Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1903-10-21


mo, Hi" he went on, recovering him.
SER with the same abruDtnesS as ne
used with his bronco. and looking at
his friend with face even more than
usually solemn. your hayer amt red.
Hi; don't let any of your relatives
persuade you To that 'Tain't rode
and he threatened to 20 OF again. but
pulled himself up with dangerous sud
dcnness- 1T may be blue. cerulyum
blue or even purple, but red He
paused violently. looking at his friend
as IL he found him n new and interest
Ing object OF study upon which he
could not trust himself to speak. Nor
could he be induced 20 proceed with
the description he had begun.
But HI. paying no attention to Bnrs
Grafton. took up the subject with en-
thusiasm.
to ride; amt she, BiIl?" Bill nodded
"She kin bunch cattle an cut out an
yank steer UP to any cowboy on the
range"
why. how big Is sheY'
big? Why. she's just kid 'Tain't
the bigness OF her: it's the nerve. She's
got the coolest kind OF nerve you ever
seen; hain't she. BilIl' And again Bill
nodded
Member the day she dropped that
steer. BIlS' went on HI.
what was thatT' asked. eager for
yarn.
''Oh. nuthin'," said Bill.
'Nuthin'r' retorted HI. Pretty big
nuthin'r'
What was itf" I urged
"Oh. Bill here did some funny work
ut old Meredith's round up. but he
don't speak OF II. He's shy, you see"
and Hi grinned.
We'll, there amt no occasion for
your proceedin' on TO that tact" said
Bill disgustedly. and Hi Loyalty re-
frained, so | have never yet got the
rights OF the story. But from what I
did hear l gathered that Bill. at the
risk OF his life. had pulled the Duke
from under the boots OF n mad steer,
and that little Gwen had I'm the cool
est possible manner sailed in on her
bronco and. by putting two bullets in
to the steers head. had saved them
both from great danger. perhaps from
crowding near OF course Bill could
never be persuaded TO speak OF the in
| cident. true western man will never
hesitate TO tell you what be can do.
but Of what he has done he does not
readily speak
The only other item that HI con-
| tributed TO the sketch OF Gwen was
that her temper could blaze IL the occa-
sion demanded.
Member young Hill, BIIlT"
Bill 'membered."
Didn't she cut into him sudden7
Starved him right too"
What did she dor
"Cut him across the face with her
quirt in good style"
What for7p
"Knockin' about her Indian joe"
Joe was, rs I came 10 learn. Ponka's
con and Owens most devoted slave.
"Oh. she amt no refrigerator"
Yes" assented Bill. she's a leetls
swift"
Then. as II fearing he had been spoil
OgiEing for her. he added. with the AFT
Of one settling the question: "Bui
she's good stock She suits mer'
The Duke helped me 20 another sids
OF her character.
"She u a remarkable child" he said
one day; wild and shy as a coyote
but fearless. quite, and with a heart
full OF passions. Meredith-the Old
Timer. you know-hss kept her OF
there among the hills. She sees no one
but himself and Ponka's BIackfoot re
lations, who treat her like a goddess
and help 10 spoil her utterly. She
knows their lingo and their ways-goes
or with them for week at a time"
What. With the BlackfeetY"
'POnka and Joe. or course. so along.
but even without them she is as safe
as IL surrounded by the ColdStream
guards. But she has given them up
for some time now"
And at homer l asked. Has she
any education; Can she read or
writer"
mot she. She can make her own
dresses, mOccasins and leggings. She
can cook and wash-that is, when she
feels in the mood. And she knows all
about the birds and beasts and flowers
and that sort OF thing. liberalization,
Why, she is hardly civillzedr'
What a shame said How old
is sheT'
"oh, a mere chlld-fourteen or IF
teen, l imagine, but a woman in many
things"
And what does her father say e
all this? Can he control herr"
Control said the Duke in utter
establishment. why. bless your soul
nothing in heaven or earth could con
troll her. Wait till you see her stand
with her proud little head thrown
back, giving orders TO Joe, and yoU
will never again connect the idea OF
control with Gwen. She might be q
princess for the pride OF her I've
seen some, too, In my day, but none
10 touch her for sheer, imperial pride
little Luclfer that she is
And how does her father stand hel
NONSENSE" l asked. for l confess
was not much taken with the picture
the Duke had drawn.
Her father simply follows behind
her and adores, as do all things thAt
come near her. down. or up. perhaps
60 her two dogs. Wolf and Loo, FOL
either OF which she would readily die
II need be. Still," he added after s
pause. lit is a shame. as you say. She
ought 10 know something OF the refine
! [ NNO1