The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-04-28
THE RANcHER's DEBUT.

| ltllng dress clothes, his Swarthy skin,
raven mustache and jet black eyes set
him apart from the crowd of trim oilers
! IN Mrs Van Cruser's drawing rooms
bis arms were too long for his sleeves
and two inches OF bony brown wrist show
ed below his cuffs. He was Ill at ease
and his left hand sought his pocket con-
! stsntly, but there were no pockets in
the black trousers which he wore for
the first time. He looked down at his
| legs, and discovering no boot tops. grin
ned quizzicaily; then he looked around
! the room still more quiZzically.
Queer herd o humans" ne muttered.
I They chop their words of as If they
were gals, but every one o the gals is as
! pretty as q speckled heifer"
/ Mrs, Van Stormer spoke behind her
( ian 10 Mrs Van Cruger. Who is her
| she whispered.
a Colonel-Colonel-no what's his
| name?-Colonel Hawkins; friend of my
/ husband, who would have him here. He's
! quite recently inn New York-is from Ok
| lahoma. l think-a sort of primal savage
/ who owns countless cattle and sees civ
! 'Hovd'ye, ma ann when he shook hands
! with me"
Interesting. very" said Mrs. Van
I StormeT. Something above. or below.
our dead level of men, I suppose"
/ Mrs Van Cruger looked carelessly at
L itEF CoIlpdiltOA cle saw the perfect
ure of q woman . years old, with
/ brilliant. bold. determined face. The
black brows above the blue eyes were
heavy and the chin, though small. was
resolutely set. Mrs. Van Stormer had
been a widow of wealth for two years.
relict of old Van Stormer, the Stock Ex-
change pirate. She had something of
reputation for eccentricity and usually
she looked bored.
Would you like TO know him." the
hostess asked. smiling and expecting a
prompt negative.
Il should-very much. He looks promis-
/ ing
Colonel Hawkins bowed low in acknowl-
edging .he introduction. then, thinking ev-
/ identity that he had been too reserved.
held out huge dark palm. Mrs. Van
Stornler placed her hand in it confdingly.
whereupon it disappeared temporarily.
The Colonel shook it gently and cordially.
''Ma'am.'' he said. I'm mighty glad to
know you-mighty glad
Colonel Hawkins" and Mrs. Van Stor-
mer smiled dazzlingly. "the pleasure is
mine Won't you sit DOWN."
He sat himself awkwardly enough upon
a chair several sizes too small for him.
and leaned forward with his hands rest
ing on his gaunt knees
Now. he said. looking around. this
affair amt a dinner and it amt a dance.
What is it?"
why" Mrs Van Stormer said. its an
AT Home
And what may that be?''
Mrs. Van Cruger has certain evenings
when she is formally at home. On these
evenings her friends come to see her
That's why we are here"
''Yes-yes, ma'am. Just friendly visit
Van Cruger told me that his wife would
be at home tonight and l must sure
/ thought mebbe she Travelled good deal
and weren't at home much. 1 intended TO
take in the Belle o. New York. and hear
the gals sing, but now" he added, with
frank glance of admiration, I'm glad /
come
THANK you, You like New York;"
She could think of nothing else to say.
and looked for the stereotyped answer.
II don't. ma'am. These rock trails
make me sick. I'm goinng to get out of
this pasture before the end o the week if
| have to jump the fence and lope off
with rope hanging to my horns
His companion laughed. then looked at
him with vague sympathy. What is 1t
you miss here?" she asked.
II miss everything that a white man
ought to have-fresh air. blue sky sun
shine, the smell of grasses. the chance TO
look way off yander miles and miles.
so fur that you can't tell COW from a
sheep, the feeling that can fling myself
loose without Earring anything I miss
the saddle and the boys. and the beds
here are too blamed springy and soft"
You are n ranchman, Colonel Haw-
kins?"
I'm a rahcher, yes, ma'am, Fifty
three thousand acres under fence and
some unfenced. It's nine miles from the
front gate to my house and two miles
from my house to my back gate
I'm going into the conservatory for a
flower or two" said Mrs. Van Stormer,
rising. will you Gomez"
He followed her lumheringly. slipping
on the polished floor. and carefully avoid
ing her train. Amid the wealth of or
chids and blooms of every hue she stop
ped and pointed to a yellow rose upon a
vine which hung some eight feet above
the rubber mating. II would like that
she said mainly, I suppose, because ii
is out of reach"
Hawkins stood six feet four inches In
his stockings. He thrust his hand innto
hip pocket and drew a large jack-knife.
III get you that" he said, easily, and,
reaching up. shipped II.
She thanked him and said: You are
very tall. Are all of the men in your ter
rtory of your height?''
ooh. mo-" he answered. soberly. Some
OF ems little fellers, and they be the
pizenest folks we have
How"
Hardest to handle in a row-the shoot
INCEST. YOU know.
"Oh, Have you ever shot any one |
Colonel Hawkins"
NO. na'am. ] haven't which amt say
ing that I hadn't oughter several times
which amt saying that I didn't wanter l
several times"
II suppose that regard for your family /
stayed your hand
-How's that ann 7 haint no fam I
lily, naam. I'm as lonely a maverick I
IS ever struck a frozen water hole by !
hisself in a snowstOrn- I've got hays o. 4
money. but no kith nur kin. nur wife. /
nur kids 70 leave IL 70. I was Door /
ma am. poor as the primitive Christians.
ND to i've years aso. I never heraed no 1
kids bat sometimes. away out there in .
nv big house that built ike a fool. 4
when the sun was setting and YOU could /
and = sweet-snelling wind come over the I
prairies I've thought I'd like to"
ATrs. Van Sto-rnec had sank into n 4
rustic seat and now looked uo at him. 1
Her bleu eyes were soft and her voice /
had a mellow sound 80 she said
1T must he hard 20 strive ard amass
knowing that Il win 90 some day 10 /
strc1rers
"yes'u.' said the Colonel. simply but I
Tn only fortv-tvo years old. and-aud .
seeing you with that yellow rose in your
hair makes me feel what n lonely cri5rer /
I am
Mrs. Van storTner blushed and remark
ed. brightly.
You've enjoyed the New York the
atc7s. u course.