The Lambertville record., 1900-02-14
BORN TO WE'D.
How Texan Woman's Inheritance,
Pair OF Mules, Gained Her
Second Husband.

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The sandstorm had passed, leaving
| the air vibrant and electric. The lash
ed earth was distorted from the pun
ishment 1t had endured.
Mrs. Elliott emerged from the far
| were but four-and made an attack on
| the heaps of alkali dust that covered
| the floor. Her weapons were fire
shovel and coal scuttle. \ mere
broom would have availed no more
than feather.
She was northern woman making
acquaintance with the new southwest.
Domestic help in the southwest is a
case of Chnaman or nothing. Mrs El-
llott would have preferred cobra.
A shadow fell silently across the tiny
entrance way and soft voice sad
Good evenin."
Madam resented the southernism. II
was only afternoon. However, she
looked toward the open door and ac-
cepted the challenge.
"Dy'all want grip
Mrs. Elliott gripped her shovel firm
ly to prevent herself from throwing
her arms around the woman's neck.
"Wlll you walk in2'
She family remembered n 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 her
brown eyes were as friendly as dogs.
She seated herself unasked, calmly
rocking back and forth and apparently
seeing no reason 10 pause In the chew
Ing Of her gum.
Are you looking for plaec?"
"Yes Y'see. m husban' has Jest
died, an of e'ose | cayn't live alone In
a tent out on the plain"
Mrs. Elliott bowed In recognition of
Texan conventlonallties
II thought mebby y'll 'ud low me to
put my tent in y'alfs back yahd. Then
I'd be safe, an cu'd wo'k feh y'all"
The Idea WAS good. Mrs Elliott
grnspod 1t with concealed eagerness.
"Yes. NJ husban lcf' me shack an
p" Pt 81 " ihuifB an a NsBOh4
ucr oiuper vvula ..ot L- esiieb, .s,,.as
proud, but 1t was certainly well satls-
fled.
Husband been dead long?'
Bout three weeks Her cheerful
ness was suspicious.
"Nas he good to youY
Il reckon he was as good as most
when he was sobch. Sometimes when
he'd been drlnkln he use to beat me"
This had apparently been no cause
for res ntment but was regarded with
mild unconcern as the usual course of
nature.
"What Is your nameT
'Loo-eye-Za,"
Mrs. Elliott gaspcd, but her neccssl-
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 n lazy, shiftless looking and
unkempt Texan ranger, smelling vIlely
of tobacco and whisky Looeyeza fol-
lowed with smiling deliberation.
"Who Is TINT manf" asked Mrs. Ell
lIott.
"IIe says his name Is Mack Taylor"
In New Mexico 1t Is the part of wis
dom to take n mans word for his
name and TO make no further inquiries
as he friend of yours?"
Gle lives off yondeh, an | got him to
move m shack feh me. / 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.
Elllott's ear. She made an errand into
the back yard. On bench in the tent
door sat Looeyeza and Taylor His
feet were on another bench, and he
had shed his coat. He had the air Of
man perfectly at home.
II jes' come oyeh T. see Of I'd got
Mrs. RENDERS shack fixed all right"
he exclaimed, ihrustlng Ills pipe behind
him ana trying to appear unconcerned.
Looeycza's smile was conscious aud
silly.
LOoeyeZa took no trouble to adjust
herself to her new conditions. She let
them fall around her and drape them
selves MS they would. Her smile was
Mrs. Ellott'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 dignfied by the name of pnrlor,
seated herself, with serene interest In
the newcomer, and smiled on both Ia
dies benignly. For n few seconds the
atmosphere OF the room was peculiar.
"rbonas Jeffersons ideas Of dcmoc
racy were crude and limited" remark
ed Mrs Elliott to her friend.
VERY" said the lady. with ready ap-
probation "rhomas should have lived
In Texas"
These remarks not being OF Interest
to Looeyeza, 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
her husband Mt the end of the first
week.
Hes after her mules" responded
Mr.. Elliott with conviction. Cant
you tell her 80, and how worthless he
Isl?
His wife looked Mt him pitylngly. lie
might understand Taylor but he didn't
understand Loocyeza.
81 don't know what to do bout them
mules" she said TO madam the next
day 81 hlhed 'em to a man, but he's
got done with 'em, an now hain't got
no place 10 keep 'em. Reckon III haf
to git married SOS to have man to
take care of EN-"
"JTavo vou set tha day for HE we'd