Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1902-11-04

e Copyright, 1901. bv A. s. Richardson I.
e;
arch said Stella, laying her little
hands on his powerful shoulders and
looking at him with her ardent, cour-
ageous eyes, you are all have to love
now, since since daddy's gone, and il
it was-if it was-lots worse than it is
I'd go anyhow-all the more. maybe"
sand you shan't be sorry. dearest"
answered Arch. You know yourself
it never got such hold on me before.
| couldn't seem"-his sun ard wind
tanned face flushing still darker red
ito get back to myself, to sense my
self. 1t was all around me. Nearly all
the other fellows drink, and I'd get at
it again before was really myself
II know, dear. Both of my brothers
back in old Missouri are the same.
That's what made daddy SO bitter
about you and me"
s.But six months up on the plains,
away from il, all-and with you, Stella
it'll settle the whisky question for
ever. | amt afraid to ask you, darling.
and you know I'd rather die than bring
trouble to you. tell you, know my
self, and you'll see; I'll make it stick"
..What offer is it you have? Where
are you-are WEIGHING and what are
you going to doY'
.Holbrook S going to send herd of
6.o00 cattle on to the Staked plain to
range he's picked out UP there. It's
raw country-Indians and buffalo bare
~ off it-and it's big wages to go up
with the herd and keep sign camp;
takes some sand to do it, you know"
1t was in the latter part of the seven
ties in western Texas, while the range
was yet general and unfenced. The
string Of sign camps, with its riders
circling the range a man had chosen
for his cattle, was the living fence
which held the animals from straying
or from drifting before storms. These
camps the cattleman placed as nearly
as the question Of water supply admit
ted at equal distances around his range
or across such parts as had not the
natural barrier of a river or canyon.
In every camp were two men whose
duty it was to ride out daily III oppo-
site directions until they met the riders
from the next adjoining camp. looking
always for straying cattle and turning
them back into the range.
s.And the upper camp Arch eontin-
ued eagerly. don't need but one rider,
because it's right against the Canadian
river Holbrcok viii be glad to give it
to me-if Ill Only come. We can live
there the six montls-it's big wages
and save every cent of the money.
Then, with the little bunch I've got al
ready running with Holbrook's cattle
we could begin for ourselves. Stella
oh, Stella,' he broke Off suddenly, I'm
the happiest man in Texas. It's like
being taken out of he'll and led plumb
straight into beaven!'
They were married the next day.
Stella's was the temperament which
when once the heart has been given
sends talents, abilities. the labor of the
hands, all. gladly after it in devoted
service. Then came happy, exciting
time buying Stella's outfit-that is to
say, the things which old Hank Pear
sail, head cook OF the expedition, pro-
nounced suitable to "a lady cowboy
(, a-keepin' sign camp"
! Finally the great caravan started
| lazily and ponderousiy up the trail. II
| was a marvellous pastoral panoram ma
and Stella's quick artist soul reveled in
| its quaint picturesqaeness She per
ceived it all-the country, the cattle
! the means, the daily round-to be like
a survival, bit out of the life Of some
old Indian owner of herds.
/ There was the vast herd strung out
| and moving very slowly that the cattle
might Craze as they travelled. tie COW
| boys riding along the sides, the sis
/ great mess wagons, hitehed two o.
three together. with teams Of eight and
! ten and even twelve horses. bringing
up the rear. At night the cattle were
rounded into great MASS and beddet
down, the. men taking turns By twoi
riding night herd. singing loudly t
keep the animals quiet. Each mes
wagon had lis tvo men, It's stock o
/ provisions and Il tent or some mate
rails to build duSout camp.
/ Stella cane TO have sisterly afIec
ton and admiration for these big
rough fellows III whose company sh
Jared SLOWLY nerthward on that strang
journey. She saw them day by da.
and night after night cheeriiy enduring
hardships ard facing Dangers as grea
as those of the campaigning soldier
The riding Of night herd. the crossin
Of rivers with treacherous current an
quicksand bed. lighting to prevent @
to queli stampede-these things wer
attended with no glory. They wer
done with light hearts and .jestin
words daily and as matter of course
And IL the evening these champion
came like great children to sit abou
her. listening while she sang cid song
to the accompaniment of her guitar {
told stories from such classics as sll
knew.
They had been three months in the
little adobe house Oh the open piail
whose ingenious yet inscrutabie fac
Stella never wearied OF studying. III
clean. high air had been Gods ow
medicine TO her. and. With her hea
full Of happiness. she bad thrived ar
BIossofned. this Clark beauty. in Il
raking wind and burning sun whie
destroy bIoad delicacy And the grin
menacing .-if which at first lay
close behind her JOY grew DINNER ar
DINNER. Every day when Arch can
home to her or when. as often ha
pened. she saddled up and rode out
meet him he shouted joyfuIly at sig
Of her: Great Scott. but you're bea