Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-04
CHAPTER XVII.
A Secondhand Angel.

Scouting cautious, and shying wide OF
settlements except when we had to buy
chuck, l herded my youngsters up the long
trail north We took no count of the dis
lance, we lost all tab OF dates, but camped
where game was plenty, pushed on when
the sun was shining, holed up when the
wind was too cold and mostly lived by
hunting. So we rode the winter through
and came to the spring beyond, catching
maybe more happiness than was good TO
have all at once
One day the snow being gone, and the
prairie one big garden of spring flowers
reaching away to the skyline, We hap
pened to meet up sudden with a pony
soldier which he was lying under the shad-
ow OF his horse and playing tunes on
mcuth-organ, heaps content with himself
His coat was red, his harness all glittering
fine, his boots were shiny, his spurs had
small cruel rowels He said his chief was
his imperial majesty Edward VII, that his
tribe was the Northwest Mounted Police.
and his camp was called Medicine Hat, the
same being close adjacent. We sounded
him on robbers, but he seemed plumb igno-
rant and said there was quite few ante
lope. if we cared for hunting.
Telling the youngsters 10 camp, l went
butttng along into Medicine Hat 70 proc
pect the same alone. 1t felt mighty strange
TO DE IN a town again see the people walk
and children especially, but the whisky
] sampled felt right natural, and for all my
snufling and snorting | smelt nothing sus-
plcous In the way Of wolftrap. SO | traded
with a lazy who kept store for woman 8
clothing, such as she used herself, enough
10 load Up my puckhorse. She certainly
selected liberal TO judge by the money I
paid.
When l got back to camp expecting sup
per l found the kids had been quarrelng,
so that they weren't on speaking terms,
and I had 10 introduce them. Jim was
special naughty, but Curly got heaps In
terestsd in the clothes I'd bought. crow
ing and chuckling over everything. Her
favorte game was playing at being lady,
but now she SHE'D at committing herself,
"Shuckst she hlrted across TO the far
side OF the fire 81 cayn't Cypress Jim In
them things-Id get SO tame and weak he d
sit on my haid!'
You're due % get mari led says |, "a:i
sure as sunrise tomorrow
so! Jim air't caught me yet!
Jim started in to catch her. but she
jumped the IRE 10 clear him.
Now" she dened him complete; don
YOU rush my corral with one of yo' fool
kisses. or I'll shore!y bat 20 haid 1 amt
laid down my arms yet!'
So she staggered with her little brown
hand on her gun, tho freight glowing or
her leather clothes and gold bright hair,
on the flush os her sunburnt skin, on milk
white teeth. and laughing, flashing eyes.
Jirn's heart was burning, l reckon, for he
went down on one kee and reached out his
arms TO her. There was only the hre be
tween them.
SAY YOU love me. Curly?"
1T cayn't be helped. Jim" she whis-
pered. and her face went grave, but 1
sborely love YOU
Riding the ranges OF the world and graz
ing In lifes pastures. I've got to be plumb
content with things present. which / can
grab the same with my teeth, instead OF
huEgering after that heaven above which
seems a lot OF uncertain and apt to prove
Disappointing. Here I've got horses for
sure plenty cows and Monte, one of my
old riders for my partner. Bear Hole is
the name of our new rancho, with the bull
pines of the coconino forest all around US.
tn hoary old volcanoes towering above
and the lava beds fencing our home pas
ture. Back OF the cabin is the spring
whtre Curly used 10 splash me when she
washed. the cave where she sang to me
beside our camp fire. The bubble spring,
the wind in the pines, the chatter of the
birds and the meadow flowers remind me of
her always. She has put away her spurs
and gun, never TO ride any more with free
men on Gods grass, because, poor soul!
sizes only lady now and gone respectable.
Last sQmmer-it sure makes me sweat 10
think OF that scary business-I went 10
ireland. First came civilization-which Ia
never seen 1t before-cites all cluttered up
with so various noises and smells that |
got lost complete. When you stop TO STUDY
there was the ocean, a sure great sight and
exciting TO the stomach got plumb
dissolute pitching and buckfng around like
mean horse. SO that was heaps glad 10
dismount at Liverpool That Old Country
Is plenty strange. too for a plain man to
consider. for I seen women drunk and chill
dren starving. and had to bat white
mans head for shining niggers shoes. 1t
beats me how such tribe can ride herd
on bunch OF empires - easy 40 I drive
W