River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1898-02-17

CARRYING out was left TO committee
consisting of the storekeeper, the teach
er, and enc of the leading cattleTnen
who, rumor said, had once owned IL
brary.
"Of course il amt proving nothing
about our honesty that we do this sort
OF thing" remarked Borden, the rancho
foreman, "but it's the right thing to
do"
Eyes, Washington was a fine old
gentleman, added the storekeeper, AN
we Virginians always will stand by
him"
Mighty nice thing to be honoring
the leader of revolution" broke in a
gruff voice from the rear of the store.
1t was the Engishman who was over
seeing the fencing of the Olympic Cat
tie company's new lands. He had been
4 farmer over in the Cimmarron coun-
try, and was always Directing to what
ever was on foot.
FLUSH up, you got too badly licked
to talk" was the rejoinder from Bor-
den; and Glade, the foreigner, sub
sided.
L llG Ct4EbIdllOI vas ~ lflhG DlSiCG III
the schoolhouse out on the edge of
the tiny settlement. From its door
could be seen the haze that covered
the tops of the Spanish. peaks off TO
the west and also the sunken lines of
the Cimmarron. 1t was all the cOncep-
tion of the pretty school mistress, who
thought to thus raise enough money to
buy a flag for the buildings roof.
There were other inducements for the
two men who helped in the prepare
tious-Borden and Grade. The cattle
man thought there was no one like
Lizzie Dean-and the Englishman
thought the same.
You are to be Washington" said the
director to Borden, and the part fit
ted him well.
"All right, I'll lick the Britishers out
of their boots" he declared as he
pranced around with a stick for a
sword, and cast ugly looks at Glade.
And you shall be CORVALLIS" turn
ing TO Glade. This, too, seemed salts
factory.
Night after night they met at the
schoolhouse preparing the rendition of
the play. The half-dozeu actors were
determined that there should be no
ground for criticism. Spring was early
on the prairie, and the gray and brown
grasses were dry as finder. The close
curling buffalo grass was, like that of
the blue stem, crinkling in the breeze,
and the cattle were nibbling it away to
get at the tiny spears of green be-
meath.
One night the play was nearly over
when Borden remarked, in tones that
came to the ears of the entire com
pany: IF | had my way, I'd order
every one of these red coats off the soil
of America"
'Mhybe you can't do any better than
did your first president at that" was
the sheer that came from back in the
flies Curtains strung on pieces of
twine) somewhere.
Borden grew angry. 'Well, I can
try. the same as he did. He won in the
end. believe"
The Englishman came out in the
middle of the room. II would not ad-
wise thee to try it," he drawled. The
words were not more than out of his
mouth when there came crash OF
scenery. and along with the flies and
nearly everything portable came Bor-
den from the stage which he left with
a leap. He made straight for the throat
Of his adversary, but what net his
grasp when he reached out was-Miss
Deans hand.
There, there, let this stop right
here. The man you represent would
never have fought in the presence of a
woman"
Borden, abashed, stood back, and
then went to the stage. But it did
not mean the end of the trouble-every-
body knew that The men had a fight
after the evenings practice was over,
but it settled nothing, except that they
were both very much in love with
Lizzie.
The school did not amount to much
those days, for all the scholars were
practiciDg for their parts in the com
ing drama. The work on the ranches
suffered likewise, for there was the
same interest among the older people
On the night before he festal day there
was a final practicing at the school
house. aud again the two representa-
tiyes of the opposing sides in the revo-
luton had their warfare of words.
In his speech the American took pains
to insert a few words rejecting on the
EngIishmen who came out to the west
to run cattle ranches, and the English
man said some cutting things that
pointed at frontier manners.
See here, gentlemen said Lizzie
'ths has gone far enough, / cannot
have you quarrelirg all the time. You
must settle your troubles somewhere
else"
"All want is to win you" whispered
the Engishman behind the scenes a
few minutes later. viii you give me
the answer"
NO, this is A warfare that you must
settle with MIR. Borden. ! would like
TO see how this contest of the rival
powers comes out"
well, il will be different 10 that OF
the days Of 1916" was the sententious
answer But would it?
II don't like TO see that Englshman
around YOU so much" whispered Bor-
den few minutes later.
"Whv. be behaves himself" replied
Miss Dean. with well-feigned astonish-
meut.
"But II amt patriotic, don't you see,
was the retort. You ought to stand
mp for your country. and = Washing
toni" This last proudly, for Borden
was really elated at the character he
was taking in the play.
so must make this national af-
fair?"
NO. just a personal affair, but be pa
triotic in it,"
Thus The matter stood when Wash
ington's birthday dawned-an armed
truce between the opposing forces,
each of which was intent on winning
the prize and confident that it could
+ be done.
I Soft blew the southern breeze and
the night was dark From miles of
+ plain came the breath of spring tha'
/ was giving the first earnest Of its glory.
Z The settlers rode in from their claims
+ in wagons; the ranchmen came on
horseback, aud the line of ponies that
fringed the schoolhouse yard was for
midable. The Engiishman came in all
/ The glory Of his best clothes, while