The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1903-03-05

-@-sseeS--------s--53 u6u, I0SlluS MS lace on
his elbow, he looked dreamily across
the valley. Finally he removed his
sombrero and, as if in answer to my
unspoken question. resumed:
Il said | was happy, then-happy as
a man has right to be who has won
hands down, the sweetest girl in the
West. Life was struggle in Sanis-
laus in those old days, a struggle with
man and the devil, and the prize OF
gold under the hills.
TO live was to stand for your rights
with your finger the first on the trigger
and there wasn't softening touch in
the camp until Clara came out with
her brother.
'She was a girl for your life, with
eyes like glimpse of the sky through
the mists that drift over the mountains,
and hair that just reached to her Shout
ders and chung round the snow of he1
throat in ringlets as black as midnight.
'She could ride like the wind from
the North and, as for her shooting:
could draw the blood from the ace of
hearts at ten PAGES, and yet, understand
me, she wasn't improper, but only SO
full of good feeling that she laughed
and ran wild like the river.
well, of course, as she was, for
awhile, the only one there in the camp
worth the loving, things grew kind of
dizzy. There wasn't man in the gang
but would have lain down his life for
her sake any moment.
''And why, out of them all, she should
settle Oh me is beyond understanding,
except that it shows woman's nature
is devilish peculiar. Not that didn't
love her, you know, for my heart was
wrapped up in the folds of her tresses,
but there were others with more educa-
ton and manners who would have as
sayed somewhere nearer her equal.
But she loved me, she said, pressing
the gloss of her curls to by breast, and
so the parson came over from Frisco
ann"
Thomson paused for a moment ana
then slowly repeated:
Thirty years ago today I was the
happiest cuss in the San joaquin valley
''No need to go over the weeks that
flew past while lived in a dream and
saw in the light of the sky but the ten
der, soft blue of her eyes and at night,
II the darkness, the wonderful jet of
her hair.
"The rides that we had at the break
of the morning, when we sped like the
light straight into the eye of the East
and come back with our appetites sharp
as the claw of grizzly; and the tramps
that we took, with our rifles grasped
tight in our fists, deep into the gloom
of the canyons tc see who would first
tap the quivering vein of a panther
these were the things that made up the
only part of my life worth the living
why, to see her dash by at full
speed on her mOuSe-cOlOred bronco, and
bite out the bloom from the hearts of
cactus with sudden, sharp fling Of
her whip-lash, was sight that would
make your blood leap in it's channel!
"Once, I rem ember, she asked, with
her hand on my shoulder, il the life in
her veins made me think she was reck-
less or any less womanly, or caused me
to question the depth of her love. l
kissed the soft blush on her cheek for
an answer, for l knew, in my heart,
that her dash and her nerve were the
idols I woTshiped.
Jim Rivers, her brother, and l
struck pay dirt that fall, in our dig
gins, and the gladness that thrObbed
in my breast seemed to shatter my ribs
with it's pounding.
Things were running my way, when
into the camp drifted Chalmers. He
was youngster, in build, and an eye
that was keen as the keenest. None
knew where he came from, for we new
er inquired. His hands were as soft as
a baby's, while his hair tumbled down
in a wealth of black curls from under
the rim of his braided sombrero. His
voice had the softness of breath and
his movements the ease Of panther
Many time, when 1 eyed him severely,
he blushed to the brim of his hat
blushed like woman.
''He was chap who'd have graced
any parlor and yet, to his guns was
a darling. And his face was the kind
as raises the devil with women-a face
with the eyes softly tender, like Clara's,
only little more gray, as 1 thought,
and teeth that shCne spotless as pearls
and clipped off his words with a relish"
For q moment Thomson seemed lost
in reflection that 1 had not the heart
to disturb. Then he continued
yes, his was the face of a prince;
but Lord knows I was wrapped in my
love TO rthe woman and as blind as a
bat to all danger But the others
comrades together; have struggled and
gampled and fought through the des-
perate days with their fists in each
others, it's natural that they should
growl at an insult to one of their num-
Der. r@
"Son in less than week, I saw fell
lows who rested their paws on the
bulge on their hips when Chalmers ap-
preached, and scowled out their hate
when he ventured to speak But that
sort of thing put the boy on his mettle
and his eyes flung out glances that
stung like whip.
''At last it came to nle---the cause Of
the trouble There were those who had
seen the boy come from my cabin on
days when was at work up the gulch.
when l heard it laughed and then
cursed at their slan3er. With my hand
on my gun | swore would pledge my
hearts blood on the honor of Clara and
xii, the first cuss who accused her
And then. as proof of my faith. =