The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1904-06-23
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
HerLeSSOn}
By c. B. LEWIS
Copyright, 1a0l, BY C. b. Lewts
By c. B. LEWIS

OVOSOSOSOSOSO OsOSOsOeO@OeO
There was but one passenger to
alight at Snow Hill, on the Southern
Pacific road, and in the cattle and In
dian country, and that WIS Miss Bessie
Vaughn of Chicago. Her sehoolmate.
Nettie Long, whose father owned and
managed the big Long ranch and who
was now living with him out in tile
wilds. had written that Il person would
meet Bessie nj Snow Hill with Il buck
board and bring her safely to the
ranch. The person proved TO he a
yo'-'g man of twenty-five, dressed as
a hoy, but having rather distin-
gu ed look about him. While he
was Fastening along the platform and
yet thirty feet away the girl acknowl-
edged to herself that his features were
good and that his face showed charac-
ter and ambition. Perhaps it was for
these reasons that while he was coy
ering the other thirty feet, Miss Bessie
suddenly decided that he ought to be
snubbed.
This is Miss Vaughn of Chicago,
presume?n he said as he lifted his hat
and smiled a welcome.
What right had lie to presume? BY
what right did he smile welcome and
seem ready to shake handsl The girl
looked coldly at him and slightly nod
ded her head, and that was snub No. /.
The young man took it so; but, though
he colored up he did not lose his smile.
you will give me your checks,
please, and l will put your trunks
aboard, and we will be off"
There was "A touch of authority in his
tones that nettled the girl, and she
turned away and delivered up the
checks with her own hand. She would
also have loaded the trunks on the
vehicle II she had been strong enough.
Snub No. had followed fast on the
heels of snub No. 1.
I'VE have fifteen miles to drive, and
the road is rather rough" observed the
young man as they got seated.
No reply. Snub No. 3.
Il take it that you have never visit
ed this section before?' was remarked
mo"
but l trust you will find novelty
and pleasure"
Miss Bessie looked straight ahead
and shut her teeth hard. What was
it to one Of Colonel Longs hired men
The man was presumptuous, and she
meant her silence to be another snub.
Whether 1t was so taken or not. 1t was
not more than five minutes before
voice which had touch of the paternal
in 1t remarked:
You don't look overwell, and cou-
pie of months of this bracing atmos-
phere will do you a world of good"
Sir, are you practicing physicianT
asked Miss Bessie as she turned to
look the young man square in the eyes.
well. no." he slowly replied.
"Then you need not bother to take
charge of my health"
That was what the boys would have
called a settler, and it hung the young
man up for the next ten minutes.
When he spoke again, however, it was
as if nothing had happened.
at was on that hill over there" he
quietly said as he pointed with his
whip that four of our men We're sur
rounded by fifty Indian warriors two
years ago
Miss Bessie deliberately turned to
look in the opposite direction, and she
felt that he was smiling as he con
tinued:
zone of the boys was killed, but they
killed twelve Indians and held their
ground all day"
What was it to her whether one or
the whole four cowboys We're killed:
Indeed she found herself almost wish
ing that all had been wiped out. She
hadn't the slightest interest in the
affair-not that day.
"And over there in that valley is
where a drove of steers ran over and
trampled the life out of two of our
men last spring, We didn't even find
their boots"
Miss Bessie looked straight ahead
and made no reply.
And you wouldn't believe would
you, that this insignificant creek we
oro CROSSING ,,as q milo wide and tan
foot doom 1as+ Ntovg va Lost - thon.
Sand bead of stock in the+ flood "
sin ma ronIv II woe snub oftor
SINH and she meant Ia tire him ont
This time tho silence Iostad FOR eftoon
minutes. and she il was who broke ii
M. -. -, .,.;I