The Brunswick news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1901-1903, 1902-09-07
ALICIA'S
COWBOY.
A STORY DEALING WITH SOME
HAPPENINGS WHEN BUFFALO
BILL CAME TO TOWN.


falo Bill was coming to town. The
small boy betrayed an almost pathetic
eagerness TO render small services to
the heads Of the househoids The fam
lily clothesliDe disappeared under the
barn to emerge later as a lariat and to
violently choke the youngest hopeful
employed as target IN default Of real
wild horses in the family back yard.
The older folk were not above being
interested In the matter Paterfamilias
told how in his younger days he had
known man who could shoot all
around Colonel Cody. The mother re-
counted with faint blush on her
faded cheek. how she had crossed the
plains In 1873 and during a blizzard
had been saved from an untimely
death by the ministrations Of a young
lieutenant. In fact, the very blue blan-
ket under which her husband now took
his Sunday afternoon nap IN the libra
ry was a souvenir Of her narrow es-
cape
Between the two extremes the show
was at once a bait and reward. 1t
was the peace offering when Strephon
fought with Phyllis 1t was a merit
badge when Phyllis would not quarrel
Even Edward Thurston and Alicia
Peyton were Interested In the gaudy
pictures as they strolled silently along
In the mild spring air. Yet Thurston
had just asked certain fateful ques-
very decided.
y like you better, perhaps, than any
pan L know" she had said "Stli, Xix
ing isn't love. and the man love must
be some one | can respect. You are
nice boy, good talker and have all
the advantages Of birth and position.
That is not enough. | want TO marry a
man a 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 80
foolish. you know A chap can't ride u
broncho ana wear chaps and spurs
when street ear or a 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 "d0li'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
III 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? l have fricnds
with the organization, and while l
shall not be able 'toa be with you 1t
would give me pleasure to know you
We're admlring the real man.
"Don't" she urged. You are not
kind I didn't mean that | wanted to
marry cowboy merely that / was
tired of the eifemlnate men OF the cit
les, Iheit who never do things, who are
content simply to exist 1t Is not your
own fault that you are not other than
you ares ItAis the fault of our modern
trainlngy'
lie laughed 81 didn't mean to qhesr
ton your Judgment he said, 81 VIII
send box over for the matinee. Then
you can take the little ones. Good
nightA
He held her cool, slender hand for a
moment longer than was strictly good
form, then turned and went down the
street with a 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, We're
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 philanthroplst 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
fn box atfording an unobstructed
view OF the field sat the Peyton family.
from Grandpa Peyton TO Harry, the
four-year-old.
The younger ones We're all impatient
for the performance TO commence. rhe
band was something. But bands we're
more common than cowboys. even
though this was cowboy band. What
they wanted were men who role
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 hehad 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, aad
wheeling smartly into place. Harry
was transported. Here were the In
a.,J ti,.,f,.