Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1900-09-29
CLARENCE
By BRET HARTE.

litical news of the previous night or
rather seemed to be lazily continued
from some previous more exciting dis
cussion, in which one of the contest
ants, a red-bearded miner, had sub
sided into an occasional growl of sur
ly dissent.
1T struck Clarence that the Missou-
rian had been an amused auditor, and
even, Judging from a twinkle In his
eye, a mischievous instigator of The
controversy. He was not surprised,
therefore, when the man turned to
him with a certain courtesy and said:
And what, sir, is the political feel
ing in your districtP'
But Clarence was I'm no mood to
be drawn, and replied, almost CURLY,
that as he had come only from San
Francisco, they were probably as well
informed on hat subject as himself.
a quick and searching glance from
the strangers eyes made him regret
it, but in the silence that ensued the
red-bearded passenger, evidently still
ranking at heart, saw his opportu-
nifty.
Shaping his huge hands on his
knees, and leaned far forward, until
he seemed 10 plunge his flaming beard
like a firebrand-into the contro-
versy, he said grimly;
"Well, | kin tell you gen'rmen this!
1t amt goin' TO be no matter wots
the political feeling here or thar-it
amt goin' TO be no matter wots
states rights and wot's fed-ral rights
lit amt goin' 10 be no question
whether the gov-ment's got the right
=, ,,l;,,n ~. ,~.n .,lJ,.rS thnt fhnSp
secesh is besieging in Fort Sumter, or
whether they havcn't-but the first
gun that's fired at the flag blows the
chains OF every blamed nIgger south
Of Mason and DiXon's line! You hear
me! I'm shoutin'! And whether you
call yourselves 'secesh,' or union or
'copperhead,' or peace men, you got
to face it,"
There was an angry start in one or
two of the seats; one man caught at
the swinging side strap and. half rose,
u husky voice began: ITS n con-
founded and then all as suddenly
subsidized.
Every eye was turned to an insig'
nilicant figure in the back, seat. 1t
was IA woman holding Il child OF her
lap and gazing u of the window
| WIFI DtI SNA y IA OlouhN
politics.
Clarence understood the, rude chiv-
airy of the road well enough to COM
prehend that this unconscious but
omnipotent figure had, more than
once that day, controlled the passions
of the disputants. They dropped back
weakly to the seats, and their NUT
terings rolled of in the rattle of the
wheels.
Clarence glanced at the Missourian.
lie Was regarding the red-bearded
miner with a singular curiosity.
The rain had ceased, but the aft
crnoon shadows were deepening when
they at last reached Fair Plains, where
Clarence expected to take horse to the
rancho. He was astonished, however,
to learn that all the horses in the
stable were engaged, but remember
ing that some of his stock were
in pasturage with a tenant at Fair
Plains, and that he should probably
have a better selection, he turned
his steps thither.
Passing out Of the stable yard he
recognized the Missourian's voice in
whispered conversation with h pro-
p%rietor. but the two men Withdrew
llllO lllt SIldNloN as lN dDBl 4
An i'll defined uneasiness came over
him; he knew the proprietor who al
so seemed to know the Missourian,
and this evident avoidance of him was
significant. Perhaps his reputation
as a doubtful unionist had preceded
him, but this would not account for
their conduct in n district so strongly
southern in sympathy as Fair Plains.
Afa., a,,n.nI la. f1a nTI nj IN %
than he cared to admit, when at last,
after some delay, he had secured his
horse, and was once more in the sad
die, he kept a sharp lookout for his
quondam companiCHl.
But here another circumstance add
ed to his suspicious; there was Il main
road leading to Santa lnez, the next
town, and the rancho,and this Clar-
enCe had purposely taken in order to
watch the Missourian-but there was
a. cutoff directly TO the rancho,
known only to habitues of the rancho.
After u few moments rapid riding
on a mustang much superior to any
in the hotel stables, he was satisfied
that the stranger must have taken
the cutoff. Putting spurs to his
horse, he trusted still to precede him
10 tHe IdlCIo-ll IHdI was HiS utStl-
nation.
AS he dashed along the familiar
road, by "a strange perversity of fan
cy, instead of thinking of his purpose,
he found himself recalling the first
time he had ridden that way in the
flush of his youth and hopefulness.
The girl-sweetheart he was then GO
ing to rejoin-was now the wife of
II. .l- l.l lo..,
her guardian was now his own wife.
He had accepted without a pang the
young girls dereliction, but it was
through the revelation that he was
now about to confront the dereliction
of his own wife.
And this was the reward Of his
youthful trust and loyalty! a bitter
laugh broke from his lips. 1t was
part of his still youthful self-delusion
that he believed himself wiser and
stronger for it.
1t was quite dark when he reached
the upper field or first terrace of the
rancho. lie could see the white walls
of the casa rising dimly out of the
green sea of early wild grasses, like
a phantom island.
1t was here that the cutoff" Joined
the main road-now the only one that
led to the casa. He was satisfied that
no one could have preceded him from
Fair Plains; but it was true that he
must take precautions against his
own discovery.
Dismounting near a clump of will
lows, he unsaddled and unbridled his
horse, and with the cut of the RATA
over it's launches sent it flying across
the field in the direction of a band OF
feeding mustangs, which it presently
joined. Then keeping well in the
shadow Of a belt Of scrub oaks he
skirted the long lesser terrace of the
casa, intending TO approach the house
by way of the old garden and corral