The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1901-03-29
An Idyl
Of the HIT


task, SO half hour must elapse before
these Arabs are fed. Their ponies arc
turned into the wire pasture their big
Colorado saddles repose astride the low
pale fence which surrounds the house
and it is evident that their riding is over
FOR the day.
Why are they gloomy? Not a bow of
them can tell One is from Princeton
too They have been partners and com
paneros and "wOrked' the 1T cattle TO-
gether for months, and nothing ever came
in misunderstanding or cloud. The ranch
house is their home, and theirs has been
the unity of brothers.
A week ago a pretty girl, the daughter
Of one of the owners, came to the ranch
from the east. She was protected in this
venture by an old and gnarled amt
watchful as n ferret, sour as lime. Not
that the pretty girl needs watching. She
is indeed in every move propriety's eli
max. No soft or dulcet reason wooes her
to the west. She comes on no love or
rand. She is elegantly and profoundly
tired of the east, that is all, and LONGS
for western air and western sights. She
has been Mt the IIT ranch week. and
the boys have met her, every one. The
meeting or meetings were marked nv
awkwardness as to the boys, utter indf-
ference as to the pretty girl She met
them as she met the ponies, COWS, horned
toads and other animals, domestic and
indigenous to eastern New Mexico. While
every cowboy was blushingly conscious
of her she was purely and screnely guilt
less of giving him thought
Before this pretty girl came the bows
were friends. and the calm tenor Of their
relations with each other had never y
ripple. She was not there a day before
each drew himself insensiby from the
others, and a vague hostility shone dimIv
IN their eyes. 1t was the instinct of the
fighting male animal reused by the pres
cnce of the pretty girl She, however.
proceeded on her daily way, sweetly IN
conscious of the sentiments she had
awakened.
What did you go and take my saddle
for yesterday, Bill? said Jack Moore 70
a hoy by the name of Bill Watkins.
Cause | allows I'll ride it some" saws
Watkins. 81 thought it might like To
carry a high grade COW puncher once"
well, don't take it no more" said
Moore moodily, ignoring the gay insolence
IN the reply. "Leastwise don't come
atakin Of it an sayin nothin. You can
paavcr Americana, cant you? When
you aims to ride my saddle ag'in, ask for
i. II you can't talk, make signs, and if
you can't make signs, shake bush. but
don't go lnjunin off no saddle of mine no
more"
Whatever do you allow is liable TO
happen if | take it ag'in tomorry In
CURED Bill in high scorn.
Blll was of more vivacious temper
than the gloomy Moore
gu takes it ag'in, an l mingles with
you a whole lot mighty prompt" replied
Moore in tone of obstinate injury.
These boys were brothers in affection
before that pretty girl came. and either
would have gone afoot all day to lend his
saddle TO the other. Going afoot, too is
The last thing, let me assure you. a cow
boy win do.
Well, don't you fail to mingle none"
said Bill, with cheerful ferocity, ION ac-
count Of its bein me. crossed the trail
of the Shorthorn like you over on the
ialhandle oncet an puts him in the fire
an has plenty of fun with him"
stop the play now, right ycrc," said
Tom Rawlins, the 1T range boss. who
was sitting close at hand You all
spring trouble round yere, an I'll be in
r. Nhatever's the matter with all Won
people anyway? You're like a passed. Of
sorohcad dogs for moren week now.
1oa re- shorely too many for me to sabe,
an clar gives you up"
hc boys started some grumbling re-
l'E, but the cook called them to supper
aust then, and, one animalsm becoming
olershadowcd by another, they forgot
their rancor and vague anmosities in
thoughts of supplying their hunger To
ward the last of the repast Rawins
arose and, going to another room, began
overlooking some entries in the ranch
books.
he pretty girl did not eat at the ranch
table. She had little banquets in her
OWE room. Just then she was in her
own room and began singing in a low
tenor some tender little love song that
seemed born of a sigh and tear The
poys at supper heard her, and their re-
sentiment of each others existence began
1siln to flame in their breasts and burn
deeply in their eyes. None of these saw
ages was in the least degree in love with
,Ne pretty girl either. They might have
become so, all or any of them.
me singing went on in a cooling, soft
way that did not bring you the words,
only the music.
" nat ! says about my saddle awhile
PACK Means" said Moore finally, turn
ing dark looks on Watkins.
See yere," said Watkins in an exas-
pefated tone-he was as vicious as Moore
u you're p'intin out for war jig with
me don t fool round none for reasons, but
;'Sl let 'er roll. Come a-runnin an don't
Dolher none with ceremony"
\ man don't need to have no reasons
iof crawlin you none" said Moore.
1ou re fair game, you are. Any ones
licensed to chase you round jest for fun
an exercise"
GU can gamble" said Watkins con-
hdontly, amy man as chases me round
IIuch will regard it as a thrillin pastme.
VI" won't get fat at it, none whatever"
as you all seem to feel that away"
e''u Moore, III step out an shoot with
you right now"
kins. ~ % 'o'' '"'u ""'
:. hey arose and stepped out at the door.
y was gathering dark, but it was light
enough TO shoot by.
Inc other cowboys followed in silence.
tNot one said word in comment OF In
"iI'rence They We're grave and seri-
aus but passive. 1t is not good form to
sa,.r with other peoples duels in the
i; n The pretty girl was still sing
lug, ana the strains fell softly on the ears