Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1901-06-05
An Idyl~ Z
Of the HIT
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1t is sunset at the HIT ranch. -Four or
five cowboys sit gloomily about outside
the ranchhouse. awaiting supper. The
Mexican cook has just begun his fragrant
task, so half hour must elapse before
these Arabs are fed. Their ponies are
turned into the wire pasture, their big
Colorado saddles repose astride the low
pale fence which surrounds the house,
and 1t is evident that their riding is over
for the day.
Why are they gloomy? Not boy of
them can tell. One is from Princeton
too. They have been partners and COM
paneros and worked" the HIT 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 aunt,
watchful as a 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 err
rand. She is elegantly and profoundly
tired of the east, that is all, and longs
for western air and western sights. She
has been at the HIT ranch week, and
the boys have met her, every one. The
meeting or meetings were marked by
awkwardness as to the boys, utter indif-
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 serenely guilt
less of giving him thought.
Before this pretty girl came the boys
were friends, and the calm tenor Of their
relations with each other had never a
ripple. She was not there a day before
each drew himself insensbly from the
others, and vague hostility shone dimly
in their eyes. 1t was the instinct of the
fighting male animal reused by the pres
ence of the pretty girl. She, however.
proceeded on her daily way, sweetly I'M
conscious of the sentiments she had
awakened.
''What did you go and take my saddle
for yesterday, Bill?" said Jack Moore to
boy by the name of Bill Watkins.
'Cause allows I'll ride it some" says
Watkins. II thought it might like to
carry 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
a-takin of it an sayin nothin. You can
palaver Americana, can't you? When
you aims to ride my saddle ag'in, ask for
it. If you can't talk, make signs, and if
you can't make signs, shake bush. but
don't go Injunin off no saddle of mine no
more"
whatever do you allow is liable to
happen If I take it ag'in tomorryY' In
quired Bill in high scorn.
Bill was of more vivacious temper
thar the gloomy Moore.
"Yoc takes it ag'in, an I mingles with
you 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 will do.
swell. don't you fail to mingle nome"
said Bill, with cheerful ferocity, "on ac-
count Of its bein me. I crossed the trail
of the Shorthorn like you over on the
Panhandle oncet an puts him in the fire
an has plenty of fun with him."
sup lHt pluy uOW. TIGHT yeTe, Sdlu
Tom Rawlns. the lit range boss, who
was sitting close at hand. "You all
spring trouble round yere. an I'll be in
it. Whatever's tho matter with all you
people anyway? You're like passed. of
sorehead dogs for more'n a week now.
You're shorely too many for me to sabe.
an l clar gives you up"
The boys started some grumbling re-
ply, but the cook called them to supper
just then. and, one animalism becoming
overshadowed by another. they forgot
their rancor and vague animosities in
thoughts of supplying their hunger. To
ward the last of the repast Rawlins
arose and, going to another room. began
overlooking some entries in the ranch
books.
The pretty girl did not eat at the ranch
table. She had little banquets in her
own room. just then she was in her
own room and began singing in low
tenor some tender little love song that
seemed born of sigh and a tear. The
boys at supper heard her, and their re-
sentiment of each others existence began
again to flame in their breasts and burn
deeply in their eyes. None of these saw
ages was in the least degree in love with
the pretty girl either. They might have
become so, all or any of them.
The singing went on in a cooling. soft
way that did not bring you the words,
only the music
"What says about my saddle awhile
back l MEANS" said Moore finally. turn
ing dark looks on Watkins.
"See yere," said Watkins in an exas-
perated tone-he was as vicious as Moore
eff you're p'intin out for war jig with
fnr hut
jest let Ter roll Come a-runnin an don't
bother none with ceremony"
"a man don't need to have no reasons
for crawlin you none" said Moore.
you're fair game. you are. Any ones
licensed to chase you round jest for fun
an exercise"
"You can gamble" said Watkins con-
fidently. "any rran as chases me round
much win regard il as a thrilliD pastime.
Nvsptptics ca ot be long lived because
t0.l re fequifes urishment. Food is not