Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1908-07-16
kentucky Ned.



toriginal1
When / went out west to spend q
summer on my fathers ranch wal
at an age TO regret that should miss
the attentions Of the young men OF the
social world to which I belonged.
was told that would meet no men
except cowboys, whom ! knew TO be a
Wild, dissipated, shooting and general.
! ~ disreputable set. In truth, did NOT
wish TO go, but was not In good
health. and the doctor recommended
the open air Of ranch life.
When ! got on the ranch found the
surroundings pretty much as I had ex.
pected. However. l got exhlIaration
from the life that had not expect
ed. Every morning after breakfast 1
mounted horse that had been proyid-
cd for me and, with father for an at
tendant galioped over our broad acres
TIL noon. Then | lunched and rested
till near dinner time. after which meal
| was not long in seeking my couch.
The consequence OF this mode OF life
was remarkably beneficial, and gain
ed strength every day.
The cowboys were not so uninterest-
ing after all. Nothing could be more
different from the ways OF the beaux,
to whom had been accustomed. and /
could not but feel. Notwithstanding the
couFtliness Of the one compared with
the abashed manners Of the other when
In my presence, that there was some
thing wanting In the first that found
In abundance In the second. For in
stance. In presence OF danger / would
Infinitely rather be under the protec-
tion OF the cowboys. But l did not feel
amy interest in them.
There was one exception. He was
called Kentucky Ned Stray bits OF
gossip concerning him came to my ears.
lie was a sort Of black sheep In good
Kentucky family. He had had an en-
counter with some one In that state
and had left II between midnight and
morning. He had driven stage, Served
as q private In the United STATED army
aud herded sheep. Father had taken
MIN Into his employ without knowing
anything more of his antecedents than
any OF his other cattle tenders and
didn't know the Kentuckian was a gen.
tleman born till appraised him OF the
fact Then father wanted to know
how | found It out.
There was more that father would
nave liked to know Kentucky Ned
had fallen heels over head in love with
me. Not that he said so; he knew l
was too far beyond his reach. Nor did
! otIer him the least encouragement.
lie simply saw and was conquered
without a word or a look from me.
How did know thlsl II was as plain
to me as the sun In heaven.
The day came when ! In turn was
conquered, and by Kentucky Ned, not
by word. but by an act. Nor was the
act OF especial benefit to me, nor did
he know that he was influencing me.
Indeed, he did not know that l saw the
net which won me.
Father and were out on one of our
rides. From an emlnence we
were looking at herd Of cattle. some
thing had frightened them, and they
were running with their tails In the air
toward bluff. Now. | had learned
enough about cattle to know that when
herd gets going It can't stop. Those
IN the rear keep crowdlng those ahead,
aud u doesn't matter II tho advance
ones come to q precipice high as Mag
win be forced over None
can stop unless 1t be those In the rear.
We saw 900 or coo cattle going like
mad for the blur and II did not seem
hat any of them would be left alive.
Then we saw 4 cowboy--I recognized /
aim for Kentucky Ned. though father
lldn t-spur his mustang from beside
ne herd. make n dctour and ride right
between the leaders and the bluff, cut |
Ing their course at right angles. Then
10 eantered lelsurely along the edge OF 1
he blum. relned IN and looked around |
Il the immense herd coming right to-
ward him, There seemed not one
nance IN a thousand for him to escape
icing pushed of the edge and buried
Under tons OF flesh, And what did no
lof Why, he rolled q cigarette on the
'ommel OF his saddle, lighted IL and
'uiled as coolly as IT he were In per
ect safety.
Father aud l watched him so terror
trieken that we couldn't either OF as
peak. Suddenly saw the cattle In
he lead try TO stop They were forced
n, however, but when those directly
their rear came to the place where
be nrst bad reduced their pace they
ried to stop too. Pretty soon most OF
be cattle had succeeded In stopping
nd were all licking the grass Then
hose which had been pushed In the
dvance stopped. turned and went
acks The herd was saved.
That night father sent for Kentucky
led TO thank him for saving thousands
dollars In cattle Father asked him
Ow he did Il. what made the herd
arm. "oh, that was simple" said the