The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1900-02-27

BORN TO We'd
How Texan Woman's Inheritance,
. Pair of Mules, Gained Her
Second Husband

were but fOur-and made an attack OF
the heaps of alkali dust that covered
the floor. Her weapons were fire
shovel and a coal scuttle. A mere
broom would have availed no more
than a feather.
She was a northern woman making
acquaintance with the new southwest
Domestic help in the southwest is 8
case of Chinaman or nothing. Mrs. Ell
lott would have preferred cobra.
A shadow fell silently across the tiny
entrance way and soft voice said:
"Good evenin."
Madam resented the southernism. II
was only afternoon. However, she
looked toward the open door and &C
cepted the challenge.
"D'y'all want girl?"
Mrs. Elliott gripped her shovel firm
ly to prevent herself from throwing
her arms around the woman's neck.
"Will you walk I'M"
She family remembered a tradition
regarding servants entrances and 9th
er devices of civilization, but they were
intangible vapors, beating idly against
the rocks of primitive conditions.
The Texan smiled gently, and hel
brown eyes were as friendly as dogs
She seated herself unasked, calmly
rocking back and forth and apparently
seeing no reason to pause in the chew
ing of her gum.
won loaGino For r10noo,,
Eyes. Y'see, M husban' has jest
died, an of c'ose l cayn't live alone in
tent out on the plain"
Mrs. Elliott bowed in recognition OF
Texan conventionalities.
81 thought mebby VII 'ud low me tc
put my tent in y'all's back yahd. Then
I'd be safe, an cu'd wo'k feb y'all."
The idea was good. Mrs. Elliott
grasped it with concealed eagerness.
Eyes. NJ husban' lef' me a shack an
a pa'h O. mules an a wagon"
Her shipper could not be called purse
proud. but it was certainly well salts
fed.
Husband been dead longY
"'Bout three weeks" Her cheerful
ness was suspicious.
"Was he good to your"
II reckon he was as good as most
when he was sobeh. Sometimes when
he'd been drinkin he use to beat me-"
This had apparently been no cause
for resentment, but was regarded with
mild unconcern as the usual course Of
nature.
"What is your name"
"Loo-eye-za."
Mrs. Elliott gasped. but her necessi-
ties were great.
"Loo-eye-za," she said, with gulp,
you may come tomorrow"
Early the next morning the shack
and shackhold effects appeared in
charge of lazy, shiftless looking and
unkempt Texan ranger, smelling vilely
of tobacco and whisky. Looeyeza fol
lowed with smiling elaboration.
"Who is that manY' asked Mrs. Ell
lott.
HE says his name Is Mack Taylor
In New Mexico it is the part of wis
dom to take a mans word for bis
name and to make no further Inquiries
SIS he friend of yours?"
"He lives off yondeh, an l got him to
move M shack feb me. l never saw
him befoh."
When the full New Mexican moon
hung overhead that night, flooding the
plains with silver sheen for hundred
miles, unwonted voices reached Mrs.
Elliott's ear. She made an errand into
door sat Looeyeza and Taylor. His
feet were on another bench, and he
had shed his coat He had the air of a
man perfectly at home.
81 jes come oveh t. see eff I'd got
Mrs. RENDERS shack fixed all right,
he exclaimed, thrusting his pipe behind
him and trying to appear unconcerned
Looeyeza's smile was conscious and
silly.
Looeyeza took no trouble to adjust
herself to her new conditions. She let
them fall around her and drape them
selves as they would. Her smile was
Mrs. Elliott's despair. She ceased to
wonder her husband had beaten her.
On the third day of her advent she
Joined her mistress and caller In the
room dignified by the name of parlor,
seated herself, with serene interest in
the newcomer, and smiled on both Ia
dies benignly. For few seconds the
atmosphere of the room was peculiar.
"rhomas Jefferson's ideas of democ-
racy were crude and limited" remark
ed Mrs. Elliott to her friend.
Every" said the lady, with ready up
probation. Thomas should have lived
In Texas
These remarks not being of Interest
to Looeycza. she decided to sit on the
front porch. from which madam dis
lodged her later by an errand.
"That Taylor comes every evening
to see Looeyeza." said Mrs. Elliott to
ner husband at the end of the flrst
week.
"He's after her mules" Responded
Mr.. Elliott with conviction. Can
you tell her so. and how worthless ht
is?"
His wife looked at HIM pityingly. III
might understand Taylor, but he didn'
understand Looeyeza.
81 don't know what to do bout then
mules" she said to madam the Lex
day. 81 hihed 'em to a man, but he''
got done with 'em. an now hain't go
no place to keep 'eYn. Reckon I'll ha
soc 70 a IA
take care of EN-"
Have you set the day for the wed
dingY" asked Mrs. Elliott, with COLI
perception.
1--WE thought we'd have it in 'bou
two weeks" admitted Looeyeza faint
ly.
do you know anything about MI
Taylor?"
"Oh, yes; he's tole me all bout hi
| fhst wife an his childehn an every
thing. He's pow'ful fon' of his chill
dehn."
ooh, is hep
eyes. indeed. He's got fouh. Fl
wants to yit married SOS to have
home feb '.in."
81 shouldn't wonder. Has he HON
to furnish you and them|
"Oh, yes, he has a nice shack, a
with mine we'll have tive"
Exactly. And your mules can sur
port him and his children?
Looeyeza looked pleased at Mrs. 81
liotts ready comprehension of thei
plans.
"Of course, If the mules shouldn'
earn enough, you could take In wasf
Ing"
Mrs. Elliott's polite infections Gu
! the air like daggers. but they Gu