The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1902-09-16
BY z. 8. WINTHROP
Copyright. 1901. by e. s. Winthrop


the advantages of birth and position.
That Is not enough. l want to marry a
mana real man. strong, reliant-like
that man there" And she pointed to
the photographic reproduction of the
Rosa Bonheur painting of Cody.
But, Alicia" he urged, this is so
foolish, you know. A chap can't ride a
broncho and wear chaps and spurs
when street car or cab is the prop
er thing and patent feathers and black
cloth are preferred. Let me show
you
She raised her hand in protest.
Please" she said, don't argue. 1t
hurts me to say this. Don't make it
worse by continuing conversation
that is painful"
So he held his peace, but as they
walked slowly back to the house from
the park each fresh stand" of bills
and Alicia's evident interest In them
increased the twinkle which had come
in Thurston's eye despite the blow to
his hopes.
| When they reached her door, he
would not enter, but as he took her
hand he asked: May send you seats
for the Wild West? have friends
with the organization, and while
shall not be able to be with you 1t
would give me pleasure to know you
were admiring the real man."
Don't" she urged. "You are not
kind. / didn't mean that wanted to
marry a cowboy, merely that l was
tired of the effeminate men of the cit
les. men who never do things, who are
content simply to exist. 1t is not your
own fault that you are not other than
you are. 1t is the fault of our modern
training"
He laughed. 81 didn't mean to ques-
ton your judgment" he said. II will
send box over for the matinee. Then
you can take the little ones. Good
night"
He held her cool, slender hand for a
moment longer than was strictly good
form, then turned and went down the
street with springy stride that argued
more strength than was made apparent
/ by the modern tailor's arts.
Thursday afternoon the "show lots"
as the vacant field generally used for
exhibition purposes was called, were
crowded. Those who could afford to
patronize the entertainment were for
the most part already inside Those
without the gates were those who,
lacking the price, lived in the hope
that some philanthropist would sud-
denly happen along and invite them all
inside
| Failing that, there was always the
noise of the shooting and the year be-
fore three clay pigeons had fallen out
side the fence, and portions had been
cherished in pocket museums of small
boys for weeks thereafter as an offset
to the cartridge shells obtained by the
fortunate ones who had seen the show.
In box affording an unobstructed
view of the field sat the Peyton family,
from Grandpa Peyton to Harry, the
four-year-old.
The younger ones were all impatient
for the performance to commence. The
band was something. But bands were
more common than cowboys, even
though this was a cowboy band. What
horses. Harry in particular was on
the ragged edge, and his nurse had
difficulty in keeping him from break
ing away In search of his hero. The
year before he had been adjudged too
young to attend.
The first band of Indians came dash
ing into the arena, turning the upper
curve just beyond the Peyton box. ana
wheeling smartly into place. Harry
was transported. Here were the In
dams at last, and their painted, half
naked bodies were even more fascinat-
ing than the images he had been able
TO conjure up during his sleepless mo-
ments in the dimly lighted nursery.
Band after band came ON. each fol-
lowed by its chief. and each succeeding
body drew Harry nearer to the front
Of the box. The nurse, fresh from Irish
soil. was too much interested to watch
her charge. The others trusted to the
nurse.
At last came the cowboys, better
mounted even than their associates.
Six abreast they swept into the arena
and came tearing down the stretch.
Suddenly groan went up, great vol
ume Of tone like the voice of one
mighty man. There, directly In the
path of the riders. stood fair haired
child. The sun glanced from its dainty
white dress and lit up the long faxen
curls till they seemed to form a halo
about it's head.
Alicia sprang up with a fearful
scream.
Harry she cried. ''Oh, my dar-
ling, come to sister, Then she covered
her eyes, not daring to face the awful
horror she knew must come.
The instant he did so some impulse
compelled her to look again, and ray
of hope Lit up her strained face.
The riders on the inside had turned
aside. The one nearest the child
stopped and caught him up, and as a
mighty shout went up from the crowd
he. swung the little fellow to the POM
mel of the saddle. The six moved on.
They drew into their places, and the
child shouted with delight at the nov
city of his position, never giving
thought to the danger he had faced
AS the horseman stood there waiting
for the end of the entree Alicia sought
his face, her eyes dimmed with CRATE
full tears. Like his fellows, he wore
the regulation blue shirt with its scar
let kerchief. The brown leather chaps
were much like those worn by the 9TH
ers, and a huge sombrero threw the
face In shadow. He was in nowise
different from his fellows, yet 1t seemed
to Alicia as If there was something
familiar In the figure something that
suggested some one she had known.
1t was absurd to imagine that she
numbered a plainsman among her ac-
Quaintances. yet try as she would she
could not take her eyes from him.
Even when Colonel Cody passed on his
splendid horse the graceful, well built
figure and the tiny white form Of her
brother were all she saw.
The colonel had made his little
speech. He had introduced his con-
gress of rough riders Of the world with
q sweep of his hat, all inclusive. The
riders had advanced to the barrier.
had retreated and we're beginning the