Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1899-10-05
A SAGE-BRUSH
NIGHTINGALE.

TKTTTY MINIS Is not a commo
n nane, nor can ii be truthfully a
hrmed that il is al all suggestive Of r.
nance. Yet Kitty Minis was a remarl
able young woman; but this was du
as much 10 her unusual surrounding
as % her undoubted personal charms.
Simon Minis, Kitty's father, was III
landlord Of the Aurora hotel, the onl
tavern in the mining town of EXperI
ence. New, that agreed to furnisl
accommodations for man and beas
and kept its pledge to the letter.
Simon Minis was known far and neal
as "the doctor" and he felt not littl'
proud of the title. 81 amt never grad
dyated, as We mout say" he would ex
plain TO strangers who came for a
prescription, but thar's two pains
set on relieving every time. and they're
The pains that most troubles folks in
these diggings-they're hunger and
thirst Are you troubled that way.
frieud2"
The population Of Experience was
largely transient and largely com.
| posed Of rough miners, many of them
foreigners, who seemed to have ac-
quired the English language in very
profane atmosphere.
The gentler sex was not well repre-
sented. -Four sets Of cotillions ex-
hausted the supply, and as they were
not always available for the Saturday
night dances, the younger men fal
tened their arms, and so were bre-
yetted ladies" for the time being.
But, had the ladies beenrepreseuted
by the usual proportion, and had Ex-
perience been many times more popu.
lous, stu Kitty Minis must have been
the belle.
She was over the average in height. |
finely formed, and with a certain
piquant, self-reliant expression in hei
dark eyes and about her rich lips. that
made her irresistibly attractive to the
habitues of the Aurora hotel.
Her education was limited TO not
very familiar acquaintance with the
three RS. But the miners, one and all.
were ready to wager their bottom
dollar" that as a singer kitty Minis
could give the odds to Nelson. Patti
and the hull caboodle Of 'em and then
come out many lengths ahead"
Judged by the effect Of her efforts.
no prima donna that ever trod the
boards could surpass her when she
sang "The lone starry hours give me
ove," which was always followed by
storm of "angkores."
But she came out strongest in Way
Town upon de Suwanee Ribber," and
Home, Sweet Home" songs that in.
ariably produced a great deal Of
oughing on the part Of her bearded
uditors, and the use of handker.
hiefs-just as IL they were troubled
With sudden colds or dust in their eyes.
Of course, Kitty Minis had suitors,
nd of course she was the cause OF
luch heart-burning among her !
lany admirers, for II must be con.
essed she was not ignorant of her !
harms, and she used her charms with
Fascinating tyranny, against which
be strongest did not dare to revolt.
Rufus Ford, the superintendent OF :
be mine, was a confident, fine-looking
How, and he boarded at the Aurora
otel. Up TO the time Of his meeting Y
itty he was in profound ignorance Of u
oetry as an art, But his soul was
uched so that he attempted to com u
1se song, in which he designed hav-
g darling Kitty Minis" at the end Of Of
cry stanza. He failed miserably in
e effort, as a more practiced rhymer Il
light have done. fe
IF the name had only been Ford" d
said, I'D had no trouble with it. u
lere's 'adored' and 'floored' and
ored' and-and-" W
And 'swored.' said Tom Reed, com m
2 TO the foreman's aid. 70
Mr.. Ford refused any assistance, in ae
is connection, that savored of pro- nj
nifty, and, II may be added. he had no
miration for the young man who ri
lunteered his help. ...... de
Tom Reed was tall, well-built man =
six-and-twenty, "bashful as a gal"
companions said. He was the only ne
IN in Experience that neither drank ma
r gambled, and though these were
ldrsnces to his social status. Il was
nerally thought that he would get kn
sr the defects when he was older. fa'
I was Rufus Ford's privilege to sit
the table on which Kitty Minis ny
tied. He was always Kitty's first ing
rtner at the dances; and the very
81 time buggy drove down the one po
eet OF Experience Kitty sat in II sh
,ide the young superintendent. MI
he older men joked with Simon TOT
ms, and thought the landlord was !
n-committal; he gave the impression cal
It he would not object to Rufus Ford WI
a son-in-law. ere
But" hewoulds say, the gals young.
as she amt got no motbe. % ad-
with her, ! calk'late she'a better |
think Of marrying for some years Ion
come" ON,
he younger men praduafT ,1r,,,.,aa 1 is