Rosebud County news. [volume] (Forsyth, Mont.) 1901-1906, 1903-09-10
CHAPTER
EA/E By
lola L.
MQrrifiaI1
Copyright, 1908, by T. c. Mcclure

Half way between the Crescent ranch
and the schoolhouse lay the western
border of the Black Hawk range. If
Don Easton happened to ride to the
ridge Of low, ragged buttes above the
little valley trail he could catch a
glimpse of the new schoolteacher's
hat with the violets on it when little
Sammie Trent took her to and fro in
the blackboard from the ranch to the
school.
One day Sammie rode out on the
range on his own pinto, Buckeye. and
told Don the news.
We've got the new teacher at our
place, Don. She's a Jim Dandy too
Pop let me go to school with the rest
Of the kids just because she said was
wasting my talent hOeing round. She
amt real teacher either. She's study
Ing us folks. Jumping Moses, Don, you
ought to hear her talk And she's going
to study you pretty soon. You're chap
ter 5-On herders."
''Is she homely, Sammie?" Don asked
gently.
his tongue hungrily.
Gimme two crackers and dried
herring and I'll TELL" he said.
Don bargained and handed over two
crackers with the herring laid be-
tween. Sammie munched contentedly.
1t was a long way from the ranch.
Her hairs kind Of pretty. 1t don't
curl up exactly, but it kinks a little
when the wind blows. And it's brown,
kind Of. And she smiles sweet as any
thing, and her eyes are blue, kind of,
and she's awful gritty. She's learning
to ride, and she fell off once and never
yowled Bit"
A week after this the blackboard was
discarded, and Don saw Sammie ride
by on the pinto. while the schoolteach-
er was on small lightweight black
and white pony. Sometimes she went
Dy alone, as the days passed and her
confidence grew. Don would leave the
sheep with the dogs and watch for her
at sunset, lying face downward in the
soft thick grass ON the edge of the
buttes. He could see her from the
time she passed the cottonwoods that
fringed the divide until she turned the
corner OF Big Butte far down the val
ley. and beyond the way was clear to
the ranch
There was secret satisfaction to
him in this self imposed sentinel duty
over her lonely ride. 1t was a welcome
break in the monotony Of his life, and
ne dreaded the time when the grass
and water would give out and he
would have to move farther on to new
range.
When the spring days came and the
Wild flowers lay like royal carpet for
the feet of the black and white pony
the schoolteacher would dismount and
gather them on her way through the
valley. Then came day when the
sentinel saw from his post that she
was in trouble. The black and white
pony had wandered ahead of her, crop
ping the grass and new clover, when
suddenly he pitched forward. one fore
leg sinking deeply into beaver hole.
with his heart afame, Don had gone
TO the rescue and pulled the pony out.
Inc ankle was sprained, and she limp
Gu badly. Flushing beneath his tan, he
mad told the schoolteacher who he
was, Just one of the Crescent herders
ana had offered her his horse to ride
nome on She had accepted thankfully.
ana Sainmle was sent after the lame
pony the next day.
AIN t she thoroughbred, thought,
ne asked. chewing on bit of flag root
ne had found down near the creek.
Her names Marjorie Allan
w hen is she coming to study chap
Ter o:' asked Don carelessly.
Guess she hasn't got that far vet
returned Sammie seriously. She's
studying flowers and bees and birds
and things now"
Sanmle''-the herder's voice was
gentle and persuasive-''don'ty Won want
job herding sheep along about sun
set:'
"Nhat you got that's better than her,
rlnss: asked Sammie in mild interest.
"A whole nickel day.
I'll come tomorrow" said Sammie.
lhe new arrangement lasted a month
Every afternoon at sunset Sammie
herded faithfully. while Don and the
schoolteacher rode slowly from the
cOttonWoods to Big Butte Then one
day Don told him he need not come any
more. and his face was grim and home
less. sammie looked at him shrewdly
while he cracked a switch at a few
mosquitoes that were feasting on the
pintos notified hide.
shes just a girl. even if she did