The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1899-01-18
Alice Joyce, Turkey Queen.

While driving slowly along lonely
mountain road in western Texas few
days ago my horse suddenly pricked up
his ears, and as | looked about for the
purpose of discovering the object that
had attracted his attention | saw some
thing that rather astonished me. A
large flock of turkeys, led by dozen or
more big black gobblers, was coming
slowly over h Il but short distance
away. A few of the birds were pick
ing along the sides of the trail, but he
bulk of the flock was in the main high
way, apparently undisturbed by my
presence.
am perfectly familiar with this
particular region Of country, and l
knew that the wild birds were not to be
found in such great numbers near
public road. My amazement at the
gentleness of the turkeys was little less
pronounced than my establishment at
the size of the flock. / stopped my
horse, and, while gazing at them with
ell the admiration of an old hunter and
wishing from the bottom of my heart
for good Winchester, very pretty
young girl, mounted on spirited little
mustang, galloped up behind the birds
and began to survey the country in
every direction. l now realized that
they were tame turkeys and | drove
on to the banks of little noun
tain stream that ran through the valley.
The Young girl met me, and after a
courteous salutation she inquired as to
the distance to the next ranch. /
answered that it was several miles, still
hot oil
sidered it rather an unusual circum-
stance to meet a young girl and big
flock of turkeys in that lonely mountain
region. She noticed that was evil
IDENTIFY puzzled, and, smiling, relieved
my mental perturbation by informing
me that she as driving flock of tur-
KEYS to San Antonio, where she ex-
pected to sell them or ship them to
some larger city.
Now, for the first time, it occurred to
me that | had long ago heard that
farmers in early times in Missouri used
to drive their turkeys to st. Louis as
they did their cattle and mules. was
now deeply interested and anxious To
assist the young lady in any wav that
could, though l was fully aware of the
fact that the girls of the Texas frontier
are amply able to take care of them
selves. So far as this particular
mountain belle was concerned, it re
quired only cursory glance to con
vince one that she was neither afraid
of beasts nor bandits. A bright Win
chester swung from her saddle within
easy reach of her hand, and she man
aged the restless mustang after tn,
manner of trained cowboy. After {
moments reflection she informed mt
that she lived up on the head of one O
the Guadaloupes, and that she was &C
companied by her brother and anothe
young man, and that they were prepar
ed to camp out, but always preferred I,
stop near some ranch. told her tina
intended to camp myself, and that
being familiar with the road, l had Sc
lected the spot where we were stopping
at that moment.
"Well," she said, "if you do not oh
ject to sharing your camping place wit
us, we will all camp together" Hardl
' waiting for reply, she was off like
fash, and before got my horse III
hitched young Texan of rather pleas
ing appearance came up with an ak
on his shoulder, followed by the van Q