The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1902-04-03
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GUITAR OF ROSA LEAN. !
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BY II. I. CLEVELAND.

The guitar OF Rosa Doane hung on
The wall of the ranohhouse beneath o
saber and a gun. The ranchhouse was
cut on the Calico trail. whore the
wheat land came to an abrupt en- and
the grass land began. That is. Il yor
locked east heads OF yellow grain
waved and tossed before your eyes un-
III the scene was blurr OF gold; ;fyou
turned west there was the rang, tn0
irmhering cattle. the cowboy. forerun-
her Of all farmers from Egyptian dsy
e row Ard on the dividing line OF
wheat and cattle stood the home oil
Rosa neane and there hung her guitar
for ranger or farmer to twang.
'Jerusa'em" exclaimed whalea OF
the Buckle herd the slgt time he saw
Tic inst uncut ~that is roarer. i.et
me a. s.essg waf tees frsoi e.
irnerne Gl D.ee, slass53 hr
biac6 cyt- aad a-ade- BIN the guitar.
II was oid-yei OH. The inland
mother Of pearl the ivory keys, the
fsntastically carved back, spoke OF .
day whom the guitar was the swee,
voiced messenger Of all young love
ard troubadors were lurking at eve.y
corner. But when the strings werc
tcuched--then- then Rosa Deane's
guitar gave out its sound. Such sweet
ness, such softness, such depth OF tone
and feeling came forth that the rudes
player was moved TO gentleness.
That instet mcnt, remarked Whal-
en-, "is sure human. I've hearn EN- all
frum the Rio to the Muddy. an ,s.ey
amt in il with this one"
My grandfather gave Il to my moth.
er in go" said Rosa Deane, aud sh
gave it TO my brother in 70, nd xnes
he died 1t we,lt to another brother. an \
then he died. and It came to me. My
grandfather was killed in the Sioux
masoacre; my oldest brother was shoi
on the Little Missouri the other one
oied with Custer. The gun and the
ssber belonged 10 th..n. When my
mother died my father put them mp
there, and hung t1e guitar under.
Eeath."
Miss Rosy said Whalen, respect.
fully doffing his hat. I'm plain crit.
ter and not easy with tongue Singing,
hut yor family sure bez he'd tr'uble.
The insterment tells all about It,"
He slipped his fingers over the
strings and played Spanish things
dances, marches. all the musical favor
ties Of the men that live by the herds
things that have not only the lulls.by
o; the wind in them. but It's string and
lash, when reused to fury; the songs
OF the night, OF the tiampling cattle,
the call Of the wolf. the meteor's hash.
the Whitney Of the guarding horse.
But no matter how gay the melody
he evoked the tones which came from I
the guitar always carr d minor sad.
ress. something that seemed as il il,
had a consciousness Of its own. Just
os there is always in the voice of
woman who has suffered much ana
long a suggestion Of sighs and tears.
Have you eyef analyzed the laugh Of
woman who Las borne the cross?
Whalen put the guitar back IA us
place and passed on his way Rosa
Deane took up her hcusework again,
the tunes ne had left 70 her
memory. She had beard much o.
Whalen. Her father had said he wa
the widest yet best cattlemauin the |
country. There was story that he
rad killed SO many men IN the south /
ern country he had been sorcel [, 1
&C me north. and that he lived in cor
slant apprehension OF yursEst b,
avenging friends Of his victims.
"' ill., said Deane. y understand Z
never shot until he was attacked. anc
that the people he put out Of the was
ought 70 have died long before. Hes
mighty quick With gun ana good &c
eyerygody when the liquors out o.
him. He has money too-plenty o
L."
whalen returned to the Doans Lora.
often after his first cali He never en-
tered the ranch house that he did 20 4
take down the guitar and play. ~
would sit for an hour in the doc wa, /
one eye on the instrument and one or
Rosa Deane. One day after ho had
hung the instrument under the gar
and saber and was about 10 leave. oa (
o. the strings gave forth lors4dra "a (
rote. sad and sweet
WhaIeu afarfed and frucfttlt.a,.. d. O. t