's gone But it's bet
ter off-Ah know it. Aid never brought
it up right. Ah'm sinful an worldly,
ON Aid "a brought it up to daynce
an all such things. All know All would.
Ah'm not fit to have a child, so weak an
sinful, an God has taken it back now, an
ne maght not eff it he'd staid with me an
growed up like me-"
She sat by the kitchen window, her cloak
on as though she were about to go out, and
swayed softly back and forth, her fine head
and figure making a superb silhouette
against the square of light behind her.
but All cayn't bear to think of her lyin
oat there in tn rain an snow she went
on. EFF it was only summer an it was
green an there was flowers-but to be oat
there-Ah oayn't bear to think aboat it.
Oh, All cayn'tl'
Wilson stood looking down at the child
while she spoke, not once raising his head.
Then he returned and went out as quietly
as he had come in.
whats she sayin about flowers, Bil1P'
he asked of one of the men on the outside,
indicating the direction of the mother with
a twist of his brows.
'LizP Oh, nothin. She's picked out
knoll by the river, where she can see it
from the window, and she wants to have
some flowers there some time
So she's cryin for flowers Wilson
unused. Lets see. No up train till to-
morrow, and that's too late. III do it.
On me if don't"
The funeral service was not elaborate.
The one minister at Table Rock, who was
also the carpenter, came over for the occa-
sion. There was hymn by jarring voices,
a chapter from the Bible, read while the
men, for the most part, crowded barehead-
ed around the open door or tramped heav-
lily over the faded flower beds that lined
the red wall with a starved stubble of
greenery-p sweet william and
bachelors button-the springtime reach
ing out of some soul toward the beautiful,
now become, as everything must, but the
setting for the common tragedy. Once,
while the service was under way, an ore
train went pounding by with a sudden
roar and clatter of wheels
After the service four of the men carried
the coffin to the place where the grave had
river. The saRebrush grew thiokly on the
sides of the slope, with an occasional yucca
lifting it's barred blades. There was quite
steep ascent for a dozen yards or more,
and the men who were carrying the coffin
had to watch their steps, AS they reached
the top of the rise the leader started, then
went on amid a low murmur of surprise.
The yellow mound of newly turned
earth had disappeared under a dazzling
bank of fowers-roses, carnations, lilies
"a little Drowned at the edges in the chill
air, but white and glorious still in the
light, and hiding, as one came
up the slope, even the ragged edge of the
grave itself.
No one knew whence they came, and
the minister. taking advantage of the
wonder wove into his final words refer
ence to that promise of him who said, II
Will give you beauty for ashes"
Bud Wilson rode home with his cousin
Medic after the funeral. You're comm
long over to stay tonight, amt your" she
had asked. Yes, I'll go over and sleep"
he had answered, and then felt her eyes
upon him as he had tramped along ahead
of her horse to where he had left his own
animal at some distance from the station.
They rode along in silence for awhile
under the frs and plum thickets that over
hung the river road. She was a trihe
younger than he. with the same soft, child
4Sn lace, DuC ner pOSlOlOu as 660 nOInor O1
a family of two gave her some privileges.
You must've been ridin that horse
pretty hard, Bud she began.
Yes, have rid her little" he an
swered.
You brought them flowers, too, " she
went on after moment.
He did not answer. Another pause,
broken only by the irregular clunp of the
horses feet.
''Say, Bud she broke in suddenly,
''why didn't you marry that grip 1t was
only right you should"
Il dunno. I s'pose it was because
wanted to tear round with the boys. Shes
the only girl ever loved, an''-he paused
~ guess I've been going to the devil
ever since"
They went on in silence in the growing
Ill - -