Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1900-03-08
BORN TO WE'D
The Mules Were Not Really to Blame, But
Were Quite Exemplary Characters.
~~~~~


HE sandstone had passed, leaving
the air vibrant and electric. The
dashed earth was distorted from the
punishment it had endured.
Mrs. Elliott emerged from the farth-
est corner of the lee room-there 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. A mere broom would
have availed no more than feather.
She was northern woman making
acquaintance with the new southwest.
She had mentally pronounced in favor
of Hades. Domestic help in the south
west is case of Chinaman or nothing.
Mrs. Elliott would have preferred a
cobra.
A shadow fell silently across the tiny
entrance way and soft voice said:
"Good evenin;.'
Madam resented the southernism. It
was only afternoon. However, she
looked toward the open door and ac-
SCptcu Tic CAoAAcuSc.
''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 in?"
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 her
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.
Are you looking for placer"
Eyes. Y'see, M husbun has jes died,
an Of c'ose cayn't live alone in tent
out on the plain"
Mrs. Elliott bowed in recognition of
Texas conventionalities.
II thought mebby VII 'ud low me 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; m husbun lef me shack an
pa'h o. mules and a wagon
Her shipper could not be called purse
proud, but it was certainly well salts
fed. Husband been dead long?"
Bout three weeks" Her cheerful
ness was suspicious.
'Was he good to you?"
Il reckon he was as good as most,
when he was sober. Sometimes when
he'd been drinkin' he ust 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
Texas ranger, smelling vilely of tobac-
co and whisky. Looeyeza followed with
smiling elaboration.
"Who is that man?" asked Mrs. Eli
oft.
HE says his name is Mack Taylor
In New Mexico it is the part of wis.
dom to take a mans word for his name,
and to make no further inquiries.
rs he friend of yours?'
HE lives off yondeh, an got him to
move M shack feb me. I 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
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 a man per.
fectly at home.
II jes' come oveh t'see eff I'd got Mrs
RENDERS shack fixed all right" he ex.
claimed, thrusting his. pipe behind him
and trying to appear unconcerned. Loo
eyeza's smile was conscious and silly.
Looeyeza took no trouble to adjust
herself to her new conditions. She lei
them fall around her and shape them
selves as they would. Her smile was
Mrs. Elliott's despair. She ceased tc
wonder her husband had beaten her.
On the third day of her advent she
joined her mistress and caller in the
room dignifed by the name of parlor
seated herself, with a serene interest in
the newcomer, and smiled on both ladies
benignly. For few seconds the at:
mosphere of the room was peculiar.
Thomas Jefferson's ideas of democ.
racy were crude and limited" remarked
Mrs. Elliott to her friend.
'Very," said the lady, with ready ap
probation. Thomas should have lived
in Texas"
These remarks not being of interest
to Looeyeza, she decided to sit on the