Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1903-10-01
CHAPTER
HI\/~ By
L / n L. lzola L.
Merrifielt

1 and the SclOOlnouSe lay the western
border OF the Black Hawk rlnge. II
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 1t when little
Sammie Trent took her to and fro in
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 Jim Dandy too.
| Pop let me 60 TO school with the rest
Of the kids Just because she said was
wasting my talent hoeing round. She
amt n 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, Sammier Don asked
gently.
Sanmie shut one eye and CLICKED
his tongue hungrily.
Gimme two crackers and dried
herring and III tell he said.
Don bargained and handed over two
crackers with the herring laid be-
tween. Sammie munched contentedly.
1t was q long way from the ranch.
Her hairs kind of pretty. 1t don't
curl up exactly, but 1t kinks 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 a Bit
A week after this the blackboard was
discarded, and Don saw Sanlmie ride
by on the pinto. while the schoolteach
er was on q small lightweight black
and white pony. Sometimes she went
by 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 Il welcome
break in the monotony of his life, and
he 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 a 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 a 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 a beaver hole.
With his heart atiame, Don had gone
to the rescue and pulled the pony out.
The ankle was sprained, and she limp
ed badly. Flushing beneath his tan, he
mad told the schoolteacher who he
was, just one of the Crescent herders.
and had offered her his horse to ride
nome on. She had accepted thankfully,
and Sammie was sent Gfter the lame
pony the next day.
Amt she thoroughbred, thought
he asked. chewing on bit of flag root
he had found down near the creek.
II
Her names Marjorie Allan"
When is she coming to study chap
Ter or asked Don carelessly.
"Guess she hasn't got that far YETI
returned Sammie seriously. shes
studying flowers and bees and birds
and things now"
'sammie'-the herder's voice was
gentle and persuasive don't YOU want
job herding sheep along about sun
set?"
i what you got that's better than her
rings" asked Sammie in mild interest
"A whole nickel a day"
III come tomorrow" said Sammie.
The new arrangement lasted month.
Every afternoon at sunset Sam1nie
herded faithfully, while Don and the
| N UNIV iN'AC 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 hope
less, sammie looked at him shrewdly
While he cracked switch at few
mosquitoes that were feasting on the
pinto's notified hide
shes Just a girl. even If she did
come from Kansas City and writes
books and things he said pleasantly.
DID she throw you down, DonY'
The herder was silent.
cause you're just a herder?"
Go home" said the other gently
without looking at him, but Saminie
saw the clinched. hands and he rode
away whistling.
Three weeks later there came ncws
to the ranch. The herder on the Black
Hawk had moved his sheep eight
miles northward toward the Big Horn
country. and there were growlings
among the cattlemen up there over his
encroaching on their territory.
But isn't the range freeT' asked the
schoolteacher when Sammie explained
matters to her.
| You dassent say so nowadays less n