Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1902-04-11
."CHERRY
RIPE
By w. BERT FOSTER
Copyright 1902, By
g. g. Mcclure Com pau

Observation-Disclosures Observation-Disclosures
Barron had had hard Jolt from
girl In the east. We didn't know about
that at first and couldn't understand his
deep rooted antipathy to everything
In petticoats about Goshens ranch
house. He was hardly civil to Mrs.
Goshen herself, though she was old
enough to be his mother, and when her
nieces came up from Walla Walla to
spend couple Of weeks Barron beg
ged to 90 off with Gingerface, the va
quero, and Tom Smalley after stray
cattle. But one Of the girls, and the
smartest and prettiest Of the lot, Mi
nervy Bowles, remained at the ranch.
He spent most OF his time lodging her.
He'd change jobs with anybody about
the place no matter what the job was,
If he could only keep away from the
ranchhouse. and the boys soaked 1t to
him well-'deed and they did.
But Minervy would corral him now
and then, and twas just beautiful to
see how she played him when he was
hooked.
She'd corner him on the veranda and
get him talking about the east and
about college and bugs and minerals.
She wasn't no SLOUGH on education her
self, Minervy wasn't. though she
wasn't letting on to Barron. He must
have judged her caliber from seeing
her ride and shoot, and he set her
down first card out Of the box as what
the eastern papers call "a product OF
the wild and wo0lly west" He was
used to seeing a girl all fixed up In
silk and furbelows presiding at tea
table or something like that.
But I want you to show me the fe-
male creature that amt a match for
the male every time. Minervy didn't
start in caring brass farthing for
Barron, but 1t piqued her that he still
fought shy. She just laid herself out
to bring him down, and-well, you
know the old saying about playing
with fire.
My woman was cooking for the
Goshens then. Reckon one woman
most usually sees another woman's
game Arst She let on to me before
many weeks that Minervy was just
about eating her heart out over young
Barron.
/ didn't believe 1t at first. Minervy
seemed just the same when Barron
was around as ever-snappy and full
of life and jollying the peace Of mind
clean out Of the boy. But ! noticed
when he was off on the range sne
dropped, and finally took my wOman's
view Of 1t.
And 1t got me mad, too-mad with
Barron. Minervy was as fine FLY as
ever cavorted over these here foothills.
and to have q darned tenderfoot come
out here and mix her up so that she
was off her feed Just hit me hard.
To kinder help matters along l be- .
gun to hint pretty strong to him. But IL
was dangerous business. | never come I
nearer to passing in my checks and
settling with the banker in my lifel
You see, Barron'd been jollled more or
less right along, for all the boys was
On to the play, but we was careful
about using names. Let me tell you,
may be a tough lot, but
We don't handy about women's names
mot good wOmen's names. leastwise.
/ says to the boy one day: III you
wasn't such q thick headed. all sun
cient rooster, you'd see that Minervy
was Just eating of her heart out for
you. Why don't you walk up to her
ike man and offer to marry her."
Now. mind you, was only limiting
1idn't intend to give no offense at all
but that boy was sure quick with his
gun. Lordl The muzzle looked as big /
rs one of them cannon over to the
post
Don't you ever use that lady's name
again in such q manner" he says. ''or,
I'D as you be- I'll turn loose on your
Them may not have been just his
words. for l admit was kind Of fur
led, but they include his meaning all
light.
He was always O gentleman and kind
spoken. but he was gentler than ever
lfter that. Reckon he pitied her at
lrst Wondered, s'pose, how a nice
sirl like her could get to liking no
count chap like him. A man who's
,een Tilted In love Is the darndest crit
er that ever walked.
He begun by being even more
and attentive. He rode the
ange most Of the time, but when one
4 the boys came in on an errand Bar
On would send something to Mineryy-