Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1903-04-25
NV now .Arsnge life on a rancho in e

my now Tango uIo ON d rancne IN Ia
IDoraso.
Think I enjoyed the winter as much as
any time; my father was at home a good
deal, for n thing, and; for another, l
was by this time growing used to the con-
ditions of life, which has so very much to
do with comfort anywhere. But with the
lengthenlng days my father and the 'boys"
AS we called our laborers-were fully
occupied, consequently 1 was often alone
for many hours; nevertheless, being q high
spirited girl, / cared very little for that,
and seldom felt lonely or dull.
Tramps were not particularly likely to
modest US, since the rowdy element seemed
to flow naturally in the direction of the
diggings. where 1t mustered in full force.
My brothers used to say all the jail-birds
~unhanged had migrated thither, the usual
basis of society in u mining community
consisting Of the scum and refuse OF great
cities.
OF the Indians we had hitherto seen lit
tie, and that little had not been OF an awe
inspiring nature, despite the yarns we had
heard from older settlers as we made our
way to our location in the previous
spring. We had been visited by a few
Cherokees now and again, chiefly squaws
and papooses, intensely curious about us,
and some Of them the most sturdy, impu-
dent beggars / ever saw In my life; other
wise they were rather friendly, though
the men of the tribe seemed inclined to
give us q wide berth. In short, with me
familiarity bred contempt; and I had
nearly forgotten my old terrors of the
ferocious Red-men, with their savage faces
and warlike mien, hideous as paint and
other native adornments could make them.
1t was the afternoon of a a and
stormy February day, destined to be a
memorable one for me, though I fancied
the great excitement was all over with the
departure of the United States mail In the
morning.
The appearance of this man, who car
ried a couple Of bags and was mounted on
q feet Mexican mustang, was quite an
event in our isolated existence; and he
seemed the one link binding US to the out
side world and civilized life. He did not
come our way more than once In six weeks,
and this time he was a week behtndhand,
so / was full of anxiety for his safety, as /
well knew he literally carried his life in
his hands every day, and had more than
once owed his escape to the speed and en-
durance Of his mustang. He was the re-
cognized official bearer Of the United
States mails to these wild outlying dis
tricts, and 1 of course had always q letter
to intrust to his care; and many an anx-
ious thought went with him through all
the perils which that precious missive
must encounter before the bearer reached
a civilized region with his bags.
This time l had written to Charlie O par.
ticularly long letter, couched In a brighter
strain, too, since / assured him that, If he
could not come to me l would return to
him directly l was Of age and my own
mistress-that was provided he still want
ed me, l added slyly. / seemed to have
put all my soul into that letter, writing
out of the fulness of my heart such tender
loving thoughts as he would be proud and
glad to read.
Therefore it was with feelings Of the
nveliest satisfaction that l beheld the
mounted mail depart in company with my
father and the boys; their way lay together
for some miles, and with such an escort
my precious letter and the mans nfe-like
woman, 1 put the more important a thing
last-would be doubly safe.
So for me this stormy February day was
full of p~leasurable excitement, and seemed
neither dull nor long, since my heart had
sped the way my letter went, and, as us,
ual, my hands were busy enough with my
ordinary household tasks. But l went
singing about my work, scarcely giving a
thought to my solitary unprotected con-
dition: | was used to being alone; more
over, l expected a couple of the men to re-
turn before dusk.
About three o'clock one Of them made
his appearance alone, exclaiming abruptly
as he entered the house
"If them darned COWS hain't bin and got
out Of the yard agen, Miss Phyllis, and II
will be dark in little more IN an hourl The
master I'll be main vexed surely"
you'd better go after them at once,
joe" | returned. "Id come with you on
Dandy, only Pm afraid we shouldn't be
back in time; and 1t would never do to
let father return to FIND the house locked
up"
Joe got out a horse and speedily depart
ed upon his troublesome quest, vowlng
that the spirit of mischief was in the stray
ing kline to induce them to depart at such
an untoward hour; and | was once more
alone. But now / hustled about in good
earnest, making up the wood-fire and pre-
pairing supper for the hungry men who
would all come trooping in shortly after
dark.
The sun was almost down, but the cold
gray light of the winter afternoon showed
all near objects almost as distinctly as II
it were midday. / stood for a minute by
the window looking out across the WIDE
prairie beyond the cleared enclosure i'm
mediately surrounding u dwelling. ]
was so used to that great level expanse
.,- 49, rIs tho nt1rn1iGh ~ ru Y
horizon, dotted here and there with scrub
and sage-bushes, that had grown to I've
u certain liking for the boundless PLAIN
and the sense of freedom it gave one, look
ing far away to the west, where faint rec
streaks illumined the gray still sky. Yes
| enjoyed the prairie, though 1T was &C
different from my native Hawkesdale.
Turning away from the window, l no
ticed a log of wood lying just inside the
stockade at the farthest corner from the
house which / did not remember seeing IN
the morning-though to be sure our en-
closure was not so famous for neatness
that a stray log or so made such difference
and l thought no more of it till, repass'
ing the window ten minutes later, L agalr
glanced out. Darkness was fast setting II
on us now, and, though i could see things
Just outside clearly enough, L was sur
prised to find how dim and misty the dis
lance looked.
And the log-it was lying in exactly the
same position of course! laughed at my
fancy, since logs are not usually endowed
with. the power of movement; but it Ger
tainly appeared to nae to be some few
wards nearer the house than when first
observed it.
"Impossibley" / said aloud, with EN-
phatic solemnity.
decided that I was growing nervous
and foolish, and my first impulse was Il
sally forth and set my mind at rest by ex
aiming the suspicious object at close quar-