Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1903-09-19
CHAPTER
ENIH By
X lZola L.
Merrlfleld
Copyright, 1908, by T. c. Mcclure
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border of the Black Hawk range. 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 schooltcachcr's
hat with the violcts on it when little
Sammie Trent took her to and fro in
the blackboard from the ranch to the
school.
Gnc 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 80 to school with the rest
Of the kids just because she said l was
wasting my talent hOcing round She
amt real teacher either. Shes study
ing us folks. Jumping Moses, Don, you
ought to hear her talk. And she's going
ter 5-On herdcrs."
'Is she hOmcly, Sammie?" Don asked
gently.
Sammic shut one eye and cluckcd
his tongue hungrily.
Gimme two crackers and dried
herring and I'll tell" he said.
Don bargaincd and handed over two
tween. Sammie munched cOntcntedly
1t was long way from the ranch.
Her hairs kind of pretty 1t don't
curl up exactly, but it 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
yowlcd bit"
\ week after this the blackboard was
discarded, and Don saw Sammie ride
by on the pinto, while the schooltcach-
er was on IL 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
buttcs. 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 IL royal carpet for
the feet of the black and white pony
the schOOlt"acher would diSmount and
gather them on her way through the
valley. Then came Il 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 atlame, Don had gone
to the rescue and pulled the pony out
The ankle was sprained, and she limp
ed badly. Flushing beneath his tan, lie
had told the schOOlteacher who he
was, just one of the Crescent herlers,
and had offered her his horse to ride
home on. She had accepted thankfully,
and Sammie was sent after the lame
pony the next day.
'Aint she a thoroughbred, thought"
he asked. chewing ON Il bit of flag root
he had fonuI ,lnU-n mann tJ,n .,o.i.
"ller names Marjorie Allan"
when is she coming to study chap
Ter -? asked Don carclcssly.
Guess she hasn't got that far yet"
returned Sammie seriously. She's
studying flowers and bees and birds
and things now"
'Sammic"-the herder's voice was
gentle and pcrsuasive-"donty YOU want
a job herdng sheep along about sun
set:"
What you got that's better than her
rings: asked Sammie in mild interest
"A whole nickel day"
Il ii come tomorrow" said Sammie.
The new arrangement lasted month
Every afternoon ut sunset Sammie
herdcd faithfully, while Don and the
schooteacher 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 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 girl, even if she did
come from Kansas City and writes
books and things" he said pleasantly.
did she throw you down, DOnT'
The herder was silent.
"'Cause you're just herder?"
go home" said the other gently
without looking at him, bnt Sammie
saw the clinched hands and he rode
away whistling.
Three weeks later there game news
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 freeY asked the
schoolteacher when Sammie explained
matters to her.
"You dassent say so nowadays less n
you've got gun to back it up," said
Sammie. "Pop thinks Don will get all
the trouble he's looking for"
Miss Allan looked at him, her blue