West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1906-10-25
CHATTER VI

X NbA ~ ANtN AllWA NNN ANNE OF
the girl whose letter sent Peter
Hamilton vaultlng TO the saddle
~ was Katherine Colebrookc. There
had been deal OF letter writing be-
tween her and the young COW puncher
Of late. OF which perforCc, by n slngu-
lar Irony OF fate, the postmistress had
been the involuntary instrument. The
correspondence had followed a recent
hasty journey 10 New York, under
taken somewhat unwlllingly by Ham
ilton In the interest OF certain Affairs
connected with the settlement OF an
estate
The preclpitoncy OF this lntest turn
of events bewildered Judith: but yet n
little while-a matter OF weeks and
days-and her friendship with Hamil-
ton had been OF that pleasantly indefl-
mite estate situated somewhere on the
borderland OF romance, kingdom
where there is no law but the mutual
Interest of the wayfarers. Judith and
Peter had been pitifully new at the
game OF life when the gods Vouchsaf fed
them the equlvocal blessing OF propin-
guilty. Judith was but lately come
from the convent at Santa Fe and
Hamilton from the university. whose
honors ay0iled him little I'm the trailing
OF cattle over the range or I'm the sweat
and tumult OF the branding PEN 1t
was strange election of opportunity
for n man who had been class poet and
had rather conspicuously avoided ath-
leticS during bis entire college course
In pursuing fortune westward Hamil-
ton d.d not lack for chronclers, who
would not have missed good story
FOR the want OF an authentic dramatic
Interpretation of his plans. His uncle,
said they, who had put him through
college, was disposed to- let him sink
or swim by his own efforts, or. again.
he had QuaTeled with this same omnip.
otcnt Wcle and walked from his pres
cncc With no prospects but those with
In gcasp OF his own hand Again. he
had taken the negative OF fair lady
more 70 heart than two and twenty IL
in the habt OF taking negatives. Peter
made no condolences. lie went west
to punch cows for the Wetmore out
fit lie was distant connection of the
Wetmorcs through his mothers side
Of the family.
Judith's convent upbringing had con
ferred on her the doubtful advantage
OF gcntlewoman's tastes and bearing,
making OF her. therefore. an alien I'm
her fathers house When Mrs. At.
kins, who was responsible for her edu.
cation, realized the cquiyocal good OF
these things and saw. moreover. that
the girl had grown TO be n beauty, she
offered 10 adopt her. but judith. with
the pitiful heroism Of youth that un.
derstands little OF what II is renounc-
inS thought herself strong enough to
hold together Il family uncertain OF
purpose as quicksilver.
In those tragic days OF readjustment
came Peter Hamilton. as strange to the
bald conditions Of frontier life as the
girl herself From the beginning there
had been between them the barrier OF
circumstance Hamilton was poor.
judith tile mainstay OF a household
whose thrlftlessncss had become n
proverb. He came OF q family that
numbered slgner Of the Declaration
Of Independence. famous chief JUS.
tice aud tic dean Of n great university.
Judith was uncertain OF her right to
the very name she bore. And yet they
were young. lic n man. she n woman
eternal fountain Of interest. 4 prcco.
clous sense Of the fitness OF things was
the compass that enabled Pcter TO steer
through the deep waters in the years
that followed. But the girl paid the
penalty Of her great heart. In that
trOublous sea Of friendship she was
soon adrift without ruddcr. sail or
compass.
judith was now eight and twenty,
and sculptor would have found a
hundred statues I'm hcr. Long OF limb,
deep bOsomcd. youth aud health radi.
ated from her as sparks ny upward.
In sunlight her black lair had tic blu
fish ir.dc .Ccuce Of n ripe plum. The
eyes were deep end questioning the
eyes OF q young scrnph whose wings
had not yet brushed the far distant
heights OF paradise. And yet In this
wilderness that was furnishing for wO.
mnn's love and tears and laughter by
a perycriiy of fate She walked alone.
She WAS tguo daughter Of the des-
ert, thc d.ll Of s.nrk. unlOvely cir.
cuma1ncr $50 we'll bred romance OF
book and bcIl3 and churchly benedlc.
ton had u.he.cl her into being Her
maternal grandfather had been the IN.
nous Sioux chief Flying Hawk; her
grandM ilCr q white woman who
knew no word Of her peoples tongue
nor yet her n8mc or race. The Indians
found the whitc baby sleeping by her
dead mother after the massacre OF an
emigrant train. They took her will
them, ard she grew up I'm the Black
Hills country. n white skinned Sioux
marrying a chief OF the people that
had slain her people. She accepted her
squaw's portion uncomplainingiy -
elaved cheerfully at squaw's work
while her brave made war on tho
whites. hunted and smoked. She rear
ed her half breed children IN the leg
ends Of their fathers people and died
a withered croue. cursing ihe pale
faces who had robbed the Sioux Of ths
buffalo and thci' hunting ground.
Her daughter. smgug Stream. VII,
knew no word Of EDgN-h. but VIII,